Remembering Robot Restaurant: Tokyo’s Most Bizarre and Unforgettable Dinner Experience
Picture the craziest mix of robots, lasers, and Japanese pop culture all thrown into one show. That was Robot Restaurant - a mind-blowing entertainment spot in Tokyo that had everyone talking about it. And while it only lasted for about a decade, this is one of those places whose memory will always live on in those who were lucky enough to experience it.
What Was This Place?
Robot Restaurant opened in 2012 in Tokyo's busy Shinjuku district. Don't let the name fool you - it wasn't really a restaurant (although food was available for purchase, if you wanted). Instead, this place was all about spectacle- giant fighting robots, traditional Japanese drummers and dancers, futuristic costumes, and glowing ninjas. While some people thought it was weird, many tourists couldn't get enough of it, myself included. I found it to be incredibly fun and a great way to start an evening in Tokyo.
I first saw Robot Restaurant on TV when Anthony Bourdain visited the venue on his show "Parts Unknown." He called it "the greatest show in the history of entertainment", and honestly, it wasn’t entirely hyperbole due to its “sensory overload” nature. The episode also alluded to the possibility that the restaurant was funded by the yakuza. I never saw any evidence of that personally, but it added to the allure of the place. An allure that made this crazy robot show stick with me, despite thinking that I would never get to see it myself.
The place gets its name from the robot costumes and props that are sprinkled throughout the show and the venue.
Visiting for the First Time
Some time later, I decided to treat myself to a trip to Tokyo, as a way of celebrating my recent college graduation. I didn't have many plans, but I knew one thing - I had to see that crazy restaurant I saw on Parts Unknown. So a couple of days into my trip, I found myself in Shinjuku, right in front of Robot Restaurant. The building itself was wild, covered in flashing lights and displays of giant robot women. It looked like a futuristic carnival from an old anime and I was here for it.
Walking in was equally surreal. Everything sparkled with neon lights and mirrored surfaces, and there wasn't a single boring spot on any wall or surface. Before the main show, I hung out in a lounge drinking "Ninja Beer" while a band in sci-fi costumes played surprisingly good jazz music. Shortly after, they announced the show would soon start, and we all made our way downstairs to find our seats.
The show itself? Imagine mixing Medieval Times with Japanese theater, then adding lots of women, neon, weird costumes, and robots. There were mech battles, techno dancers, taiko drumming, and even a fight between Kung Fu Panda and an evil witch! It didn't make any sense, but that's what made it all so fun! The whole thing lasted for about an hour, but sadly, it felt like minutes, and left me wanting so much more.
Changes Through the Years
I didn’t notice at the time, but I recently read that the show had gotten tamer as its popularity grew, and I’m starting to think that I agree. I only saw the show twice - once in 2014 and again in 2016, and I do remember a clear distinction between the two. The first show felt a bit more risque, with more of an emphasis on the scantily clad dancers. The second time, it was clearly less sexualized, with less revealing costumes and more mainstream appeal. Some commenters online blamed tourism and reviews added that the admission price had doubled as a result. But despite that, I still feel the show was worth visiting. Had it continued to operate, I would have no problem continuing to recommend it.
The vibe at Robot Restaurant in 2014…
…was a bit different from the vibe in 2016.
The End of Robot Restaurant
Sadly, Robot Restaurant closed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s understandable, as so many businesses around the world were unable to deal with the unique challenges that came with lockdowns and restrictions. But despite that, this particular closure felt especially heavy for me. Robot Restaurant was one of those special places that could only exist in Tokyo - a city at the epicenter of pop culture, tech, and creative entertainment.
Looking back, Robot Restaurant is a standout example of what makes Tokyo so cool - just one of the many strange, exciting, and totally unforgettable places that dot the city’s landscape. There wasn’t, and still isn’t, anything else like it anywhere in the world.
If you’re curious to know more, here is a collection of images I took from both of my visits to the show. I hope you enjoy!
