Robot Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan: Review & Info
Robot Restaurant is a crazy show in Tokyo, Japan’s Shinjuku district with dancers, lasers, monsters, and more. In this review, we’ll share how to buy discount tickets, assess whether Robot Restaurant is worth the money, what you should expect, and photos from our experiences. (Updated March 26, 2021.)
Robot Restaurant has now been temporarily closed for over one year due to the spread of COVID-19 as a “precautionary measure in line with the prevention efforts taking place across Japan and in response to recommendations by the government.” This is out of consideration for the health and safety of guests, and Robot Restaurant indicates that it remains in contact with government agencies about the coronavirus situation.
Unfortunately, this is probably a business decision in addition to a health safety one. Since opening, Robot Restaurant’s target demographic has shifted almost exclusively to foreign tourists, and there are none of those in Japan right now. We’ll update this if/when Robot Restaurant reopens. If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo and want to know more about closures, consult When Will Japan Reopen for Travel in 2021?
If you want the concise version of this Robot Restaurant review and whether we recommend it: YES! Robot Restaurant is absolutely worth the time and money. It’s totally bonkers and unlike anything you’ve ever experienced–it’s an absolute blast. Even at full price, it’d be worth it.
We’ve now been to Robot Restaurant four times on subsequent trips to Japan, and it currently ranks #2 on our Top 10 Things to Do in Tokyo, Japan list. After each of those visits, I’ve returned to this original review of the Robot Restaurant to provide some additional tips for visiting.
I’ll start with those in this first section, followed by my initial reaction to the show. The fact that we’ve gone 4 times (and will likely go several more) probably is all the review you need. Still, here are some tips for visiting the Robot Restaurant, as well as our longer review and photos.
We had heard about the Robot Restaurant a few weeks before our first trip to Japan, and I was immediately excited about the idea. The video I saw combined dinosaurs, robots, tribal drums, and a variety of other oddities. It seemed like what you’d get if you gave a 10-year old boy a blank canvas and checkbook (it reportedly cost over $100 million USD to build) to design a restaurant, and he threw everything “awesome” into it, without regard for how those things meshed.
Before our first visit, we had heard that the Robot Restaurant often sells out, so we made reservations with the concierge at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, and tickets for the show were delivered to our room around an hour later. Since then, Robot Restaurant started selling tickets online, and those can be purchased for up to 34% off, depending upon the show. That’s how we purchase our tickets now, and we’d recommend doing likewise before you travel to Japan.
Robot Restaurant tickets might seem like they are a lot of money, but this is a lavish production and we have no hesitation to pay $75 or more for tickets. I don’t know what my price ceiling on this awesome experience would be, but we’ve visited multiple times and haven’t batted an eye at prices yet–and we’re normally pretty frugal. You can also purchase via the restaurant’s official English website, but it’s difficult to navigate and the prices are higher.
Another thing I’d recommend is eating before you arrive at the Robot Restaurant. While the meal options have differed with every visit we’ve made to Robot “Restaurant,” there is one constant truth: the food there is awful. As of our most recent visit, food was an optional add-on (one drink is included). I have no clue whether this will remain the case, but we’ve never had a good meal here. Even the most basic snacks have tended towards being awful. With a surplus of nearby restaurants in Shinjuku, there’s no reason to pay for garbage food at Robot Restaurant.
One final tip: the show is now relatively family-friendly. There’s still plenty of robot violence, but it’s too cheesy to be taken seriously. Most of the sexualization has been removed from the show, so if you’re watching videos to determine whether Robot Restaurant is appropriate for your kids, be sure to watch ones from the last couple of years. As Robot Restaurant has increased in popularity among foreign tourists, the show most definitely has been toned down.
With that said, Shinjuku in the late hours, particularly on weekends, is not the most kid-friendly place. If you have kids and are considering Robot Restaurant, I’d highly recommend one of the first two shows, and doing it on a weekday, if possible. Weekends at 9 p.m. are fairly raucous, and worlds away from what you’d find elsewhere in Tokyo. That’s just my take, though…to each their own!
The Robot Restaurant is located in what’s probably best described as the “neon district” of Shinjuku, and is about a 15 minute walk from the Shinjuku Station. All around the Robot Restaurant were the types of seedy things you might expect to find in parts of Vegas or New Orleans, except with a Japanese twist.
With all of that out of the way, here’s my original review of Robot Restaurant, fresh from my first visit to this glorious land where robots and dinosaurs frolic together in a sea of neon fun…
Initially, everyone else in my group was not sold so easily on the Robot Restaurant. This was “back in the day” before it was plastered all over commercials, television specials, etc. At that time, it was just another show several flights down below a building a random Shinjuku alley. (What could go wrong?!) They were all a bit apprehensive, wondering what kind of nefarious place I was trying to convince them to visit. In their defense, the videos I showed them did have a lot of scantily-clad women and not much else.
I didn’t want to watch a ton on YouTube (I had made my mind up that I wanted to go upon hearing a description of the restaurant) as I didn’t want to spoil the show, but what I did see didn’t make a whole lot of sense. The videos were mostly incoherent, save for a lot of movement, drums, dancers, and occasional “robots” and “animals.” After much persuasion, they were on board, ready for the greatest experience of their lives.
We received a pamphlet with the tickets, and it promised greatness. According to it, there were “no rules,” and you could get on stage with the dancers and touch the robots. Cool. We spent the rest of that day physically and mentally preparing for the Robot Restaurant. Shinjuku is an interesting place. Business by day, party by night. Well, in different parts, but same idea.
The Robot Restaurant itself is pretty difficult to miss in all of this–it has the giant dinosaur out front. We waited in a glitzy lounge-type area while the previous show emptied (there are multiple per night) and the crowd was a good split of Westerners and Japanese. This is noteworthy because it was fairly rare to see this many Westerners in one location in Japan. I’d hazard a guess that a good chunk of the Westerners were heavily intoxicated, too.
My only intoxication was the surreal happenings all around me, and I’m fairly sure that doesn’t count. After being herded downstairs through narrow hallways into an area that surely would have been our grave had there been any sort of fire, we were given boxes of food.
I’ve never done LSD, but it sure felt like what I was experiencing the first time at Robot Restaurant was an acid trip or some sort of hallucination. What, exactly, the Robot Restaurant is (it really doesn’t involve food or robots) is sorta beyond description. The Robot Restaurant defies categorization, but it’s ultimately best described as a campy dinner show straight out of the mind of Hunter S. Thompson.
Before the show started, we were given several warnings, including several stern restrictions, including warnings that “big cameras” weren’t allowed to take “up-close” photos of the dancers.
Apologies for the photo quality here, not only is the area dark, but I took these photos quickly so as to avoid having any issues. We were also warned not to touch the dancers and to not get out of our seats.
Quite the contrast to the “no rules” touted in the brochure. It was no big deal, just a bit comical. In the restroom, another American who was a regular of the restaurant, advised me not to make eye contact, as some of them were Yakuza girlfriends.
Rumors have spread online that the Robot Restaurant is owned by the Yakuza…as best I can tell, these rumors are false, and in fact, the establishment is anti-Yakuza.
As for the show itself, I don’t really know what to say about it. It started out with a somewhat serious tone, with dancers engaging in what seemed to be ritualistic dancing and drum beating, and then descended from there into utter insanity.
The first insane scene was robots v. animals, which culminated in a knock-off Kung-Fu Panda riding a bull through a lineup of robots.
Another scene involved Captain America, fembots with Thor hammers, and a dinosaur (or maybe it was a giant armadillo…or that dog-like creature from John Carter…it’s tough to be sure) fighting robots, in a scene dubbed “Robots v. America.” There were actually a lot of references to American culture in the show.
After that, the dinosaurs came out in full force and battled robots, winning handily. Because of course dinosaurs would battle robots in this show. In other versions of the show, there’s a giant snake and other creatures that the robots battle. The winner never seems to be pre-determined, with the results differing depending upon when you visit.
Around this point, the giant chain fence went around the audience.
It was at that moment that we all collectively realized that “shit was ’bout to get real” up in there. A battle of epic proportions (or not) then took place.
Later, they passed out glow sticks and giant fembots were driven around by some dancers, possibly battling one another. Robots on scooters and Segways were also around then.
This was a more lighthearted scene as compared to the “intense” battle scenes before it. This was all set to, what else, but Gangnam Style.
They also allowed the audience on stage after this scene for photos with the robots and dancers. Despite the rules that there be “no touching” of the dancers, most of them touched guests while posing.
The dancers again touched guests when they flew right over the audience in some odd, assembly-line style riders that circled on the ceiling.
Random side note: the excited Japanese businessman to the right of me giving the thumbs up with a fembot and a masked dancer flying above in the background totally makes this photo, I think.
This one photo basically embodies the randomness that is Robot Restaurant.
As the dancers “flew” around overhead, a giant tank came out. I might be messing up the order of some of these scenes, but I don’t think there was really a linear storyline.
It was basically: awesome stuff happens…then more awesome stuff happens…then more–you get the idea.
I’ll stop with the descriptions now, as they shed very little light on the scenes in question. I would say that the photos speak for themselves, except in this case, I’m not quite sure what they say.
For lack of an articulable summary of the Robot Restaurant’s show, here’s my best description: crazy stuff happens, and it’s beyond awesome.
Awesome in ways you wouldn’t expect to be awesome, but it just works.
While this review covers the basics of what happened during our show, it only scratches the surface of a show that must be seen to be truly understood. The crazy on-screen graphics, the restrooms, the excitement of the audience, the seriousness of the stage-hands, the everything.
We talked to a regular of the show after it was over, and he said that each show he has been to has been different. He was particularly impressed with the different dances they manage to learn (they were well done), which makes sense given that everything but the dances seemed very loosely scripted. Staff had surveys for guests after the show, and they took these surveys very seriously.
It’s clear that they want to improve the experience. (Perhaps the food will be better in the future?)
With all of that said, is the Robot Restaurant worth it? EMPHATICALLY YES. I don’t care if the price has jumped in price to $150/person by the time you read this, it is absolutely worth it. That evening was the most we’ve laughed in a long time, and was incredibly fun. This review makes light of the show (and for good reason), but it’s absolutely a ton of fun. We literally laughed the entire time we were there, and although it was corny and totally bizarre, it was also totally fun.
In fact, we enjoyed our first experience at Robot Restaurant so much that we’ve been back several times since over the course of the last 8 years. Suffice to say, Robot Restaurant has become more family-friendly and tourist-centric than it once was. Rest assured, though, it’s just as zany and totally bizarre as it has ever been.
If you like lighthearted, fun things and have a sense of humor, you will enjoy this. It’s not for everyone, and definitely has some mild sexuality to it and violence, but both are fairly benign and its all so comical that it’s tough to take any of the “bad” elements too seriously. Ultimately, there’s a reason why Robot Restaurant is so incredibly popular: it’s flat-out awesome. It epitomizes the “bizarre” side of Japan, and is a distinctly Japanese experience…even if it is touristy.
Just be sure to purchase Robot Restaurant tickets in advance to get them at a discount and make sure to grab something to eat before you attend the show! (Robot Restaurant is a bit of a misnomer.) With all of that said, we highly recommend Robot Restaurant, and it’s an absolute must-do for anyone visiting Tokyo who loves fun. Going to Tokyo without seeing the Robot Restaurant is distinctly unpatriotic.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, we start by consulting our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto and Ultimate Tokyo City Guide to plan all aspects of your visit to Japan’s top two cities. You should also check out our other posts about Japan for ideas on other places to visit!
Your Thoughts
If you’ve been to Robot Restaurant, what’s your review of it? Any additional tips you’d offer for a first-timer to Japan visiting Shinjuku? If you haven’t been, on a scale of 1 to INFINITY AWESOMENESS, how great does this look to you? We’re interested in hearing your thoughts on this amazing show, so please share in the comments. If you have any questions, be sure to post those, too, and we’ll do our best to answer!
This was truly awful. Very surprised by how excited you were. What a waste of money. Most people left by the second ‘show’.
Can we bring in cameras at all? There was a comment about “big” cameras but how about a standard SLR? Or a unipod? Was the issue the camera or the close-ups? Thanks!
(same question posted in error on “redux” page, apologies)
You can bring a DSLR. I’m not sure what, if any, limitations there are in terms of lenses (I probably wouldn’t bring a 70-200 or larger) or on monopods.
This looks so awesome. Is there some sort of device they can give me to prevent my head from exploding?
The 7-11 just down the block sells helmets for that. 😉
I was surprised when I visited this restaurant as I do not have the high opinion about it. But, it was good, the whole ambiance was really nice and their restaurant menu covers have some really mouth-watering dishes.
This restaurant totally worth it. I was impressed by them at that very moment. I hope to visit this place again.
This is never a Japanese culture. This place is for foreign tourist who know or try to know nothing about Japan. Ordinary Japanese people never visit the place. A shame of Japan. 8000 yen for this? It’s super ridiculous!
So all the salarymen in the audience aren’t ‘ordinary Japanese people’?
It’s definitely touristy, but your comment reads more like a vendetta against something you view as distasteful than an honest assessment of Robot Restaurant from someone who has been.
My daugther is 6 year can see the show??? Please let me know, thanks
If you’re asking whether kids are allowed, yes. Whether you want her to see what’s depicted in the photos here (and honestly, it’s relatively tame now) is a personal matter. If you do go, I’d recommend an earlier showtime. Shinjuku gets dicey in the late night hours.
Yes she can, but NO Japanese parents take their children there. This is just an indecent show in the name of “robot” for drunken men or foreign tourists who know nothing about Japan. Never expect high technologies.
Why I like it: Cooking with other people is fun.
Just to note some current prices (as of Nov 2017):
The cheapest third-party ticket discounter (Klook) is charging $47.80 for the 4:00pm show.
Robot Restaurant’s own website charges 7500 yen ($66 USD) if you book online for the normal show times.
Hello, Tom. I am a undergraduate student in Japan. Now I am studying the Japanese robot culture as entertainment. So, I am interested that how the Japanese robot culture influences foreign tourists. If possible, I would like to interview you through skype as I would like to know why you are attracted by the robot restaurant. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Can my son age 10 watch this show? He loves robot but I dunno if it’s appropriate for his age. Pls advice.
Could you tell me if my son of 17 can enter in the Robot restaurant?
Can my son age 10 watch this show? He loves robot but I dunno if it’s appropriate for his age. Pls advice.
Esto es atormentador .. Un espacio muy pequeno para tanta bulla ..no recomendable
Hi Tom, we just visited this restaurant on Christmas Eve and it was really entertaining!! We arrived a bit late so we weren’t able to see their shiny lounge area before the show. My husband wished he could drink during the show lol. Anyways, he blogged about the show too, if you are interested we appreciate your comment, here’s the link: http://www.travelinboots.com/japan/shinjuku-robot-restaurant-review/
Happy New Year!
I went to the show yesterday and like a lot of others was agog with anticipation. I walked out halfway through as basically I was conned. There are no robots, the place is a dive, like the seediest of seedy Soho strip joints in the 70s and the show was just abominable. No entertainment at all and just a lingering thought that I had been conned. Worst show I’ve ever been to…the genius is in the name and the marketing. As for the fire hazard, don’t ask…
Shouldn’t the fact that these aren’t actual robots be pretty clear from just about every piece of info online? It’s a hilarious romp, not some serious robot fight.
absolutely a fire hazard.
an electrical fire went off during the break time of our show, and the staff tried to cover it up while the smoke and the smell of burning plastic filled the room. management not only neglected to inform people that it was not part of the show, did not evacuate the guests, and no smoke alarm went off at all! thankfully it was just a small fire that was quickly extinguished, but i would not want to be trapped down there in a cramped basement room of 100+ people when a real fire happens. management refused all refunds, told us the show would continue and that we should go back to our seats!
the police in the area were of no assistance whatsoever (local police in Japan to are notorious for trying to shirk any and all responsibility). finally escalated it to the fire department to warn them that this establishment is unsafe, and they promptly arrived on scene and scolded the management for at least an hour. more senior law enforcement arrived on the scene. the local policemen were reprimanded for their negligence too.
as for the yakuza rumours, i don’t know what your sources are but the management absolutely looked like yakuza (middle aged japanese men with dyed hair in suits, in this kind of area? come on, who are you kidding. and as if any business would ever admit to being run by yakuza!). kabukicho is famously a yakuza infested area, so please do your research before going. such hazardous business practices being overlooked for such a popular tourist destination for so long stink of yakuza involvement. local police relectuance to do anything may also be quite telling.
anyway no matter how great a show like this may be, i am not willing to risk my life or the ones I’m with just to see some flashing lights.
Been to there. Totally a blast. Although the food is still not particularly great, but I personally enjoyed the show a lot. I actually want to go back there again.
Yeah, I know it’s worth it. I mean, where else around the globe can you have the sense of entertainment and amazing palate of the Japanese under the same roof? Where? Japan rocks!
‘Amazing palate’ might be a stretch, but the Japanese sense of entertainment is definitely right on the money. It’s a crazy, amazing show!
I was expecting programmed robots in a show but it’s NOT!
Don’t go there, you will not see any robots.
It’s like a brazilian parade. People wearing costumes and girls in bikini a lot of music and lights.
Girls are sitting on remote controlled wagons with a man dressed in black following with the remote controll.
Dont expect to get a robot experiance.
Visit Gundam Cafés and Odaiba and see the plastic one.
If you decide to to visit the show, eat before you enter.
The food is some cold pieces of rice, cold meat or fish.
With a bottle with green tea.
I visit the “Robot Restaurant” the 9th of March.
Would not even call it a restaurant!
Anthony Bourdain just profiled this restaurant on this past Saturday’s episode of PARTS UNKNOWN. He called it the best show he’s ever seen. Guess I’m in. He also stayed at the Park Hyatt. So if you haven’t seen the show… guess you have to now. Thanks for your amazing pictures and thoughtful descriptions.
WOW! What an incredibly epic looking show. Looks like it was an amazing time for a group of people to go to. Definitely like nothing I’ve ever seen before and a must do if I ever make it over there. Glad you were able to convince the rest of your group to go though the material you had to work with surly wasn’t the easiest to convince them. lol The pictures are still good even for having to be quick with the camera. fun times.
It was an absolute blast. We liked it so much that we’re trying to figure out how we can squeeze a return visit in!
So cool… 🙂
Thanks! I just want to tell you that your blog has been very helpful to me. We’ve used to to plan some things in Japan! So, thank you! 🙂