GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!WithGoGuide
GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!

The Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku, Tokyo (with video)

Triplelights official blog B.

by GoWithGuide travel specialist:Triplelights official blog B.

Last updated : Feb 26, 20214 min read

Things To Do

Japan has long been a world leader in robotics and technology, ever since its boom in the electronics industry in the 1980s.  And with such iconic "techie" districts like Akihabara, it is easy to experience Japan's technological wonders as a tourist in Tokyo.  But in recent years, Tokyo has stepped it up a notch and now provides something on a whole new scale to travellers who want the ultimate experience in Japan's techno-robotic culture - The Robot Restaurant.

 

Located in Shinjuku's Kabukicho, The Robot Restaurant at first seems to fit right in with the dazzling neon lights of the surrounding area, but upon closer look you will find it's a whole new different thing entirely.  Passing the moving robot display at the entrance, you are bombarded with an interior bonanza of sparkling, multi-coloured LED lights and shiny reflective walls that reminded us of something out of a Mighty Max/ Star Wars hybrid film.  After boarding the elevator and riding to the waiting room, things get even more glitzy.  The waiting room itself is loaded with an array of fancy gold and red chairs, shiny tables, and more reflective surfaces than a carnival fun-house.  Overall, the venue feels very retro-modern, if that makes sense.  Think what people in the 70s might have thought the future to be like, and its pretty bang-on.  Despite this perfect mix between tack and class, we had a very comfortable time in the waiting area, and it's a great place to have a few drinks, settle down, and enjoy some pre-show musical entertainment. 

 

blog imageMoving on from the waiting room, everyone makes their way down to the basement where the real show begins.  The main show room itself is not too big, with a stage aligned in the centre and chairs and tables lined opposite each other.  The size and setup is well-designed in that there aren't really any "bad" seats and everyone can get a nice view of the show.  As it was our first time there, we didn't really know what to expect from the performance, but I think it's safe to say we were all surprised at what we saw.  Basically, the show had about everything, from fighting robot suits, to actual motorized robots, to bikini babes riding motorcycles, to synchronized drummers, and much more.  What's interesting is that despite how different and random each segment of the show was, there was some strange unity to the madness.  You'll get a good idea from watching the video, but overall the performance felt very wacky (in a good way!).  This in itself felt like a unique Japanese experience in that you have elements of anime-like futuristic technology, J-pop-like synchronized dancing, and just plain weirdness, all combined into one stunning show.

 

For us, The Robot Restaurant truly felt like a unique experience, and something that you could only really imagine in Japan.  Our only gripe was the food, which looked a little too much like "snacks" for our liking and it would have been nice to incorporate more of a "dinner theatre" type vibe.  Apart from this, we were very happy with the performance and felt the show to be well worth it.  Sure, there are other performances you might have visited which might be higher budget and better choreographed, but in the end nothing quite expresses Japan's futuristic, robot culture in such a unique way as Shinjuku's Robot Restaurant.

 

We recommend you check out the restaurant for yourself if visiting Tokyo, as it is much better in person, and of course there is a lot we didn't show you in the video.  Below is a link to The Robot Restaurant website:

 

http://www.robot-restaurant.com/E/

     

Tokyo Tour Guide - Yoko Y.

Yoko Y.

5.00 / 5
(8 reviews)
Japan

Bonjour! Je m’appelle Yoko, je suis guide diplômée. J’habite à Tokyo, dans le quartier appelé Yanesen, depuis plus de 10 ans. J’aime bien mon quartier, il se trouve au milieu de Tokyo, mais il garde l'atmosphère d’autrefois.Il y a plus de 100 temples et sanctuaires, les festivals de sanctuaire sont des événements importants pour les habitants, dans les rues commerçantes, il y a de vieux magasins qui animent les rues même aujourd’hui. C’est comme un village, les habitants sont ouverts, amicaux et sympas, il y a de vrais échanges entre eux. Je crois qu’il y a de vieux Tokyo, de vraie vie quotidienne de Tokyoïtes qui ne changent pas depuis longtemps à Yanesen. J’aime bien aussi voyager, découvrir la culture vivante tout en faisant la connaissance avec des personnes locales. Et c’est pour cela que quand je voyage, j’aime bien aller aux marchés, aux cafés et aux restaurants populaires entre les habitants. J’aime aussi le saké depuis 5,6 ans, mais je n'aimais pas le saké, je croyais que le vin était le meilleur, et qu’il accompagnait presque n’importe quel cuisine. Mais aujourd’hui je crois que le saké est le meilleur pour accompagner la cuisine japonaise et notamment quand on voyage dans des régions au Japon, il permet de communiquer plus facilement avec des personnes locales. Pour approfondir mes connaissances, j’ai obtenu le diplôme de saké sommelier et travaille dans une entreprise de saké. Je vous guiderai dans ce bon vieux Tokyo afin que vous puissiez découvrir une vraie vie quotidienne de Tokyoïte, tout en servant d'intermédiaire entre vous et les habitants du quartier. Et bien sur, je peux organiser également le tour sur mesure, tout en répondant à vos demandes pour votre voyage innoubliable! J’espère que l’on se voit très bientôt à Tokyo!                                                                                                                                 

Tokyo Tour Guide - Grant A.

Grant A.

5.00 / 5
(5 reviews)
Japan

My name is Grant I lived more than 10 years in Japan. I graduated University and translation school in Tokyo. I am fluent in Japanese. I have a degree in Asian studies and have expert-level knowledge of Japanese culture and history. I have memorized the JR rail system across all of Japan, I use the same train timetable calculators as the station staff, and I have experience using bullet train passes that are exclusive to foreign visitors. I can optimally navigate the Tokyo underground and maximize value from a Tokyo metro pass and also understand Tokyo above ground which will allow for seamless transitions between different metro stations and landmarks with minimal backtracking. My tour fee is 20,000yen for 1-6hours (135.28USD) 30,000yen for 7-9hours (202.93USD) 40,000yen for 9-12hours (270.57USD) I have half-day tours listed at 20,000 yen (135.28USD) at the moment but you can combine them or do a custom tour for roughly up to 9 hours for 30,000 yen (202.93USD). The time transiting to and from your hotel for pick up or drop off within Tokyo 23wards does not count towards an increase in the price.                                                                                                                                 

Kanagawa Tour Guide - Kaneo U.

Kaneo U.

4.97 / 5
(35 reviews)
Japan

I’m so excited to have a chance to show you around my favorite spots in Kanagawa prefecture. I was born in Kanagawa. I spent my whole school life, including university, here in Kanagawa. I worked as a high school English teacher here for 40 years. I love Kanagawa so much. We have many interesting tourist spots, like Hakone, Kamakura, Enoshima and Yokohama. I got my tour guide license in English in 2009. I am still an English teacher. To give an interesting and impressive lesson to young high school students, I’ve learnt and gathered many kinds of information. I also have a license to teach social studies, so I have a wide range of knowledge about Japanese culture and history. I’m sure to provide you an interesting tour.                                                                                                                                 

Yokohama Tour Guide - Haruo T.

Haruo T.

4.86 / 5
(7 reviews)
Japan

I live in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture. I have a license to teach in high schools and was admitted to the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language in the University of Birmingham. Until 2015 I had been teaching English at public high schools in Kanagawa for 37 years. During that time, I had some experience of guiding students from overseas through sister-school relationship around Tokyo and Kanagawa. Therefore, I had good command of English with the TOEIC score of 935. As for a tour guide experience I earned the certificate of National Government Licensed Guide-Interpreter in English and since then I have guided tourists to the popular sites around Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura and Yokosuka. My guiding focuses on introducing not only Japanese historical and cultural backgrounds but also giving tourists some tips to travel Japan only by themselves, such as how to use trains and subways, find good restaurants, reserve tickets, buy survenier, and speak basic Japanese. In addition, my tour includes opportunities to experience Japanese culture like Zen meditation, ninja performance, visiting anime's location sites based on tourists' request. Besides, by means of my hobbies of writing English Haiku and Waka (traditional Japanese poems) and performing Rakugo (traditional Japanese funny story telling) in English, I can surely entertain tourists during the tour. My moto as a tour guide is let the tourists have a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Japan with my profound, intelligible and interestiog guiding.                                                                                                                                 

Plan your trip to Tokyo

Chat with a local tour guide who can help organize your trip.

Get Started