The Robot Restaurant is peak “weird Japan.” It’s highly choreographic dances and fight scenes, lightly-clothed dancers, comically low-tech robots, and all-round crazy vibes. Yes, this is a spectacle designed for tourists. Do you really need to see it? That is up to you. We just want to make sure you pay the best price for tickets.
What is the Robot Restaurant?
The Robot Restaurant is a dinner show…kind of. It is not, however, a sophisticated marriage of old and new. Oh no. This is something entirely different. This is a few million USD of astonishing awesomeness and noise.
Wait, I thought the Robot Restaurant closed?
Yes, it did, for awhile during the pandemic. But now it’s back, with some changes.
The new Robot Restaurant is at the same site, but now in a building called ギラギラガールズ (giragiragirls).
What’s changed?
The show is longer than ever and is now strictly for over 18s only. We got to see a sneak preview and can report that the show is now actually good.
How much do Robot Restaurant tickets cost?
Right, that’s another thing that’s changed. Tickets now cost ¥10,000 per person, and include a bento/meal or two drinks.
There are a few ways to get discounts. However, a disclaimer: tickets won’t ever actually be “cheap.” The Robot Restaurant is expensive to run — all those talented dancers, lights, smoke machines, and lasers aren’t free.
Getting tickets to the Robot Restaurant
Online bookings can be made up until 11 a.m. on the day you want to attend, and you can pay cash or credit card on arrival. Aside from not getting the best prices, the website is a little confusing to use and closes at 5 p.m. — you’ll have to make a phone reservation after then. We say meh. You can do much better with a little searching.
Discount tickets for the Robot Restaurant
Currently, the only deal on the market is from Rakuten Travel Experiences, one of the main hosts for the Robot Restaurant. Their long-standing relationship means they can offer a few extra benefits to make them stand out from the crowd. At the moment, tickets cost ¥8,900 — that’s an 11% discount — and also include a bento or two drinks.
Robot Restaurant: What to expect
Robotic floats of various shapes and sizes, intense choreography, loads of LED lights, smoke machines, crazy costumes, live singers, taiko drumming, dancing, and epic fake fight scenes. Oh, and giant reptiles and underwater creatures.
Plus, you’ll be given your own glow stick to participate in the action.
When does it start? How long does it last?
At the moment, there is only one show a day. Doors open at 1:00 p.m. and there may be some live music or entertainment while you wait until 2:30 p.m., when the real theatrics begins. The whole performance will last for around two hours, finishing around 5 p.m., but you may stay until 5:30 p.m.
The show is split into four acts or “stories”, with three intervals of varying lengths (10–15 minutes) spliced in between. During the breaks, you can dash to the loo and order snacks or drinks from the menu but don’t miss the lively interval demonstrations. This is also a chance to buy not-so-cheapo souvenirs, including t-shirts, pins, and even a traditional happi coat typically worn during festivals.
Is it family-friendly?
While there is no nudity, or even particularly revealing outfits during the show, because Robot Restaurant is part of an adult entertainment establishment called GiraGiraGirls — you may even see a few workers on shift in the audience — you must be over 18 years of age to enter. Also, remember that the drinking age is 20 in Japan and that rule still applies.
Dress code at the Robot Restaurant
The dress code is casual. You can wear whatever you like, within reason: basically, your regular clothing should be fine. Closed shoes are a good idea, simply to avoid having your toes trodden on (space is tight between the seats).
If you’re one of those guys who likes to go topless, don’t — you do need a shirt. Bring a sweater in case you get chilly in the air-conditioned basement.
Food and drinks at the Robot Restaurant
Spoiler: It’s not actually a restaurant.
You can eat during the shows at the Robot Restaurant, with plenty of intervals for you to buy food from the English-language menu, but be aware that you’ll need cash to order things (and maybe a lot of pointing). They are currently working on implementing a credit card system.
What can I eat? How much does it cost?
While the robot part is true, the restaurant part is not exactly accurate — there’s not a wide variety of choices and you may be too distracted during the show to chow down on anything. If you are planning on eating a meal in peace, then we recommend getting there before the show starts (doors open at 1 p.m. and the show starts at 2:30 p.m.). Prices start from ¥500 for tortilla chips and go up to ¥1,500 for ramen.
If you opt for a bento instead of two drinks with your ticket, then you’ll be given a choice between a steak bento, sushi bento, appetizer bento, ramen in a soy sauce soup, or udon noodles in soup. We recommend the steak bento if you want something a little more filling.
Note that you have to book at least one day in advance to reserve a bento. If you book too late, your meal will be substituted with ramen. It’s also worth pointing out that they currently have no vegetarian or vegan options, but they do have popcorn and fries on the regular menu.
What can I drink? How much does it cost?
If you decide to eat a full meal somewhere else in Kabukicho before or after the show, then you may decide to go for the two-drink option with your ticket instead. You can choose from a range of alcohol (beer, wine, sake, highball) and soft drinks. On the menu, a large beer is ¥800 and a glass of wine ¥500.
What else to see and do around the Robot Restaurant in Tokyo
While the Robot Restaurant’s neighborhood, Kabukichō, is known as a hotbed of “adult” fun, there are a few wholesome activities in the area too. On the way to the restaurant, you can always make a detour to say hello to Shinjuku’s largest (official) resident, Godzilla.
First published in January 2017. Last updated in May 2023. Though we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change.
