photo by Josh Holmes
Have you ever encountered a restaurant that surprises you like ‘!!!’ ? Actually, if you check, there are many interesting restaurants in Japan. We will introduce some restaurants with some individualism that are full of entertainment intentions like ones that make you snicker, or places that have unreal set-ups that make you go, what?!
Ninja Restaurant NINJA AKASAKA
‘NINJA AKASAKA’ is a reproduction of a Ninja residence in Tokyo’s Akasaka. Like the name declares, it is a restaurant where ninjas do their best to serve you. There are 15 NINJA chefs working at this restaurant. Some might think, ‘Are you for real?’, but they are very serious. All are competent chefs that have undergone training at famous restaurants. Of course Japanese food, but also, French, Italian, Chinese, pastries, they can make anything so please order anything! Assuredly their taste is praised, so among their customers are a former prime minister, Hollywood celebrities and world-renown artists. Signatures are on display throughout the store, if you’re interested.
Fishing Restaurant Tsuribune Chaya Zauo
Fishing while enjoying your meal is ‘Tsuribune Chaya Zauo.’ First you buy the necessary fish bait (100-200yen). You can rent the pole for free, so don’t worry. Start fishing and try and catch the fish you would like to eat from inside the tank. The arrangement is that the fish that is caught is given to the staff so they can cook it the way you want it. The price which includes the cooking differs depending on the type of fish. ‘Oh no, I wanted the cheap fish, but I caught an expensive one!’, is sure to make this much more interesting. This is a restaurant chain, so there might be one close to you.
Popular with foreigners Robot Restaurant
The one that ranks in the top 20 sightseeing spots for foreigners in Japan, is the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku’s Kabuki-cho. The name suggests that robots will be serving you at this restaurant, but fortunately pretty girls will be the ones that serve you. The robots do things like dance on stage and showcase fighting humans to the death, entertaining the guests. It’s a popular restaurant so be sure to make reservations.
Jail Restaurant The Lockup
The restaurant with the weird jail concept is ‘The Lockup.’ The customers become the prisoners. At the entrance, the police (staff) will arrest you and take you into a prison-like private room. And you enjoy your dinner as a prisoner. It’s so thorough that if you go alone, they take you to solitary confinement. Questionable cocktails served in test tubes and beakers help to make it an exciting experience. It’s best to just go there like you’re heading to a halloween party.
Sumo Restaurant Hananomai Ryogoku Kokugikan-mae ten
The only restaurant in Japan that has an arena is Hananomai Ryukoku Kokugikan-mae ten. Having a big presence in the middle of the Edo themed restaurant, is the arena. There are daily events. Within an atmosphere of ‘wa’, you can enjoy ‘wa’ culture; it’s no wonder it’s popular with foreigners.
Alice in Wonderland Restaurant Alice Fantasy Restaurant
Using Alice in Wonderland as a motif is ‘Alice’s Fantasy Restaurant. An interior where you feel like you’ve wondered into a fairytale, you can enjoy cooking that uses white rabbits and cheshire cat characters as their motifs. Each restaurant has their own individualistic atmosphere, with one in Osaka and one in Tokyo. If you’re a girl, you’re sure to be psyched.
Elementary School Restaurant ‘6 nen 4 kumi’
Using a Japanese elementary school as their concept is ‘6nen 4kumi.’ The workers are the ‘teachers,’ while the customers are the ‘students.’ You can enjoy the food in individual rooms that are realistically made into a principal’s office, music room, science room, etc. With Japanese school lunch staples such as fried bread and soft noodles as appetizers, plus alcoholic drinks that you couldn’t drink when you were at that age. There might be a pop quiz as well.
Kamen Rider Restaurant KAMEN RIDER THE DINER
Very popular among Japanese children is the official Kamen Rider restaurant, ‘KAMEN RIDER THE DINER.’ The interior made up like Shocker’s (Enemy spy) secret property, with a life-sized Kamen Rider with historic Rider figurines and morphing belts on display. Also, seen in the center is the Leader, Shocker’s throne.
Sengoku Era Restaurant Ranse no Koshitsu Sengoku buyu-den
A turbulent Sengoku Period is the concept for Ranse no Koshitsu Sengoku buyu-den. A helmet and armor greet you at the entrance. In private rooms named Oda Nobunaga, Naoe Kanetsugu and Sanada Yukimura, you can enjoy dishes and alcohol that are inspired by military commanders and battles. How about having secret conversations in a restaurant full of spirits of the warring states?
Ultra Monster Restaurant Kaijyu Sakaba
The place where every evening, monsters defeated by Ultraman, come together to talk and forget their troubles and conspire about tomorrow, ’Kaijyu Sakaba’. On the monitors are monster news, with menus using monsters as the motifs, this is a place that will surely arouse the Ultraman generation. Is this exciting feeling going to be enjoyed as much, by people from overseas?
※ The monsters don’t have such things as table-setting services.
Pro Restaurant Antonio Enoki Sakaba
The restaurant where everyone becomes really happy is ‘Antonio Enoki’s Sakaba‘. Like the concept suggests, the high spirits of the employees are sure to increase your spirits. They have recreated the Showa Period, every Friday night at 8pm, watching pro-wrestling, dinnertime. Kind of scary to drink too much because you’re going to be swept off by the ambiance.
Summary
This time we have introduced only a fraction, but there are many many more interesting restaurants. If you look at it this way, it seems like the Japanese might have a sense in entertainment. We hope that more and more foreigners will enjoy Japanese restaurants.
