Tokyo's Quirkiest Cafes: Unusual Dining Experiences

 

Tokyo is a wonderful place for traditional Japanese dining experiences. There are world-famous sushi restaurants that are steeped in tradition, and Japanese culture has a reverence for these institutions that you won’t find elsewhere. There are buzzy Izakaya bars that offer casual but authentic settings. There are even cramped ramen bars where slurping is not only acceptable but considered good manners. These are institutions that are cherished and preserved rather than spun for the next novel idea. Every visit to Tokyo should involve indulging in one of these restaurants. 

Then there’s the more “fun” side of Japan, where taking yourself too seriously is thrown by the wayside. Robot restaurants, Vampire restaurants, and seafood spots where you catch your own dinner. There are restaurants and bars where novelty and downright silliness is the whole idea. This is a side of Japanese culture that can both confound and delight international travelers, and it’s well worth dedicating at least one meal to one of these zany spots. 

Getting around Tokyo can be a daunting task, but luckily the world-beating efficiency of public transport allows you to navigate this vast metropolis in search of new flavors and experiences. Bounce's luggage storage locations in Tokyo are conveniently located near many of the best attractions, nightlife, and restaurants. So it’s easy to find a place to drop the bags off so you can hit everything on your Tokyo bucket list, and drop by one of the many one-of-a-kind restaurants in this fantastic city. 

Vampire Cafe

This Gothic-themed restaurant in Ginza recreates a vampire’s lair with a dimly lit dining room filled with candles, velvet curtains, and eerie artwork. The menu offers a range of vampire-inspired dishes like coffin-shaped pizza, spooky (we promise you that’s shrimp…) seafood noodles, and blood-colored drinks. The staff, dressed as vampires, offer both a haunting presence and comic relief. It sounds zany because it is, but the restaurant itself is very cool, and the ambiance certainly works. This is the perfect place to go during Halloween, as it’s one of the few places in Tokyo to observe this ghastly holiday. 

Alice's Fantasy Restaurant

Fans of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland (and its many adaptations) will want to eat at Alice's Fantasy Restaurant in Shinjuku for a surprisingly faithful recreation of this iconic fairytale. The restaurant’s dining rooms are designed to resemble iconic scenes from the story, especially the Mad Hatter’s tea party. Expect cartoonishly oversized tea cups, playing card decorations, and wait staff dressed as familiar characters. The food itself isn’t the point, but there are surprisingly tasty (and endlessly whimsical) dishes like Cheshire Cat tail-shaped desserts, playing card cookies, and "Drink Me" potions.

The Lockheart Castle Restaurant

American travelers will be reminded of county renaissance fairs and Medieval Times birthday parties when they experience a feast at The Lockheart Castle Restaurant in Takayama (which is just outside Tokyo). This medieval theme park has acres of family-friendly attractions and activities, and the park's restaurant offers an immersive dining experience complete with knights, princesses, and a jousting show. The menu consists of Japanese interpretations of hearty medieval food.  

If you’re traveling through Tokyo with the family, Lockheart Castle is one of the most fun places to bring the little ones, and a stop at this delightfully kitschy restaurant is well worth it. The castle grounds make for a  gorgeous backdrop for your family photo!

Ninja Akasaka

For a more quintessentially Japanese experience (compared to jousting), head to Ninja Akasaka. Disguised as a traditional Japanese house, this restaurant’s staff dress and perform as ninjas as they skillfully serve delectable Japanese dishes like sushi and tempura. For a novelty restaurant, the food is surprisingly excellent. 

Hidden chambers, secret passageways, and illusions add to the allure of the dimly lit dining room and bar area. This spot gets rave reviews, and it has turned into a viral phenomenon for a reason. 

Robot Restaurant

Tokyo’s most famous themed restaurant is a loud, colorful, and delightfully bonkers extravaganza featuring giant robots, neon lights, and energetic dancers. The performances blend Japanese pop culture, anime, and (intentionally retro) technology to create a sensory overload while you nibble on sushi rolls and bento boxes. 

Zauo

If your lengthy trip to Tokyo has you missing your rod and reel, you can always explore Japan’s superb fly-fishing destinations or plan a charter. If that won’t work, you can always head to Zauo. This folksy seafood joint comes complete with a large pool where diners can catch their own fish.

You can choose your fishing rod and bait before trying your luck wrangling in one of the many varieties of fish on offer. Once you've successfully hooked your dinner, the skilled chefs will grill it, put it in a steamy hot-pot, or prepare it sashimi-style. 

 

Kagaya

Tokyo is a fantastic drinking and nightlife city, with a wide selection of high-end cocktail bars, audiophile listening bars, amazing streetside Izakaya, and thousands of buzzy lounges and pubs. While Japanese culture excels at elegance and perfection, this town can also get rowdy. Nowhere in Tokyo is there a more riotous party than at Kahaya in Shinbashi. This quirky restaurant provides an interactive and entertaining meal hosted by proprietor Mr. Kagaya, who entertains guests with his eccentric humor and customizes each course to the customer’s wishes and even pulls a few pranks. Edible art and Mr. Kagaya’s hilarious antics are irresistibly charming. The food isn’t bad, either!

Owl Cafe Shibuya

Believe it or not, Japan has a number of establishments that function both as restaurants and sanctuaries for owls. The Owl Cafe in Shibuya allows visitors to interact with a variety of owl species in a cozy and tranquil setting. You can learn about these stoic creatures while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea. The owls are trained to be friendly with customers, and the staff is attentive and adept at making it a comfortable experience for both customer and the animal.  

Planning your trip to Tokyo, your mouth may water at the thought of your first bowl of nourishing ramen or expertly-constructed bite of sushi. There’s no way you’ll want to miss these once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences. But if you’re feeling adventurous, keep an eye out for Tokyo’s quirkier restaurants and bars. These places have a habit of becoming people’s new favorite places. The Instagram pictures and videos will speak for themselves! 

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