An experience that should be on your Tokyo bucket list is a visit to the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku, located a short walk from Shinjuku Station. We loved visiting the Robot Restaurant, however, unfortunately due to COVID19 it has closed, and we will need to wait and see whether it re-opens once tourism resume.

Everything about the Tokyo Robot Restaurant is over-the-top. From the moment you enter you will feel like you’ve gone down the rabbit hole and entered a futuristic Alice in Wonderland. Every square inch of space (including entries, elevators, walls, hallways and stairwells) is flashy, colourful and an assault to the senses. It’s been described as like walking through the mind of someone on an acid trip.

Note that this attraction is currently closed due to COVID19, whether it will reopen once tourism resumes we will see.

Why Visit the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku

The cabaret-style show itself is a riot of randomness – a true ‘only in Japan’ experience. As an example of what to expect, your experience will start with a music performance, followed by the start of the main show about 30 minutes later. The show is broken up into 3 parts with intermissions in between. Over the course of the show you can expect an overload of music, dancers and laser-clad performers, taiko drummers, larger than life cartoon characters and of course wonderful oversized robots dancing and fighting.

Don’t expect to understand much of what you see and hear, and don’t expect a deep and meaningful storyline. Expect instead an abundance of energy and fun. At the end of the show, you will walk out equal parts amazed and baffled at the insight you’ve had into modern Japanese sub-culture. If you have a family, you’ll also be pleased to know that the show is now much more family friendly than the early days of the Robot Restaurant in Tokyo.

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Shinjuku Robot Restaurant Show Times

There are 4 main show times which are as follows:

4:00pm (enter between 3:20pm to 4:00pm)
5:55pm (enter between 5:15pm to 5:25pm)
7:50pm (enter between 7:10 to 7:20pm)
9:45pm (enter between 9:05pm to 9:15pm)

It’s very important to note that you must arrive 30 minutes before the main show starts as late arrivals will not be admitted. Further, tickets cannot be refunded due to missed reservations. You are also not allowed to wear sunglasses or have visible tattoos, nor can you wear costumes or be intoxicated.

The most child-friendly show time is the 4:00pm show but you can only attend this performance on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday. After August 31, the 4:00pm show will only be available on Saturday and Sunday. Another benefit of the 4:00pm show, apart from being family-friendly, is that there is a photo opportunity with the robots.

Robot Restaurant Tokyo Price

The entry price to the Robot Restaurant is 8000 Yen (about US$72) which is discounted to 7500 Yen when paying online. Food is an additional 1000 Yen or 1500 Yen.

How to Book Robot Restaurant Tokyo Tickets

Robot Restaurant tickets can be booked directly through the Robot Restaurant, however I would strongly recommend booking through a third-party ticket provider to get heavily discounted prices.

Robot Restaurant Tokyo Discount

Our recommended provider for Robot Restaurant Tokyo tickets is Voyagin (a reputable online travel agency) for the following reasons:

Firstly, you will save yourself a lot of money booking through Voyagin. Currently, you will get a great Robot Restaurant Discount of 34% compared to buying tickets directly.
Secondly, rather than get a randomly allocated seat, you can add VIP seat upgrades for either front row centre seats, or 2^nd and 3^rd row center seats if you’d like to be a little further away from the action. The option for seat upgrades is only available through Voyagin.
Thirdly, the Voyagin booking process is easy and quick and is backed up by customer support via chat, phone or e-mail.
Voyagin regularly run coupon code discount sales so you can often get your robot Restuarant tickets at an even cheaper price! Keep an eye out when you click through for the latest deals to pop up!
Finally, you can get a free souvenir bottle opener. ?

Children under the age of 3 can enter free of charge. Children over the age of 3 must purchase a general admission ticket (same price as adults)

It’s important to note that you can’t enter the Robot Restaurant without your confirmation e-mail from Voyagin. Just show a hard copy of the e-mail or show the e-mail on your smartphone to the Robot Restaurant staff when you arrive. An electronic receipt cannot be accepted as an entry ticket.

Robot Restaurant Menu

There is food available through the Robot Restaurant which currently includes a grilled beef dinner box, a Japanese-style dinner box and sushi. Popcorn and drinks are also available. You can pre-order sushi or a discount for popcorn and a drink through Voyagin. You can purchase food and drinks before the show and during the intermission periods.

Going to the Robot Restaurant is much more about the show than the food. Beyond a drink and popcorn, I wouldn’t recommend eating at the Robot Restaurant as there isn’t a great deal to choose from and portions can be small. I would instead suggest eating at one of the many restaurants near the Robot Restaurant either before or after the show.

Robot Restaurant Location and How to Get There

Robot Restaurant Tokyo is located at 1-7-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo. It is an easy 5 minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku Sanchome Station (Tokyo Metro), or the Toei Shinjuku Line (Shinjuku Station).

From the East Exit of JR Shinjuku Station, make sure Studio Alta is in front of you. Walk up the side street to the left of Mizuho Bank. Continue walking straight ahead until you get to Yasukuni Dori. Cross over Yasukuni Dori and continue walking straight ahead until you spot the gigantic neon Robot Restaurant sign. See the map below for further details.

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