UPDATE: The Robot Restaurant is temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; do check their official website for news on when they might re-open.

Just when you thought you’ve seen it all, Tokyo ups the game (again!) with an out-of-this-world, over-the-top, glitzy, bizarre, and all kinds of crazy Robot Restaurant. Opening with a flourish in 2012, the Robot Restaurant’s initial clientele was targeted towards businessmen — offering a surreal escape from the rigid confines of the working world. However, over time, it has become a tourist hotspot; yet, this is one tourist trap that we say is well worth the visit.

This cabaret-style show apparently cost a staggering 10 billion yen to build, and it shows. Nestled in Kabukicho, Shinjuku’s bustling red-light district, the Robot Restaurant is hard to miss. 

Keep a lookout for its giant signage and robot sitting out front which, yes, you can happily take as many photos as you like with.

Arrive an hour early to indulge in pre-show drinks in a lounge decked head to toe in reflective surfaces and shimmering lights, where you’ll be serenaded by a band clad in, what else, robot-themed costumes. Once the show arena opens, make your way down iridescent stairs, alongside neon-adorned walls, to where you’ll be seated.

The show arena is by no means large; it basically comprises a narrow room lined with three rows of seats on either side. Here, you’ll be served a bento if you pre-booked beforehand for JPY1000 (~SGD10); however, we recommend grabbing a bite beforehand and giving this a miss. After all, themed restaurants are never known for their food! 

Otherwise, grab some snacks to munch on from the roving vendors. These vendors will also make another appearance during the breaks.

You won’t have to wait long before the lights dim, and boy what a show awaits! Be breathlessly whisked away into an alternate reality where gigantic robots of all shapes and sizes battle it out to pulsating drum beats, blaring techno music, and the like.

The energy is infectious; there’s just so much going on at once, that you probably won’t even have time to soak it all in. The robots and performers effortlessly navigate the narrow stage — kudos to the Japanese for pulling this off! To be frank, we weren’t sure what was happening more than half the time, But, if, like us, you aren’t too overwhelmed, you’ll soon find yourself clapping along to the infectious tunes and bobbing along to the addictive beats. You’ve been warned!

There’ll be a couple of breaks during the show too, should you need to grab more snacks or visit the restroom. Before the show starts again, there’s an interactive segment where the guest sitting on a lucky seat will receive a prize — somewhat like a lucky draw. Before the second act, the staff will also place chains in front of the first row to separate them from the action.

Out comes a warrior seated atop gigantic dragons with gun blazing, and even a humongous animatronic snake head with glowing eyes. The two engage in an edge-of-your-seat battle, with the snake emerging victorious.

The third act follows a sort of storyline, with actors boarding a train to a far-off land. On the way, they encounter ancient mammoths, glowing jellyfish, a neon piranha, and more. This segment reminded us of Disneyland’s parade in a way — but bling-ed and tuned up way high. 

The audience will also be given light sticks to join in the fun, so wave away!

The show’s curtain call comes in the form of all the robots coming out for one last showdown, complete with the waving of various country flags. It’s an explosion of light, colour, sound… and really, everything in between on a kaleidoscopic, eccentric, and nothing-else-quite-compares other level.

Do note that due to flashing lights and loud noises, it’s not recommended for guests suffering from epilepsy to attend the show. Kids will also be given headphones for the noise; however, it might still prove a little too much for their little ears. We were seated next to a family with young children, who all left after the first act!

The show happens four times a day at 4pm, 5.55pm, 7.50pm, and 9.45pm. Guests are requested to check in at least 30 minutes before each show starts. You also won’t be permitted to enter if you’re intoxicated, dressed in costumes, wearing sunglasses, or sport visible tattoos. If you'd like, you can store your belongings in lockers available at the check-in area.

The Robot Restaurant is by no means cheap, however, with each ticket costing around JPY6,000 to JPY8,000 (~SGD60 - 80). But for this once-in-a-lifetime experience that you probably won’t get anywhere else? We say it’s worth it!