For our final few days in Tokyo, our itinerary told us we were staying close to the infamous red light district with a plethora of themed cafes and restaurants. One recommended was “Robot Restaurant”:http://www.shinjuku-robot.com/pc/?lng=en saying it was definitely one-of-a-kind and could only be experienced in Tokyo.
Reviews suggested it was more of a floor show than restaurant and so we reserved online the night before for the 4pm show (the later ones being fully booked) but not for a meal.
We arrived early and found a queue waiting to pick up their tickets but it was being well managed. We then walked across the road and took a lift to the 3rd floor where there was a large ‘holding pen’ or lounge area where drinks were on sale. It was stunning and full of gold, glitter, flashing coloured lights and gold chairs whilst a ‘silver clad robot’ played the piano. Drinks were reasonably priced and we were told we could take them into the show.
Eventually we were allowed into the auditorium, accessed via four flights of floral glitzy steps which assaulted the eyes, making them difficult to negotiate. Inside was a long rectangular room with banks of red leather seats (each with a small table with holders for drinks – we had taken ours with us) in long rows down either side. We were in the front row right in the centre.
First of all more drinks and snacks were being sold before the show started promptly with a circus style ringmaster acting as compere and telling us what to expect.
The first 15 minute show was a series of radio controlled moving stages with actors with wild costumes and wigs and loud music (ear muffs are provided for young children). It’s hard to describe, but it was fascinating and you didn’t know where to look.
In the break, drinks and snacks were once more rolled out before a clown came on with a lucky seat number – a little girl was most impressed with her prize of a gigantic tub of popcorn.
The next show had amazing special effects with sounds, bangs, lights and costumes and fire eating robots There were simple stories with monsters where good prevailed over evil and incredible images that are hard to forget but hard to describe.
For the final show, we all had light sabres which we waved enthusiastically as everyone came back on to the floor.
At £95 for two, it’s not a cheap way to spend 90 minutes but we felt it was well worth it and much less tacky than we’d expected.
If you’d like to experience a little of the show yourself, watch this YouTube video
Finally, if anyone heard me talking about this experience on Silver Travel Radio, I did say it was in Osaka but it’s actually in Tokyo – whoops!
