Robot Restaurant
Robot Restaurant

Are you ready for the crazy stuff?

Cuau from Mexico
Report by Cuau from Mexico

The presenter of the show asked the audience in a loud, excited voice: “Are you ready for the crazy stuff?” I knew she was not exaggerating, but nothing prepared me for the utter assault of the senses that came next. Whatever flamboyant word I could ever think of doesn’t come close to describe the overwhelming experience of going to the Robot Restaurant, one of Tokyo’s most popular must-do activities.

The show features a bizarre mix of imagery related to Japanese culture, where traditional elements such as Taiko drums, Shamisen music, ninja and samurai are grounded together with staples of contemporary Japan like robots, lasers and creepy, yet adorable characters straight out of anime. This recipe for craziness is drizzled with global references such as reggaeton, pop music and samba dancers.

robots
robots
The show is relentless and before you are even able to conjure up an opinion the spectacle changes all of a sudden, covering every single inch of the usable space on the actor’s costumes, mechanical floats and the giant screens behind the audience with new, baroque motifs . At some point, a battle between good vs. evil ensues, giving way to an array of unconceivable characters. Space soldiers, shark women and even a pink gorilla dangling from a flying wasp-robot, you name it. They all fight to the death, spewing showers of sparks and dry ice at each other and incessantly hop around the stage making the gaze of the audience bounce in all directions like out-of control ping-pong balls.
The battle between good vs evil
The battle between good vs evil
finalroboresu
finalroboresu

Trying to understand this show will make your brain hurt, which is why the best advice I can give you is to let go of all meaning, and put yourself in raw perception mode. You’ll soon find yourself clapping and cheering, moved by an energetic performance that ends with a colorful parade of even weirder characters.

Testimonials

June Maurais & Diseree Kranjcevic (Canada)
June Maurais & Diseree Kranjcevic (Canada)

“I came because I was told this show is more amazing than watching Jimmy Hendrix live!”

Arlo Stanford & friends(Australia)
Arlo Stanford & friends
(Australia)

“It’s a sensory overload of flashy lights and loud noises!”

Ku Weixiong, Zen Tang & Kang Wea (Malaysia)
Ku Weixiong, Zen Tang & Kang Wea (Malaysia)

“It’s Japan’s spectacular answer to Las Vegas.”

Robot Restaurant
Address: Kabukicho 1-7-1, Shinjuku
Time: 4pm-11pm (Shows: 4pm, 5:55pm, 7:50pm, 9:45pm), a show is approximately 90 minutes.
Admission: 8,000 yen
Access: 5-min walk from JR and Tokyo Metro Shinjuku Station