1. VAMPIRE CAFÉ
FYI, restaurants with a particular “theme” or idea behind them are scattered throughout Tokyo. The themes vary from pretty regular to hands-down super weird. We’d put the Vampire Cafe somewhere in the middle.
If you’re looking for a spooky experience, it’s right up your alley with the skulls and coffins. Plus it’s not really a “cafe” — it’s a restaurant. Hold the raw meat, right!
It’s located in Ginza (銀座) – a famous luxury shopping district. It’s well-known by locals and absolutely loved by foreigners.
Even though they’ve gone with a blood red theme for carpets and curtains, and there’s a huge coffin in the middle of the restaurant, they’ve somehow kept it a very fun and relaxing place to hang out at.
The food is amazing and it’ll be served to you by a real vampire.
Be sure to put it on your list of to-dos if you ever visit Ginza!
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2. Alice’s Fantasy Restaurant
Since we’re talking about themed restaurants (that’s not all we have for you, we promise), we can’t go without mentioning Alice’s Fantasy Restaurant.
It’s a chain of restaurants run by Diamond Dining – the same guys that created The Vampire Café!
Its décor, menu, even the waiters will make you feel like you’ve fallen deep into the rabbit hole. To be honest, you would not want to leave.
Alice’s Fantasy Restaurant is one of the most famous themed restaurants in Japan and the perfect place to enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner and get away from it all.
There are five of these restaurants all around Tokyo, one in Osaka and one in Nagoya – so you don’t have an excuse, you simply have to visit at least one.
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3. Alcatraz E.R.
Moving on from spooky to creepy, did we mention Japan also features a prison-hospital themed restaurant called Alcatraz E.R.?
One might argue that if you’ve never had an undead nurse serve you drinks, you haven’t lived at all. But frankly, we’re not sure we’re up for the experience — are you? Then you’re a lot braver than us!
From being handcuffed at the entrance and taken to your cell, to drinking to the sounds of roaming crazy inmates, to the undead nurses and mad doctors serving you food and drinks – it can actually be a pretty scary experience. And that’s what it’s famous for!
All the craziness aside, the Alcatraz E.R. do serve amazing food. They plate it quite creatively also.
It’s located in the Shibuya district. It can get quite packed, so make sure you book in advance.
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4. SANRIO PUROLAND
Taking a sharp 180 turn from the spooky stuff, we’re going to Sanrio Puroland. Are you coming?
This huge indoor 4-floor theme park has essentially become a dreamland for little girls and teenagers, as well as the lovers of kawaii culture!
Characters like Hello Kitty, Little Twin Stars, Pompompurin and My Melody are just a few of the theme park celebrities you’ll get to meet.
These cute world-famous characters have made this place their go-to for performing during shows and parades, and entertaining not only for the young but the LGBT too!
The park is full of arcade games, rides, game areas, and a gift shop so huge you’re guaranteed to find something in there that will make you go “Awwww”.
It’s located in the center of the suburb named Tama (多摩市) which is about a half hour away from Shinjuku.
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5. Planetarium Bar
If you’ve never been to the Planetarium Bar, chances are you’ll find it strange or not-that-interesting comparing to some other places we told you about. Don’t be too quick to judge though! This venue has its special magic — it’s the go-to romantic and quiet place for dates, amazing Italian food and undisturbed pondering over the vastness of the universe.
We’re not going to lie to you, it’s really dark in there (maybe just a bit lighter than the actual space). But it sort of gives it a great atmosphere. You get to enjoy a moment far away from the endless crowds and dazzling lights of Tokyo.
Imagine having dinner with your loved one under a projector creating a roof of 5 million shiny stars over your head as you watch the Tokyo skyline. Not too bad, is it? Make sure to book a table for those special occasions that deserve to be celebrated in a special way.
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