Japanese food is one of the most popular types of food in the world. Few cities have as many world-renowned restaurants as Tokyo, especially when it comes to themed restaurants. The food in Tokyo is always great, but sometimes, you want decadent cuisine served with a side of quirk.
That’s when finding one of the more unusual restaurants in Tokyo comes into play. We did the work for you and created a list of the most unique restaurants in Tokyo.
Pokémon Café Tokyo (Nihombashi)
Do you have the urge to “catch ’em all?” If so, you already know about the wild adoration that the Pokemon franchise gets in Japan. Pikachu is basically one of the most well-known symbols of Japan at this point.
This cafe is located in the Nihombashi Takashimaya Shopping Center, right next to the Tokyo Tower. Every meal, soda, and dessert offered at this cafe is adorably themed in the fashion of Pikachu. The surroundings are a light wooden hue, too.
Once in a while, you also might be able to catch a visit from the chef himself…Chef Pikachu!
Ninja Cafe (Harajuku/Akasaka)
Japanese culture is not just famous for being the birthplace of the first sushi restaurant. It’s also famous for anime (like Pokemon and Bleach) and ninjas. This restaurant is done up in a sick ninja theme, giving you the chance to enjoy life as a warrior ninja…at least for dinnertime.
This cafe takes you back to the feudal period of Japan, complete with a complementary ninja training experience, ninja-themed menu items, and ninja costumes. You also can saddle up to the bar for a ninja drink.
Visiting Tokyo at this venue is a great way to kick off a night of fun for the whole family. They also have additional shops in Kyoto, Osaka, and elsewhere. Speaking of other cities, read 14 must know day trips from Tokyo if you want to explore a bit.
Eorzea Final Fantasy (Akihabara)
Are you a fan of Final Fantasy? If you are a FF fan, then there is one themed restaurant you really can’t miss. This is a unique result of a partnership between the Final Fantasy gaming franchise with Pasela Resorts. The goal is to create a restaurant that recreates the exact scene and theme of Final Fantasy
You can enjoy drinks and dishes that have the game’s theme, as well as actual foods and cocktails mentioned in the game. If you are looking for a unique experience at dinner, this is one resort-like venue that won’t disappoint.
Alice In Fantasy Book (Shinjuku-ku)
When you were a kid, did you ever want to attend the Mad Hatter’s tea party in Alice in Wonderland? If so, you probably are going to get a kick out of this cafe and restaurant. This is an Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant that features a bunch of decorations and dishes in the wonderous style of a Lewis Carroll novel.
Cheshire Cat parfaits, a layered Mad Hatter cake, and other delicious treats await you in this trippy and Instagram-worthy cafe. It’s actually one of three, all owned by the Diamond Dining Group. If you are a fan of fantasy drinks, this is a must-see cafe.
Oh, the best part? The doors to this restaurant are shaped to look like book pages, bringing back a trippy take on your favorite book from your favorite school days. Fantasy Book will make your dreams come true.
Alice in an Old Castle (Ikebukuro)
If you’re not in Shinjuku ku, but want to still experience the world of Alice, you’re in luck. There are three locations you can choose from with this particular theme, and two of them are right in the heart of Tokyo. This particular location is designed to make you feel like you’re having a meal with the Queen of Hearts.
Located right in the basement of the Nishiguchi Hulk building, this restaurant features an elegant chandelier, beautifully crafted cocktails, and a little literary fun. Lunch is walk-in, dinner tends to be reservations only.
8-bit Cafe (Shinjuku)
If you’re like a lot of gamers, going to Ninja Akasaka and Final Fantasy won’t be enough to scratch that itch you have for gaming goodness. That’s where the 8-Bit comes into play. This entire restaurant is dedicated to 80s gaming, complete with real gaming memorabilia from the 80s.
This restaurant is one of the most unique restaurants in Tokyo because you don’t just get to enjoy food and drinks surrounded by memorabilia. You also get the chance to play any of the old games that you find on the shelves while you and your buds sit in gaming thrones with drinks in hand.
Yes, the machines are in perfect working order. That’s not an easy feat, considering how old these gaming machines can be. Most of Tokyo’s top gamers love the 8-Bit Cafe because it is so delightfully kitschy. It’s a nice change of pace from most of the gourmet-oriented venues on this list.
Just giving you a heads up: this is not family-friendly. It’s meant for adults who want to drink and play retro games.
The Vampire Cafe (Ginza)
Right near Yurakucho station is the Vampire Cafe…a cafe you can really “sink your teeth” into. Gothic architecture, vampiric dishes, and cocktails that have a faux blood vibe to them make this a venue with some serious bite.
Waiters and waitresses are expected to dress in maid cafe and butler cafe attire. However, the scenery is 1000 percent vampire approved. Private booths, regular jazz shows, and an ambiance worth a slew of photos are major draws here.
Of course, you don’t have to be goth or a jazz fan to visit. You just need to want to eat and drink morbidly delicious treats topped with edible fake blood. Dinner is the most popular meal of the day here…just don’t be shocked if you run into a real-life vampire.
Pompompurim Cafe (Shibuya)
Fans of Japanese kawaii culture already know this name! It’s Pom Pom Purin, a golden retriever who is just as cute as Hello Kitty. Much like Tokyo’s favorite cat, Pom Pom Purin also has his own restaurant in Tokyo. It’s in the heart of Harajuku on the second floor of the Pompompurin Store.
If you’re looking for a child-friendly place to eat Japanese food in a cute setting, this is a great place to go. Their coffee is pretty decent, and you also get the chance to shop rare Pompompurin collectibles while you’re in town.
Rokunen Yonkumi (Shinjuku)
It’s not a stretch to say that Japanese schools are iconic in their own right. Rokunen Yonkumi in Shinjuku-ku brings old school days to life in a themed restaurant unlike any other. This izakaya is modeled off Japanese classrooms.
Every guest gets to enjoy unlimited sweets, a “pop quiz” and classic Japanese dinners like curry and onigiri. It’s a dining experience that will give you a pop of nostalgia, even if you didn’t go to school in Japan.
Little TGV (Akihabara)
Though they’re not as iconic as Japanese schools, Japanese trains also have their own unique fandom. This is one of the most unique restaurants in Tokyo because Little TGV made a whole restaurant in a train theme. This one even has an orange Ginza Line sign, just like the real rail system.
The food is traditional Japanese fare, including sushi offerings. However, this is probably the only sushi restaurants in Tokyo to have train-shaped rolls!
Kagaya Izakaya (Hatanodai)
If you just took a quick look at Kagaya’s exterior, you would think that this is a totally normal place to go for dinner. Don’t be fooled. This didn’t get on the list of the most unique restaurants in Tokyo without reason. Unlike other restaurants, this doesn’t have a particular theme.
Rather, the restaurant has its own surrealist show with wild dancing, lights, and traditional Japanese puppetry. The owner of the restaurant has a background in Japanese puppetry, which means you get a fun experience that also has serious cultural authenticity. Neat!
Hananomai Ryōgoku (Ryōgoku)
Many of the most unique restaurants in Tokyo have a theme surrounding a part of Japanese culture. Hananomai Ryogoku, also known as Hananomai, is a restaurant totally dedicated to the sport of sumo wrestling. Wrestling fans don’t just enjoy fresh seafood, takoyaki, and other izakaya bar bites.
During your meal, you can watch sumo or listen to traditional sumo songs. The restaurant’s decor is done up in traditional Edo period finery, complete with woodblock prints. It’s an interesting way to get into the spirit of sports in Japan.
The best part is that real sumo wrestlers make an appearance here, even going so far as to greet you at your table. It’s a fun place to be, even if you’re not that big into the world of sumo wrestling. Their chanko nabe is a great pick, since sumo wrestlers eat it as a traditional meal.
The Church Restaurant (Shibuya)
Are you a fan of quirky restaurants that offer a very unusual dining experience? Then you might want to go to the one church that regularly gets visitors of all religions—atheists included. The Church Restaurant is one of the trendiest restaurants in Tokyo.
As the name suggests, this restaurant is done up in a Catholic church theme, complete with a ticket “confession” booth and stained glass windows. For the most part, people go here for the drinks, which are pretty standard.
Still. There’s something sinful about being able to drink in a church. The bar menu alone makes this one of Tokyo’s most enviable event venues. That makes this a hidden gem in our book. Can we get an amen?
Harukor(Shinjuku)
While many of the most unique restaurants in Tokyo center around themes, some are unique because of the cuisine type they offer. Harukor is the only restaurant in Tokyo to offer up traditional indigenous cuisine from the Ainu people.
The Ainu people are the indigenous people of Japan, and their cuisine is exceedingly difficult to find. Harukor is not just a good experience. It’s a way to learn about one of the most elusive cultures in Japan.
If you are interested in the daily life of Ainu, want to try real fish recipes from this tribe, or experiment with dishes that can’t be found anywhere else in the city, visit Harukor. You’re bound to be impressed.
Silk Road Uyghur Restaurant (Shinjuku)
Also in Shinjuku City is one of the more unusual restaurants featuring Chinese food. China is home to over a dozen different ethnic groups, with one of the rarest being Uyghurs. Uyghurs are Islam-practicing people from the Xinjiang province.
For the most part, they tend to keep to themselves. That’s why their restaurant is so rare. You simply don’t find any Chinese restaurants with dishes from this group on the menu. It’s actually the only restaurant of its kind in Tokyo, and possibly even all of Japan.
Their “big tray chicken” is the biggest pull. If you are a fan of Middle Eastern fare with a Chinese kick, you’re going to want to visit this place. The food is outstanding.
Vowz Bar (Shinjuku)
A bar and restaurant? Owned by a Buddhist monk? It’s more likely then you think. Vowz is a bar that we had to add to this list, simply because it’s such a cool concept. You can order drinks and learn about Buddhism, enjoy a menu of delicious snacks, and also hear real Japanese Buddhist chanting.
Vowz is the type of place you go when you’re not necessarily looking for a wild time or a crazy photo opportunity. This is the place you go when you want to hear zen chanting or to sit at a bar where you can really get into your own head.
Tsuribune Chaya Zauo (Shinjuku)
Have you ever seen a dating profile that featured pictures of fish caught by a proud fisherman? If so, you might be surprised to find out that this themed restaurant allows you to take photos just like that…with fish you really caught!
Chaya Zauo has an artificial lake where visitors can fish for their meal, giving them the ultimate fresh catch of the day. While they do offer izakaya treats like edamame, fried chicken and more, there’s something about catching your own fish that make this restaurant a must-see.
Fishermen agree. This is one of the coolest restaurants that you can visit in the heart of Tokyo. If you visit here and aren’t ready to see fish getting prepped, you might want to sit this one out.
Sushiya No Nohachi (Asakusa)
If you want to get a taste of Japan, but don’t want to deal with themed restaurants that feel forced, why not go to a restaurant where the menu leaves locals shocked? This is a sushi restaurant that is unlike any other sushi venues you might find in Tokyo.
You see, the specialty here is sushi that has been carefully placed on a single grain of rice. The counter seating here is a coveted venue, and when you factor in the sheer quality of the fish, it’s not surprising to hear it’s a world-famous place to dine. The menu here is fantastic and so are the photo ops!
Cup Noodles Museum (Yokohama)
Japan is notorious for being proud of its food culture, and that’s doubly true when it comes to ramen, sushi, and okonomiyaki. In Tokyo, you get to go to a museum that also has a dining experience as a part of it. That museum? It’s the Cup Noodles museum.
This is a museum that is totally dedicated to the history and culture around Cup Noodles, the Maruchan brand of instant ramen that became iconic around the world. You can check out the history, grab Cup Noodles merchandise, and yes, even try your hand at making your own custom flavor of cup ramen.
While this is technically not a restaurant, it still comes up on most companies’ guides featuring travel tips for foodies. Once you visit, you will understand why. (PRO TIP: Make sure to snap a photo of your own custom ramen. You’ll be glad you did.)