10 Unusual Cafés to Discover in Japan

On my first trip to Japan, I heard about a place that excited me at least as much as the temples and hot springs I was planning to visit: a pug café! Being absolutely charmed by this breed of little dog, I made sure to add this place to my itinerary. And I was not disappointed! In Kyoto, I walked into a place that felt more like a private lounge than a café. All around the room were adorable pugs, whom everyone stroked and fed treats, and who were playful and lapped up the endless attention.

As it happens, in Japan there is a café for just about anything you could be interested in. An offbeat, one-of-a-kind experience: stopping for a cup in a themed café is a must on any trip to Japan. Here is a list of some of the most unusual cafés in Japan.

So there are pug cafés in Japan, but you will also find other establishments devoted to specific dog breeds. The same goes for cat, rabbit and guinea pig cafés. This stop will give you the best possible break between two sightseeing visits. On the menu: an invigorating cup of tea accompanied by a dose of love. Some animal cafés are truly extreme, and we are not just talking about the Tokyo Snake Center, that famous snake bar. There are owl cafés, hedgehog cafés, and even a café where penguins wander about. Do note that not all cafés treat their animals ethically. You can research the blacklist of establishments for animal care in advance.

You may already have heard of the maid cafés in Japan. These are establishments where the waitresses wear maid costumes and where visitors are treated as masters of the house rather than as customers. Originating in the Akihabara district of Tokyo, maid cafés are now popular all over the country, so much so that the wait for a seat can sometimes be long. As well as enjoying a cup of coffee, these places may offer entertainment such as music or games.

Dive into the future by visiting a robot café! There are different versions of this concept, each more intriguing than the last and absolutely not to be missed. In Tokyo, for example, there is a café where people with physical disabilities such as sclerosis or muscular dystrophy operate the robots remotely from home. For an automated experience of a completely different kind, you can pop into the robot restaurant on the outskirts of Shinjuku. It is more of a show than a place to sit down for a meal: this experience includes a loud, colourful parade, with incredible robots of all shapes and sizes.

While it is common to spend time on Japan's vast rail network as you travel around the country, you can also enjoy some leisure time "aboard" a stationary train. Decommissioned carriages provide the setting for some of these establishments. In some themed cafés, you have to buy a mock train ticket to get a seat and access a menu that resembles a station map. There is also a curry restaurant in Tokyo with a level-crossing sign, packed with model trains and memorabilia of all kinds relating to railway history. The dishes are served by little trains on a miniature railway track.

With Japan's obsession with popular culture, it is no surprise that there are so many themed cafés all over the country. Whether you have a soft spot for Hello Kitty or Pikachu, you are sure to find somewhere to immerse yourself in that world, sample dishes and drinks inspired by one hero or another, and buy merchandise to take home. If a character enjoys enough popularity, you will surely find a café devoted to it. Alice in Wonderland, the Moomins, Harry Potter, Snoopy… the list is endless. Cartoons and manga are deeply rooted in Japanese culture, so of course there are all sorts of cafés devoted to the famous characters of these series and comics. If you like cosplay, if you are the type to dress up, pack your costume in your luggage: you are sure to find somewhere in Japan where you can show it off proudly!

Just like character cafés, there are places devoted to famous video games such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Super Mario Bros. Some restaurants present a new theme each month, focusing on a different game, with the associated food and merchandise. The arcades have consoles and cartridges, offering many classics you can play on the screens while you enjoy your drink. The most remarkable theme in this category is perhaps the "Secret Nintendo Cafe", run by a former employee of the company, who has kept memorabilia from the 1980s and 1990s. At first he only invited friends and colleagues, but some people were also invited if they managed to locate the café through a series of clues. Several years ago he opened it to the public: now, anyone who wants to immerse themselves in all things Nintendo can visit this café in the Shibuya district of Tokyo.

If you are fascinated by the ancestral art of the samurai, you absolutely must stop off at one of these Japanese ninja-themed cafés. In these restaurants, the staff, dressed as ninjas, present menus inspired by… ninjas. During your meal, you will have the chance to watch shows or ninja magic tricks, or even to learn the basics of swordplay, throwing shuriken (stars) and using the blowpipe. You might even find yourself having to escape a ninja trap! In some cafés, you will go so far as to wear a costume, so as to live the ninja experience to the full.

If, by chance, you are nostalgic for your school days, you can relive them in a particular place in Japan. With its desks and blackboards, served by staff in school uniform, this place in the Shibuya district of Tokyo is decorated like a primary school classroom. There are lockers, in which you leave your shoes before going in, while the menus take their inspiration from school canteens. Although (probably) no one will ask you to recite your times tables, there will certainly be a quiz to solve at the end of your meal.

To spice up your evening, stop off at one of these Japanese horror-themed cafés. In a gothic setting, these establishments may take vampires as their theme, with coffins in place of tables. Some tell you frightening stories, while others resemble haunted houses where you will be jostled and shaken about by scary surprises. In horror cafés, the menus offer dishes given a playful twist, with garnishes such as the "witch's finger" or imitation eyeballs.

For some, this last bizarre option might fall under the horror heading. But if you have always wanted to know what it feels like to serve a sentence, without having to commit a crime, then head to a prison-themed pub, or izakaya. Someone dressed as a guard will escort you to your table and ask what offence you are there for, before handcuffing themselves to you. Get ready to hear sirens and witness "escapes" while you enjoy your drinks in an atmosphere worthy of a dungeon.

As this list shows, in Japan there really are cafés for every taste! By including one of these unusual places in your itinerary, you will have an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experience, over a meal or a coffee break.

So, which café would you like to discover on your trip to Japan? On Japaventura's tours, we are happy to leave you free time so you can explore for yourself whatever interests you, be it trains, maids or a thousand strange things. We are also happy to make recommendations on the best places to go based on your interests. Tell us what kind of café you want to see, and we will tell you exactly where to go during your trip!