2013.05.02
Tokyo Sensational Spots 2013
What are the spots that are being talked about as sensations? Let's experience places that will give you a deep culture shock you'd never experience with the standard tourist spots!
(Top Image: Robot Restaurant)
“Robot Restaurant”: Kabukicho Style Entertainment That Is Like Nothing Else
This is “Robot Restaurant,” built in Shinjuku, Kabukicho, one of the top entertainment areas in Asia, in 2012 for an ostensible 10 billion yen. At this location, you can enjoy flashy shows with huge robots and sexy female dancers. People are saying the atmosphere is like nothing you've ever seen. The cost is 5,000 yen, including a meal and drink. It often fills to capacity, so you'd better make a reservation in advance.
Cheers for the appearance of the giant female robots, which have become a symbol of the restaurant! They are featured on the advertising truck, too, amazing the people walking around town.
The show is overwhelming from the start, but things accelerate chaotically around the middle, when robots fight dinosaurs and pandas. And in the latter half, starting with the appearance of giant female robots, the show explodes into an exciting performance where anything goes. Metallic robots and girls clad in lights, and then even combat vehicles and airplanes are jumbled together on the laser beam-crossed floor. And then a swimsuit-clad girl flies over the customers' seats... This is not good or bad--all one can say is, “Wow.”
Even the waiting area is glistening. The abnormal atmosphere completely pervades this establishment.
So many robots enter the show you lose track. There is also a chance to take a commemorative picture with a robot.
The reaction of the customers was also fascinating. They seemed overwhelmed at first, but in no time, everyone was waving their glow sticks and yelling out. By the end, there was a strange sense of cohesion among the crowd. Asked about the types of customers, the manager, Watanabe-san, says, "Lots of types of customers come here. The ratio of guys to girls is about 6:4, and about 30% are from other countries." Since the draw is not dialogue or story, but energy, nationality does not seem to matter. How about experiencing this mish-mash of chaos and glare, a form of entertainment you could only find in Kabukicho, for yourself?
Dancers enter, riding airplanes that are strewn with lights. The show reaches its climax with overwhelming energy.
The girls swing over the customers' heads on vehicles similar to lifts. They don't mind giving high-fives to those who want them!
Robot Restaurant
Shinjuku Robot Building B2F, 1-7-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Phone: 03-3200-5500 Phone Hours: 9AM-10PM (English support available) Shop Hours: 6PM-11PM
http://www.shinjuku-robot.com/
A 2.5-Dimensional World with More Cuteness Power
“Cyber Café/Cyber Bar ‘Maidreamin'”
Above are “cyber block lights.” If you jump on the trampoline, a bouncing sound effect plays. There are lots of fun elements like this. The location has a game-like feel.
Maid cafes are more a traditional spot than they are a sensation. But “Cyber Cafe⁄Cyber Bar ‘Maidreamin” is a shop different from any other, where maids and digital technology come together. It’s said to be a collaboration of “Maidreamin,” a popular maid cafe that also has a Bangkok location, and digital media and art group “teamLab.”
Inside the shop, where there is a wall scrawled with sound effects and emoticons used by maids, there is certainly a cyber-ish charm. "Cyber block lights" reminiscent of Super Mario Brothers float overhead. If you hit them, you'll hear maids' cute voices saying the sound effects. There is also a "winning" block like the super star from Super Mario, which has the fun effect of a high-tempo singing voice accompanying small maids on the wall display running around.
The “cyber block lights” play sound effects, so you just may become addicted to hitting them!
Ms. Tsubasa, one of the maids who works here, explains, “The charm is that it's a 2.5-dimensional world, like you've entered a game.” After all, Japan's maid culture originally came from 2D mediums like games and anime. In other words, maids are even cuter in this kind of environment.
You can also see live performances by the maids here. The style has customers standing in a ring around the center stage, so things get really exciting. The full-body nerd dances performed by the regular customers are also a must-see.
There are maids in displays that are located in different locations on the walls. They show what's going on in the shop by doing such things as cheering for the live performances.
“Gizaricchi! Omelette Rice with Brown Sauce” (1,400 yen). “Bunny Parfait” (800 yen). The fee to enter this dream world is 500 yen/hour.
Cyber Cafe/Cyber Bar “Maidreamin”
30-1 B1F Udagawa cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Phone: 03-6427-8398 Store Open: 3PM (11:30AM on weekends & holidays); Store Close: 11PM (5AM the next day on Fri. and Sat.) Open year-round
http://maidreamin.com/
“Kitakore Building,” a Super Unique Fashion Spot the World Is Watching
A 6-minute train ride from Shinjuku Station. In the shopping arcade at the north exit of Koenji Station is a building that's like a secret base. This is the “Kitakore Building,” a super unique fashion spot with five apparel shops inside.
The items featured center around remakes of used clothing, and include a wide range, such as originals, select items, and antique items. There are some items that are far too much for the ordinary person to hope to wear, but the fervent wish of the young owners to sell the things they like definitely comes through. Part of the charm is that each of the five shops goes in its own direction, including the handmade decorations of each, adorning the old wooden construction.
This is “Hayatochiri,” facing the shopping arcade. Manga pages are stuck to the ceiling and walls.
In front of “Hayatochiri” are unique items such as pins and badges from 80s manga, as well as cards for shoe boxes.
For example, at “Hayatochiri,” where manga pages are posted on the ceiling and walls, there are lots of remake items and used clothing items with kitsch color schemes, almost like a toy box was turned upside-down. “GARTER,” on the other hand, has interior design based around the color white, with a futuristic tone. Here, fetish items, such as accessories that mimic parts of the body, stand out.
This is the futuristic interior of “GARTER.” Items with a fetish-like feel jump out at you.
Here are some body extension accessories at “GARTER.” The designer is also an active dentist.
This is “Southpaw,” on the 2nd floor, accessible by climbing the outside stairs. It's interesting that even the girly items have a uniqueness and poison to them.
This is “Secret Dog,” with a monotone interior decoration theme. The fashion colors are vivid, with this richness being seen in both the original and remake items.
Here are “iLiL” original T-shirts. The appeal of this shop is that humor, extremeness, and coolness are all rolled into one.
Most amazing of all is that the peculiar style polished in the shopping arcade of Koenji is gaining worldwide acclaim. One example of this is that extraordinary fashion icon Lady Gaga has used “GARTER” and “Secret Dog” items for her costumes. The Kitakore Building is listed in Louis Vuitton's “City Guide Tokyo” as well. If you like fashion, this is a must-see!
Hayatochiri
3-4-13 Koenji-Kita, Suginami-ku, Tokyo Phone: 03-5327-5330 Shop Hours: 3PM-9PM on Weekdays, 1PM-9PM on Weekends & Holidays Closed: Thursdays
Southpaw
3-4-11 2F Koenji-Kita, Suginami-ku, Tokyo Phone: 03-3337-9401 Shop Hours: 1PM-10PM Closed: Varies Homepage:http://www.nincompoopcapacity.com/
GARTER
3-4-13 Koenji-Kita, Suginami-ku, Tokyo Phone: 03-5356-9296 Shop Hours: 1PM-9PM Open every day (except the New Year Holiday) Homepage:http://garter-tokyo.com/
Secret Dog
3-4-13 Koenji-Kita, Suginami-ku, Tokyo Shop Hours: 1PM-9PM Open every day http://dog-hjk.com/
iLiL
3-4-13 GARTER 2F Koenji-Kita, Suginami-ku, Tokyo Shop Hours: 1PM-9PM Open every day http://www.ilil-tokyo.com/
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