Samurai Restaurant Time Shinjuku Review (2025)

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Samurai Restaurant Time is the new incarnation of the famous Robot Restaurant that filled seats prior to COVID shutting them down permanently. The new showrunners, the GiraGiraGirls, have translated many of the prior energy of robots, loud music, and extravagant performance numbers, to the newly-themed show.

Included Experience

The experience clocks in at a little over 90 minutes, with a few breaks in between for the actors to change outfits, the food to arrive, for them to sell you merchandise, and more.

The entrance and the walk over to the seating area is filled with vibrant visuals that are a slight preview for the show to come.

Performances are priced according to timeslot, and whether you choose to add food or drink to your set (optional). Times didn’t fill up too fast when we were there, but we’d still recommend booking a few days in advance. There is no Studio Ghibli botted ticket run to be found here.

Book Online Here (Samurai Restaurant Website)

The Performance

After the initial greetings by the host, you’ll be greeted with a loud chorus of taiko drummers sitting atop a robotic oni (a Japanese take on a demon/ogre) that moves back and forth on the stage. From here on out, we pretty much watched in confusion and awe as the performers worked their magic.

The ensemble of the women cast would come out to do fan dances. Two samurais would at one point conduct a duel. Both samurais would put on a dancing sword show for the crowd. The girls would come back out in oni costumes. More samurai action. One of the lords would fawn over a princess. At one point, a Mad Max-esque drummer sat atop a moving dragon robot and simply rocked out. It was .. quite the sight.

There was a bit of crowd interaction here with the samurais, but for the most part, the show plays out in front of you as it’ll play out for others. Plot-wise, there’s a general thread in the middle act with a tangible storyline, but for the most part: the show is mostly a spectacle.

The Food

I was surprised that the venue even offered some of the food options that they did. Bento boxes are offered with sukiyaki beef, sushi, appetizers, as options. Ramen and udon are available as well.

It’s what you’d expect taste and presentation-wise for a place that is not dedicated to it’s food. I got the samurai sushi bento combination, which I felt was likely just picked up from the FamilyMart nearby.

I don’t think people really come here for the food, and unfortunately the result matches that. Look, it’ll satiate you enough to watch confusingly and in awe of the following acts to come.

Final Impressions

I really don’t know what to make about this experience. I suppose that was also the result of the prior Robot Show, too. It’s certainly levels of kitschy and touristy that go above what a normal person can tolerate for such things.

We walked in thinking we’d feel a bit like we’d miss out on a piece of tourist history if we didn’t go. Looking back on it now, we’d be okay with missing it, but the experience was a fun over-the-top one. It’s for tourists, for sure, but if you have cash to spend in bunches, go for it. Grab a few drinks and enjoy the show.

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