Robot Restaurant Tokyo Shinjuku: 2026 Status & Samurai Show

If the robot restaurant in Tokyo’s Shinjuku is still on your list, here’s the short answer before you plan an evening around it: the Robot Restaurant is closed, and it isn’t coming back. The good news is that the same basement in Kabukicho now hosts the Samurai Restaurant, a loud, neon, taiko-drumming show that picks up where the robots left off.

This guide covers what happened to the original, what the Samurai Restaurant is like today, and the details that actually matter when you book: show times, prices, age rules and getting there. We checked everything against the venue’s official website and recent guides in September 2026.

Is the Robot Restaurant in Tokyo Shinjuku Still Open?

No. The Robot Restaurant opened in Kabukicho in July 2012 and became one of the most talked-about shows in Tokyo, with giant robots, lasers and dancers in a sensory overload that visitors either loved or found baffling. It stopped performing in 2020, when the pandemic cut off the international tourists it depended on.

For a while it looked like it might return. In May 2023, Time Out Tokyo reported a planned comeback in a new format, then updated the story days later: the Robot Restaurant had confirmed it was closing with no plans to reopen.

So if you see a “Tokyo Robot Restaurant show ticket” on a booking site in 2026, read the listing carefully. Some pages still use the old name for traffic, but what you’ll actually attend is the Samurai Restaurant.

What Replaced the Robot Restaurant?

On October 11, 2023, the venue on Kabukicho’s Sakura-dori reopened as the Samurai Restaurant (also billed as Samurai Restaurant Time). It keeps the spirit of the original — maximalist costumes, flashing lights, a small audience packed close to the stage — but swaps the robots for Japanese folklore.

Expect samurai sword fights, oni demons, festival floats and live taiko drums, all turned up to eleven. It’s less “sci-fi fever dream” and more “Japanese festival on fast-forward”, which many repeat visitors say works better.

Samurai Restaurant at a Glance (2026)

Here’s the essential information, taken from the official Samurai Restaurant website:

• Address: B1, 1-7-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
• Business hours: 10:30am – 6:10pm
• Shows per day: three, each running about 1 hour 40 minutes
• Price: ¥8,000 for the morning show, ¥10,000 for the afternoon and late-afternoon shows
• Age limit: 18 and over, with ID checked at the door
• Phone: 03-6205-6100 (9am – 9pm)

The biggest surprise for anyone who remembers the Robot Restaurant is the timing. The show now runs in the daytime, and the last one ends just after 6pm. That changes how you plan your night in Shinjuku — more on that below.

Show Times and Ticket Prices

The official schedule lists three shows. Doors open 20 to 30 minutes before each start time.

Show	Doors open	Show time	Total price
1st	10:30am	10:50am – 12:30pm	¥8,000
2nd	1:30pm	2:00pm – 3:40pm	¥10,000
3rd	4:00pm	4:30pm – 6:10pm	¥10,000

The official site breaks the price into admission (¥6,500 for the morning show, ¥8,500 for the later ones) plus your food or drink choice. The morning show is the cheapest way in, while the 4:30pm show sets you up best for dinner and drinks in Shinjuku afterwards.

Third-party booking sites sell tickets too, and their prices and inclusions vary. Before you pay, check exactly what’s included and whether you can cancel. Recent guides note that tickets bought on the official site aren’t refundable for personal reasons, while some resellers offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

What’s Included: Food and Drinks

Every ticket comes with a choice of a meal or two drinks. Recent 2026 reviews list meal options such as bento boxes (including sushi), ramen and udon. You pick when you book, and you can’t swap on the day.

Be realistic about the food. It’s a snack to go with the show, not the reason you came. Plenty of visitors choose the two drinks and eat properly afterwards. Alcohol is only served to guests aged 20 and over, which is Japan’s legal drinking age, even though the show itself admits 18-year-olds.

What the Samurai Show Is Actually Like

The room is small and the stage runs right past the seats, so you’re close enough to feel the drums. The show is split into parts with short breaks in between, which is when to use the restroom rather than mid-performance.

The story loosely follows Japanese legends: heroes, demons and battles, with a parade of performers in huge, glowing costumes. You don’t need to understand Japanese. The storytelling is visual, and the energy does most of the work.

A few things first-timers tend not to expect:

• It’s very loud. Taiko drums in a basement are intense. If you’re sensitive to noise, bring earplugs.
• ID means passport. Staff check that everyone is 18 or over, so carry your passport or another photo ID even if you look older.
• Seats fill up. Tickets can be booked up to four weeks ahead, and walking in on the day doesn’t guarantee a seat, especially in peak travel seasons.
• Bring cash for extras. Recent guides report that additional drinks and souvenirs are paid in cash at the venue.

Is the Samurai Restaurant Worth It?

It depends on what you want from Tokyo. If you love spectacle, camp and Tokyo’s more over-the-top side, the Samurai Restaurant is one of the few places that delivers it in a single, easy-to-book package. For many visitors it’s the closest thing left to the Robot Restaurant experience.

If you’re after authentic traditional performing arts, this isn’t it — it’s a pop-culture remix, not kabuki or noh. And at ¥8,000 to ¥10,000 for under two hours, it’s a splurge compared with most things in Shinjuku.

Our honest take: go if the robot restaurant in Tokyo’s Shinjuku was something you’d always wanted to see, choose the morning show if budget matters, and don’t expect a proper meal.

Getting to the Samurai Restaurant in Shinjuku

The venue is in Kabukicho, Shinjuku’s main entertainment district, on the edge closest to the station.

• From JR Shinjuku Station: about a 5-minute walk from the East Exit
• From Tokyo Metro Shinjuku Station (Marunouchi Line): about a 4-minute walk from Exits B11 and B12

Kabukicho is safe in the daytime and early evening, but it has a well-earned reputation for touts. Anyone approaching you on the street with a “robot show” or a cheap bar deal has nothing to do with the Samurai Restaurant. Ignore them and walk to the address. Our guide on how to avoid scams in Kabukicho explains the common tricks.

For a wider look at the neighbourhood, the Japan National Tourism Organization has a helpful overview of Shinjuku.

Where to Go After the Show in Shinjuku

Because the last show ends at 6:10pm, you walk out of the Samurai Restaurant just as Shinjuku’s night is starting. That’s the real advantage of the new schedule: the show becomes the opening act rather than the whole evening.

A few easy next stops, all within walking distance:

• Golden Gai: a maze of tiny bars, many seating only a handful of people. Our Golden Gai Shinjuku guide covers cover charges and which bars welcome visitors.
• Omoide Yokocho: smoky yakitori stalls by the tracks on the west side of the station, ideal if you skipped the show’s meal.
• Kabukicho itself: after dark, the district changes completely. See our guide to what to do in Kabukicho, day and night.

If you liked the theatrical side of the Samurai Restaurant, Tokyo has plenty more venues built around a concept. Our round-up of themed bars in Tokyo is a good place to find the next one.

Robot Restaurant Tokyo Shinjuku: Quick FAQ

Is the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku permanently closed? Yes. It stopped performing in 2020, and in 2023 it confirmed it would not reopen. The Samurai Restaurant now runs in the same Kabukicho venue.

Can I watch the Samurai Restaurant show at night? Not late at night. The final show starts at 4:30pm and finishes at 6:10pm.

Can children attend? No. Everyone in your group must be 18 or older, and ID is checked at the entrance.

How much are Samurai Restaurant tickets? On the official website, ¥8,000 for the 10:50am show and ¥10,000 for the 2:00pm and 4:30pm shows, including a meal or two drinks.

Keep the Night Going with a Local

The Samurai Restaurant is a fun, easy way to see Tokyo’s flamboyant side, but it wraps up just as Shinjuku gets interesting. The hard part comes next: picking a bar that won’t hit you with a surprise bill, working out cover charges, and finding the tiny places that don’t show up on Google Maps.

If you’d rather spend your evening enjoying Tokyo than researching it, our Tokyo After 10 nightlife private tour pairs you with a local guide who knows which doors to open in Shinjuku and beyond. Catch the 4:30pm show, grab a drink, and let someone who lives here take it from there.

About the Author

Ted

Administrator

Ever since I started working, I’ve been hooked on Tokyo’s nightlife — from hostess clubs to the more risqué side of things, I’ve explored it all. Whenever I travel for business across Japan, I make it a point to dive into the local night scene. With years of firsthand experience and curiosity as my guide, I started this blog to share the real, unfiltered world of Japan’s adult nightlife with foreign travelers. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned visitor, I hope this site helps you discover the hidden side of Japan after dark.

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