Unique Themed Restaurants and Cafes In Japan
Last Updated on May 20, 2025 by Kay
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One thing I love about eating out in Japan is all the unique themed restaurants and cafe experiences you can’t see anywhere else! I’m talking places featuring vampires, video games, storybooks, and of course, beloved Japanese kawaii characters.
In this article, I’ll share my favorite spots so you can check them out when you visit. Most of these locations are in Tokyo, but there are a few in Osaka as well.
Note that the food at these restaurants isn’t particularly the best, and it can be quite expensive — you’re paying for the experience and for great photos. If you want really good Japanese food at a decent price, I suggest steering clear of themed restaurants and cafes.
Also, keep in mind that many of these restaurants
Vampire Cafe
I first visited the Vampire Cafe with my friends a few years back, and we absolutely loved it. You’re waited on by a vampire (who is totally open to taking photos!), and all the food on the menu is vampire-themed.
Don’t expect anything too fancy looking when it comes to food but the atmosphere, with blood red curtains and candles, makes up for it.
This cafe is located in Tokyo only.
Find more information about the Vampire Cafe and here’s what the current menu looks like.
Alice’s Fantasy Restaurant
My daughter had a period when she loved Alice in Wonderland, so it made sense to visit.
There are several branches of Alice’s Fantasy Restaurant:
Alice in Fantasy Land (Osaka)
Alice in Fantasy Book (Shinjuku in Tokyo)
Alice in an Old Castle (Ikebukuro in Tokyo)
We visited Alice in Fantasy Book since it looked a little more kid-friendly.
I will admit that I was a little disappointed by this restaurant. Although the decor is lovely, it needs a revamp. Also, although you can wear cute bunny ears, they’re quite old. It wouldn’t cost much to replace them.
I also wish the staff were dressed as characters from Alice in Wonderland. Compared to the other themed restaurants and cafes in this list, this one was disappointing.
However, my daughter (age five) enjoyed it, especially the EAT ME sign we got with our otoshi (an appetizer you have to pay for) and free packages of tea. I mean, she’s five, it doesn’t take much to impress her.
The food was decent enough, although I was surprised by the cost.
I don’t believe you need a reservation when you go here because the restaurant we visited was almost empty.
Swallowtail Butler Cafe
Located in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district, the Swallowtail Butler Cafe is every wannabe princess’s dream.
I went to the Swallowtail Butler Cafe with a friend, and although I was nervous at first, the very kind and gentlemanly butler quickly relieved my worries from the moment he greeted us, took our bags, and referred to us as princesses (hime).
We got an afternoon tea set, which was scrumptious.
The menu changes monthly and varies depending on whether you go for lunch or dinner. They have a vegan menu as well.
This cafe is reservation-only and quite popular, so reservations are snapped up quite quickly. If you want to go, make sure to make a reservation well in advance.
Also, when I visited, we were not allowed to take photos inside the cafe. This is the only cafe/restaurant in this list that has this policy. I’m not sure if this has changed or will change, so make sure to ask before snapping photos.
Find out more information about the Swallowtail Butler Cafe.
Pokemon Cafe
This is another cafe I visited because of my daughter. She’s a huge Pokémon fan, so naturally I took her to the Pokémon Cafe in Osaka.
When it comes to themed character cafes in Japan, this one really impressed me. The menu is diverse, we got lots of freebies, and it even has a character greeting and mini-show!
The Pokémon Cafe has locations in Tokyo and Osaka. Note that this cafe is generally reservation-only but you might be able to get in if someone cancels or doesn’t show up for their spot.
I’ve written in detail about my experience visiting the Pokémon Cafe in Osaka, so please give it a read if you want to know more!
ARTNIA Square Enix
Located in Shinjuku, this is both a cafe and a souvenir shop.
I’ve been to ARTNIA a few times, and in recent years, it’s really starting to show its age. I wouldn’t have high expectations for this cafe but they do have themed drinks from different Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games. When I went, they were featuring Final Fantasy VII drinks. We also got free coasters!
The souvenir shop sells Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest souvenirs and has a little museum section where you can see figures.
Find out more about ARTNIA Square Enix.
Final Fantasy Eorzea Cafe
This cafe is dedicated to Final Fantasy XIV. I absolutely loved the decor in here, especially the Moogles!
They have a main menu and an event menu that changes monthly.
This cafe is located in Tokyo as well as in Osaka. Reservations are required by the Tokyo location but you don’t need a reservation for Osaka.
Find out more about Final Fantasy Eorzea Cafe.
Luida’s Bar
This restaurant is located near Dragon Quest Island, a theme park on an island close to Kobe and Osaka called Awajishima.
They do a great job with their Dragon Quest-themed menu. It’s very filling and tastes pretty good, so we’ve eaten here even when we’re not visiting Dragon Quest Island!
Unlike the other cafes and restaurants on this list, the decor is a little lacking but for me that’s okay, they make it up with the food.
Ramen Ichiraku
This is another themed restaurant located on Awajishima, this time inside a Naruto theme park.
Unlike Luida’s Bar, you can only enter this eatery if you have a ticket to go inside the Naruto theme park.
I didn’t have many expectations for this ramen joint, but I was really impressed! The ramen is quite delicious. It’s not the best ramen in Japan, obviously, but when it comes to food at a themed restaurant, this is probably the best (in second place is Luida’s Bar).