Samurai Restaurant Tokyo: Is It Worth It? Tickets and Show Times

Samurai Restaurant Tokyo is worth it if you’re looking for a loud, ridiculous show in Shinjuku. I’ve visited both the old Robot Restaurant and Samurai Restaurant, and I still think it’s one of the most entertaining things you can do in Tokyo. The exaggerated fights, elaborate costumes, and flashing lights are a lot of fun, especially with the performers so close to you in the small venue.

I recommend it for an evening out with your partner or friends if you all enjoy that kind of over-the-top entertainment. Despite the name, you’re booking a show with food or drinks included. The performance is the reason to go, so I suggest choosing somewhere else if you’re hoping for a calm dinner or a traditional performance.

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What the Show Is Like

When I visited, I was so close to the performers that I felt in the middle of the show. The fights were overacted, the costumes were wild, and there was loud music and bright lighting throughout. With so much happening in a small space, it was much more fun than it would have been from the back of a large theater.

It’s very touristy, and I enjoyed how ridiculous it was. The noise and flashing lights won’t suit everyone, though. If either tends to bother you, I suggest skipping it.

The samurai theme is used for entertainment, so this isn’t a performance I’d recommend for learning about samurai history or traditional arts. If that’s what you’re looking for, my guide to traditional experiences in Japan covers workshops and performances with more cultural explanation.

My video gives you a better idea of the costumes, space, and performances before you decide whether to go:

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This was NOT what I expected 😳 Let me know what I should test next! #japantravel #japanlife #tokyo #thisisjapan

♬ Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Go Go Power Rangers: Main Theme – Geek Music

Food and Drinks

I was pleasantly surprised by the ramen when I visited. It was pretty good, although the performance is what makes the visit worthwhile. If there’s a particular Japanese meal you’re looking forward to, I suggest having it elsewhere in Shinjuku and choosing the drinks option for the show. You can have a drink while watching, then go out for dinner afterward.

If you’d prefer to eat during the show, you can choose a beef bowl, an appetizer set, a boxed sushi meal, ramen, or udon (thick wheat noodles) when booking directly. Each meal comes with bottled water. You’ll choose either a meal or two drinks when booking, and you can’t change that choice once it’s confirmed.

The options differ with other sellers. Klook’s package includes a beef meal and one drink, while Rakuten and GetYourGuide include two drinks, with nonalcoholic choices available. If you have allergies or dietary requirements, ask the seller before paying, because Klook can’t guarantee a suitable meal.

Bring some cash if you’d like extra food or drinks during the show. Those purchases, along with souvenirs, are cash-only at the venue.

Tickets: Where I Recommend Booking

For a ticket with two drinks, I suggest comparing Rakuten Travel Experiences with GetYourGuide for the same date and performance. If Rakuten has a good discount for the same package, I’d take the saving. When prices are close, I prefer GetYourGuide for its easier booking process.

GetYourGuide also currently offers a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance, which gives you some flexibility if your Tokyo plans change. Confirm the deadline for your selected ticket before paying, because cancellation conditions vary between sellers and options.

If you’d prefer a meal, compare Klook with booking directly. The table below shows what each package includes, so you can compare the total cost for the food or drinks you actually want.

Booking Site	Food or Drinks	Booking Conditions
GetYourGuide	Two drinks	Check the selected option’s cancellation deadline and arrival instructions
Rakuten Travel Experiences	Two drinks	Check the price for your date and cancellation conditions
Klook	A boxed beef meal and one drink	No refunds or changes for personal reasons
Official reservations	A meal with bottled water, or two drinks	Food selection is fixed once confirmed. No refunds for personal reasons.

Prices, Show Times, and Arrival

The morning show usually costs less, with an advertised price from ¥8,000 per person compared with prices from ¥10,000 for the later performances. These prices include admission plus food or two drinks, and the final amount depends on the ticket you choose.

Show	Doors Open	Performance	Advertised Price
Morning	10:30	10:50-12:30	From ¥8,000/person
Afternoon	13:30	14:00-15:40	From ¥10,000/person
Late afternoon	16:00	16:30-18:10	From ¥10,000/person

If your budget allows it, I recommend the 16:30 show. The music, lights, and drinks suit the start of an evening out, and you’ll finish at 18:10 with time for dinner in Shinjuku. The morning performance is a good alternative if the saving is more useful to you.

Each scheduled performance lasts 1 hour 40 minutes, including breaks. Allow about 2 hours at the venue, plus time to find your way out of Shinjuku Station if this is your first visit. Your ticket will give you an arrival time, which is earlier than the performance itself.

You can check the show schedule and choose a date in the reservation calendar before arranging the rest of your day. Availability varies, and all three performances may not run every day.

Age Limit and Entry Rules

Everyone in your group must be 18 or older, even if younger guests would be accompanied by an adult. Samurai Restaurant shares the Gira Gira Girls venue, and its age restriction applies even though the Samurai show itself contains no adult content.

You’ll need your booking confirmation and ID showing your age, such as a passport, because entry can be refused without proof of age. Alcohol is only served to guests aged 20 or older, and anyone who is visibly drunk may be refused entry.

It’s worth allowing extra time to get there. Depending on your ticket’s conditions, arriving late could mean waiting for a break before being seated or having your reservation canceled. If you’re booking directly, keep in mind that refunds and changes aren’t available for personal reasons.

What Happened to Robot Restaurant?

The old Robot Restaurant closed during the pandemic, and Samurai Restaurant is its successor. The performance and venue arrangements have changed, but it still has the loud music, exaggerated fights, and elaborate costumes that made the earlier show popular.

If you’ve been searching for Robot Restaurant tickets, look for Samurai Restaurant or Samurai Restaurant Time when booking your visit. The entrance is through Gira Gira Girls, which you can see in my photo from summer 2023.

Finding the Venue and Spending the Evening in Shinjuku

You’ll find the venue at B1, 1-7-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, with entry through Gira Gira Girls. Use the venue’s map and your ticket’s check-in instructions to find it, as the photo above shows the entrance during my earlier visit.

After the show, I suggest staying in Shinjuku for the evening. You could have dinner, visit Kabukicho Tower, or go for drinks in Golden Gai’s small bars. If you’d rather walk around and see where you end up, you can explore Kabukicho and browse Don Quijote, the discount shop, later in the evening.

If you expect to spend several evenings around here, my guide to where to stay in Tokyo explains when Shinjuku is a good place to stay.