America is the birthplace of theme restaurants, right? Hard Rock Cafe would be the prototype for theme restaurants, right? (There are 7 shops in Japan). Planet Hollywood, which many actors invested in, failed, I heard. How is it going in its home country? In my personal opinion, theme restaurant = candyfloss! I am always disappointed by the food. So basically I have no interest at all. There are such types of places in Japan. This is Oiran restaurant . Oiran was a high-ranking courtesan (prostitute) in old Japan. Hospital in Alcatraz ER... Would you feel like eating in such a place? I don't think it would be fun. For me they look just so cheap and distasteful, so I will not recommend those places. I choose some theme restaurants which I may try by myself here. Here they are
Unique restaurant in Tokyo
NINJA AKASAKA
Please click the right red button, you can check the interior. Many people said they enjoyed the place; then Prime minister Koizumi visited there with his son. You can enjoy Japanese cuisine.
Namahage
Namahage is a traditional custom in Akita pref. On New Year's Eve, a scary hoodman with a knife and bow visits each house so loudly, that it removes bad and brings good fortune. You can enjoy the Namahage performance and specialties of Akita, too.
Ebisu Dagashi Bar
This is a mom-and-pop candy store / bar. I suppose it was still such when I was little kid. There are Japanese mom-and pop candy stores around every school. Kids buy candy, gum, smoked cuttlefish, etc. You may try alcohol with such Japanese snacks freely! Since this place is in Ebisu, the next stop from my job, I will try it sooner or later. There is the same bar in Roppongi too.
Cube HATAGO
This is a Japanese bar (Izakaya), built up with an "Old Japanese Inn"(Hatago) style. You can enjoy each different area of Japan in each room; there is a specialroom which has a bath, powder room, and Yukata (room clothes). They change the layout and decor each season.
Vampire Cafe
I like the decadent, "fin de siecle" world of Vampires. So if someone treats me, I may visit here, ha ha ha.
Food theme park
Now, here are some food theme parks which are well-established in Japan.
Yokohama Ramen Museum. This is not in Tokyo, but in Yokohama, very near Tokyo. I am surprised that 10 years have passed since their opening, yet I have never been there. :-o. Ramen is interesting food. For some people, it is an important soul food, and very worthy to stimulate your senses deep down. For others, it is a sort of junk food. Anyway, you may try various famous ramen from Japan all at once, and get ramen souvenirs. Please try it.
Isezaki Curry Museum
This is in Yokohama too. Here is an introduction to the site in English. You can eat a variety of the world's curry here. Did you know that in Japan, curry is a very, very popular food? In research of kids favorite foods, curry always ranks in the best five. (In this research, 1.Sushi, 2.BBQ 3. Hamburgar steak 4. Curry, 5. Tonkatsu) Considering that we don't have a close history like the UK has to India, this is very interesting. Japanese curry is heavier and soup-like because of additions like cut vegetables. This is far from original Indian curry. So although we call it curry, maybe it became our original, curry-like food. We arrange this Japanese curry into udon, cup noodles, snacks, etc.
Chinese Meat Dumpling Museum
In this place you can eat varieties of Chinese meat dumplings. In China, steamed or boiled dumplings are the regular style, I heard. But in Japan roasted Jiao-zi is the regular one. It is very easy to cook frozen Jiao-zi, but I cook it by myself by wrapping pasta and meat. Anyway, in Japan, Utsunomiya city of Tochigi is a famous place for Chinese meat dumplings.
Sweets Forest
This is the place where many cakes shops gather in Jiyugaoka. If you have a chance to go to Jiyugaoaka, I would recommand Mont St. Clair. This is world-famous patissier Hironobu Tsujiguhi's shop. Please try one, it is small jewelry.
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