Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2012

Tokyo’s famous new Robot Restaurant (1-7-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku; www.shinjuku-robot.com) is not a restaurant, but a one-hour show of warrior women banging drums, and riding tanks, planes and, of course, gigantic robot Valkyrie maidens. For ¥4,000 get a basic bento box and tea (cans of beer available) and even mount the silicon-skinned robot chicks to make their eyes, mouths, hands and boobs move to your heart’s content. Apparently it’s not just for men, with ubiquitous blogger Kyary Pamyu Pamyu making a recent appearance. A chaos of louche decorations is capped off by the golden bathrooms. Reservations recommended, three shows a night.