When you think of a robot cafe in Tokyo, you might imagine AI-powered robots serving coffee and chatting with customers. Time to readjust your expectations. The robot café Tokyo has isn’t yet fully AI-operated. But this unique experience, where remotely controlled robots serve food and interact with you, has a heartwarming story behind it that makes it still worth a visit.
Intrigued? Read about my experience at DAWN Avatar Robot Café Tokyo to see how robots ironically end up giving you the most meaningful human experience.
What is DAWN Avatar Robot Café
One of Tokyo’s most unique cafes, here you’ll get a chance to dive into an interactive experience like no other. It’s true, the DAWN Avatar Robot Café Tokyo is now famous for doesn’t involve AI like you might think. The robots, serving you and interacting with you, are operated remotely. So why is it so special?
Well, first of all, robots are cool. It doesn’t matter if they’re thinking for themselves or simply being guided to you remotely. What truly makes this café special though, is the OryLab Inc concept – the people who operate the machines.
Behind the robots are workers with severe disabilities or illnesses that don’t allow them to leave their home. Not only does this café give them an opportunity to work, but it helps them connect to other people daily where they might not otherwise be able to.
Where Is The Robot Cafe Tokyo?
You can find the DAWN Avatar Robot Café Tokyo in the Nihonbashi district of Chuo City. That’s less than 10 minutes by train from Tokyo Station, or about 35 minutes from Shibuya. Mitsukoshimae and Shin-Nihombashi are two of the closest stations.
If you’re thinking of visiting Asakusa on your visit, it’s a great place to stop on the way. Asakusa is only around 20 minutes away by Ginza line from Mitsukoshimae station.
Since Tokyo is a city that is quite spread out, you’ll want to map out your day with attractions and activities closer together. The good news is that the robot café is not too far from the central tourist areas.
How Much Does DAWN Avatar Robot Café Cost?
There are two main options when it comes to visiting the DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe. So first think about whether you’re going all in on the robots or just passing through to see what it’s like.
The cheapest option is the standard café admission. For ¥2,200 for adults you’ll get cafe admission, one drink, and a chance to interact with the robots and chat with their human pilots. You might not get a dedicated table, but can interact with robot pilots at free-standing posts. Food and additional drinks cost extra.
The second option is the OriHime Diner. For ¥5,500 for adults you’ll get a more immersive experience. You’re guaranteed a table, and a dedicated robot pilot who serves you at your table, giving you more time to chat and get to know the person behind the robot. Price includes admission, one dish and one drink.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES AT THE ROBOT CAFE
Depending on availability, you may also see the Tele-Barista, where a remotely operated robot arm prepares coffee. For something different, OryTour offers a guided walking tour of Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district, while OrySNACK combines conversation with Japanese sake-tasting.
My recommendation: Standard admission is a great introduction if you’re curious about the robot café Tokyo has to offer. But if you have more time and want a more personal experience, the OriHime Diner is worth considering.
Do You Need A Reservation For DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe Tokyo?
This all depends on the service you want. The OriHime Diner option, with food and dedicated robot must be booked in advance. Booking online is easy enough and you’ll pay in advance too, though you don’t need to select your food option until you get there. Cancellation outside of 24 hours will give you a full refund. Reservations are not possible the same day.
For standard cafe admission not only do you not need to book in advance, but this option is walk in only. Simply purchase your ticket on arrival and find a vacant table/seat. While that makes this a great activity to add to your Tokyo itinerary without too much planning, you do run the risk of not getting in at your chosen time.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: For walk in standard admission make sure to arrive early to avoid disappointment. They open at 11am and are less busy on weekdays. NOTE both OryTour and OrySNACK experiences require advance booking.
If this is a must do activity for you, OriHime Diner might be the best choice since you have a guaranteed reservation.
The Robot Cafe Tokyo Experience
After a lot of research I booked a table for the OriHime Diner experience, complete with food, drink and my own robot server. I did, however, end up changing my experience. A typhoon landed in Tokyo around the same time I did, and my plans all had to change due to cancelled tours and rainier than rainy weather. Luckily because I was outside of 24 hours before my visit, I was able to get a full refund when I cancelled.
Instead, we decided to still go to the café but do the standard admission only. That way we can fit the experience into a day where we already had plans. That meant getting to the robot café early as I was worried it would be busy.
Turns out the typhoon kept more people from going out, so while we weren’t the only ones lining up for DAWN Avatar Robot Café to open, it wasn’t as busy as I expected. Not only did we get in, but we had no issue getting a table with a dedicated robot pilot. Since it was earlier in the day, we were happy with a drink and snack only, and to experience the robots, versus needing a full meal.
THE CAFÉ
The robot café Tokyo was such a nice, clean environment, with lots of plants and natural light, despite the less than stellar weather outside. It felt like any other modern café, only with a bunch of robots zipping around serving drinks and food.
Many tables were smaller for two or three people, but there were larger tables for bigger groups. The window area had lots of individual seats with robot pilots to interact with. Perfect for solo visitors, and those with standard admission if no tables are available.
FOOD AND DRINKS AT THE ROBOT CAFE TOKYO
Upon entry you’ll be greeted by a welcome robot. You’ll be asked if you have a reservation or not, and how many people in your party. From there you’ll be guided to your table, or, if purchasing standard admission walk in rate, sent around to the counter where you can select your food/drink options and pay.
Drink options are the same whether you book OriHime Diner full experience, or standard seating. There are various tea and coffee options, soft drinks and beer, wine and spirits. One drink is included with each admission.
Food options are more limited with the standard admission, and are purchased a la carte. Options include sandwiches and pizzas, some curry and rice bowls and a few dessert options.
The OriHime Diner experience includes one dish per person, and offers a more extensive menu with exclusive options such as Wagyu hamburger steak. You’ll order at your table instead of at the counter and I’m sure you can purchase additional dishes.
INTERACTING AT THE ROBOT CAFÉ
Settle into your seat and get to know your host with the aid of your own personal tabletop robot. You can find out more about each other, learn more about OryLab Inc and their robot café concept, and even get your photo taken by your new robot friend. Feel free to ask any questions or simply engage in conversation.
Soon your food and drinks will be brought by a more mobile robot. They use special trays to secure the drinks for transit. With your food and drink in hand, you can either continue to talk to your OriHime robot pilot host, or enjoy your meal alone. Feel free to start the conversation back up any time.
The robot pilots communicate primarily in Japanese but English is widely spoken too. Some robot pilots may utilize the iPad at the table, or translation services to aid communication more.
Pros & Cons Of The Robot Cafe Tokyo Experience
The best thing about the café is the mission behind the experience. The fact this café gives jobs and the ability to connect with others to those who may otherwise be unable to hold employment is really something. It’s a great cause, and a concept other places would do well to emulate. Getting to interact with robots and enjoy a Jetsons-esque dining experience is also something you don’t get on your average vacation.
Because of the reason behind the café the experience feels much more than just a gimmick, although conversation can be slow at times with language barriers.
The only downside for me, other than the slightly higher than average cost for entry, was the mild awkwardness after the initial chat and photo opportunities. While it felt awkward to ask someone to leave while we enjoyed our food and drink, it felt equally odd to engage in our own conversation with the robot pilot right there.
Final Thoughts On The Robot Cafe Tokyo
It might not be the futuristic robot cafe you imagined, but this one-of-a-kind experience uses technology to bring people together. Surely that’s way more important for people often overlooked in the community.
If you can get over a little awkwardness and accept that conversation may not always flow naturally, it’s still a fun activity worth doing when visiting Japan. The space is really nicely set up, and there are souvenirs to buy if you wish. DAWN is also the only robot café Tokyo experience you’ll find, at least right now.
My advice is to embrace the weird and wonderful, support a good cause, and enjoy a café like no other while visiting Tokyo. Who knows, you might even make someone’s day with the simple act of conversation.
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