Last Updated on March 25, 2023
What a great way to spend a day than having dinner at a character-themed cafe in Japan. From Sanrio to Mickey, Kirby to Pokemon, there are so many options to choose from. Read which cafe works best for your family.
Best Character Themed Cafes
Pokemon Cafe Tokyo
How can you say no to a Pikachu-themed lunch plate, or adorable Pokemon-themed decore? The Pokemon Cafe in Tokyo is a great place to go for a special event and have some fun!
The Pokemon Cafe had a special featuring “Pokémon Legends Arceus” with the Sinnoh region of the Pokeworld. The pokemon characters that were featured were Rowlet (looks like a barn owl), Cyndaquil (looks like a porcupine or hedgehog with fire on its back), and Mijumaru (an otter-like creature). You can check out the menu here before you go. This is what we ordered as a family:
- Harikiri Pikachu Plate
- The Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Mijumaru Sushi Plate
- Mijumaru’s Black Sesame Milk
- Pokemon Latte with Blastoise on the foam art
- Apple Juice
What is nice is that you can order all of your meals on the iPad that is right at your table. It has the option to change the language to English if your Japanese is not up to par. Some of the food or drink options come with an original placemat, cup, or plate.
As we were waiting for our food to arrive, we could take photos of all the adorable figures in the restaurant. From the lights down to the silverware, the level of detail was amazing. There were places where it looked like two Pikachus were having a nice meal, and there was a photo booth set up where you could take a great selfie! Let me know what your favorite Pokemon character is, or tell me what you thought of this cute character cafe!
Pokemon Cafe: How to get there
Address: 2-11-2 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Nihonbashi Takashimaya SC East Building 5th floor
| Car | There are limited parking lot spots at the Nihonbashi Takashimaya Buildings. It is highly recommended that you take public transit. If you absolutely must arrive by car, please click on the link for further information regarding locations and fees. |
| Train | **Strongly Recommended to Arrive by Public Transit** 5 min. walk from JR Tokyo Station Yaesu North Exit A short walk from Nihonbashi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Tozai Line, Exit B2 4 min. walk from Nihonbashi Station on the Toei Asakusa Line |
Pokemon Cafe: Restaurant Features
| Payment Preferences | Yen, Major credit cards, IC, and Japanese mobile payment services accepted |
| Accepts Reservations | Highly Recommended. Reservations at the Pokemon Cafe on the website |
| Hours of Operation | 10:30 AM–8 PM Daily |
| Service Includes | Dine in and take our |
| Stroller Friendly? | Yes! There are high chairs, changing tables, and an elevator to bring a stroller upstairs to the restaurant. There is complimentary luggage and stroller parking included |
| Best for Large Groups? | The largest party that they can accommodate is 8 people. |
Sanrio Cafe
Here at the Sanrio Cafe Kamakura, guests can try various food inspired by Sanrio characters. Which character is your favorite? Is it, Pompompurin, Pochacho, or the most famous one of all “Hello Kitty”? Come to this adorable cafe for breakfast or for lunch.
The menu offers a wide variety of kawaii and eye-catching items for breakfast and for lunch. If you need something to go, they also sell adorable snacks. Since the cafe opened early in the morning, my friends and I decided to have a nice sit-down breakfast. We all ordered lattes with different characters printed on the top.
The pancakes were “Hello Kitty” with cocoa powder dusted on to highlight her facial features. My waffles were golden and delicious, and the ice cream that came with them was delightful. It was fun to figure out how they got “Pompompurin’s” facial features on the ice cream itself.
Sanrio Cafe: How to get there
Address: 1-8-36 Yukinoshita, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
| Public Transit | Only a 10-minute walk from Kamakura Station on the JR line |
Sanrio Cafe: Restaurant Features
| Payment Preferences | Yen and Major Credit Cards Accepted |
| Accepts Reservations | Walk in only |
| Hours of Operation | 8:00- 18:00 (6 pm) |
| Service Includes | Dine in and Take out |
| Stroller Friendly? | Yes |
| Best for Large Groups? | Yes |
Hello Kitty Japan
If traveling to Kamakura is not on your travel agenda, but you still want to visit a Hello Kitty-themed cafe, then I highly recommend traveling to Diver City in Odaiba for the Hello Kitty Japan snack shop.
The menu offers a small variety of adorable snacks including Hellow Kitty shaped donuts and sponge cakes in the shape of Hello Kitty. If you need something to go, they also sell adorable cookies. There are only 5 seats to sit down, and it’s mostly designed as a takeaway store. This snack shop is right next to the store where you can purchase items with Sanrio Characters or even tickets to Sanrio Land!
Hello Kitty Japan: How to get there
Address: 1 Chome-1-10 Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0064 (Second Floor of DiverCity Mall)
| Public Transit | Only a 10-minute walk from Kamakura Station on the JR line |
Cafe Features
| Payment Preferences | Yen and Major Credit Cards Accepted |
| Accepts Reservations | Walk-in only. It’s a snack shop |
| Hours of Operation | Monday-Friday: 11 am- 9 pm Saturday & Sunday: 10 am- 9 pm |
| Service Includes | Dine in and Take out |
| Stroller Friendly? | Yes |
| Best for Large Groups? | No |
Oh My Cafe Tokyo
At the Oh my Cafe Tokyo, you can sit and enjoy the world of Disney in various ways. From the moment you walk in, you are emersed in the theme of the cafe. Previous themes have been, Toy Story, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Mermaid, and Star Wars. It seems that the theme changes every 2 months, so keep your eye out for a theme you love.
This would be a fantastic place to take little ones for lunch or have a magical dinner on a girls’ night out. Who wouldn’t love to try some Disney-themed meals? The staff members were kind and very patient with us as we tried to communicate via limited Japanese and pointing to menus to request our meals. We didn’t have to wait long for our food to arrive. The food was incredible! From the presentation to how it tasted, this was one of the most delicious meals that I had at a themed restaurant in Tokyo.
Oh My Cafe Tokyo: How to get there
Address: 50-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jingumae, 4 Chome−30−3 3F
It is on the 3rd floor of the Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku. This is the cool glass building you’ll find at one of the intersections. There is an escalator that you can take to get to the 3rd floor. If you are taking the stroller, there is also an elevator only a few steps away. Signs are clearly marked when you arrive and how to get there via elevator.
| Train | Only a 10-minute walk from Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line |
Oh My Cafe Tokyo: Restaurant Information
| Payment Preferences | Yen and Major Credit Cards Accepted |
| Accepts Reservations | Strongly required. Please click on the link for booking information |
| Hours of Operation | 11: 00 – 21: 00 (9 pm) |
| Service Includes | Dine in Only |
| Stroller Friendly? | Yes |
| Best for Large Groups? | Yes |
Kirby Cafe TOKYO
Calling all Kirby fans! The Kirby Cafe at Tokyo Skytree is the perfect themed restaurant to relax and enjoy Kirby’s Dream Land. Guest can eat under the branches of Whispy Woods, which is a giant apple tree with a face and a branch-like nose. Due to the popularity of the restaurant and COVID precautions, reservations are required. You can not just walk up and expect a table.
There is also a take-out option if you cannot get a reservation to dine in at the Kirby Cafe. Personally, I preferred this option. I ordered my meals, had to wait 30 minutes for the food to be ready, and then we had a picnic lunch under Tokyo Sky Tree. How cool is that!
The take-out menu is limited. Guests can order a personal pan pizza with a commemorative Kirby plate. Pizza prices range from 1,280 yen to 1,380 and topping options include margarita and four cheese pizzas. The other option on the take-out menu was a Kirby or Waddle Dee hamburger set with star fries and a collectible case. We both thought the case was super cool, and now used this case as our bento lunch box for school. What a great way to remember our time at Tokyo Sky Tree!
Kirby Cafe: How to get there
Address: 1 Chome-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo 131-0045
| Car | Tokyo Solamachi has an underground parking lot that could be used by those who are traveling with a disability. 350 yen (tax included) for every 30 minutes 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 131-0045 |
| Train | A 5-minute walk from Tokyo Skytree Station on the Tobu Skytree Line A 3-minute walk from Oshiage Sta.(SKYTREE) on the Asakusa Line |
Kirby Cafe: Restaurant Information
| Payment Preferences | Yen and Major Credit Cards Accepted |
| Accepts Reservations | Reservations can be done on The Kirby Cafe website (which is in Japanese and in English). Please be aware that reservations are made one month in advance. I have been told by restaurant workers that the dates for the following month are released on the 15th. If the date is grayed out, that means it is not available for reservation. |
| Hours of Operation | 10 am – 10 pm |
| Service Includes | Dine in and Take Out |
| Stroller Friendly? | Yes |
| Best for Large Groups? | No |
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