2022
I like video games. Probably not as hard core as some people are, but maybe a bit more than just casual gamers. During my previous few layovers in Tokyo, I tried visiting a few gaming cafes/bars belonging to some of my favorite franchises. Two are Square Enix related (Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, etc), and two are related to Monster Hunter series. Here are a few in no particular order
MonHan Bar (Monster Hunter Bar or モンハン酒場)
This is probably my favorite of the bunch. I'm really into Monster Hunter World recently, so visiting this place was truly a fun experience. They have food styled from the game, decorations resembling weapons from the game, and the game OST playing in the bar. There are four TVs connected to four PS4s so you can start a full hunt with your friends while you're there. A few photos below, but here's the link to more photos - Monster Hunter Bar Photos
This is a Square Enix themed cafe located in Shinjuku. When I came there, it was New Year's day, so it wasn't really the best time to visit. I came about half an hour before the opening of the cafe, and the line was probably about 100 people long. I didn't have much time to do that day anyway, so I braved the cold weather and stood in line. Was it worth it? It depends I guess. I'm a big Final Fantasy fan, so I really wanted to try this out. All in all, I probably won't wait that long again for my next visit. The food didn't just look good, but they were also styled really nice. They also have a section displaying merchandises from the games. A few are exclusives, but they're quite pricey, so I didn't buy anything. Got a nice coaster for dining in, so that would be my souvenir.
Ok, so technically this is not in Tokyo, but in the neighboring city of Saitama. It takes about one hour and a some minutes by train to get here from Tokyo. I had some extra time before my flight, so decided to give it a shot. I didn't actually dined here since I was still full, but they also serve gaming themed food and drinks. They often have special menu periodically, and when I came it was Monster Hunter themed. At the front they have a nice merchandise section selling goodies that would be hard to get outside Japan. Save to say I bought a few stuff here. A few photos below, but here's a link to the full album - Capcom Cafe Photos
Last but not least, it's another Square Enix themed cafe in Akihabara. This is probably my least favorite. Trying to get a reservation here as a foreigner is a huge hassle. You basically need to reserve a ticket through Lawson (a convenience store like 7-11), then you need to go to a physical store to get the ticket the next day. As you need to book weeks in advance, it's pretty much impossible to reserve unless you live in Japan. I swung by any way since I was in the area just to look. They have a small section selling merchandises, but nothing really caught my eye. I looked over the menu and it didn't look that great either, so it's probably a good thing I didn't dined in there. What I like about the cafe is the decorations. When I came, they were promoting a Dragon Quest game, so the whole place was decorated based on the game. Pretty nice touch I say. In front of the cafe, there are a few benches and it has become an unofficial gathering place for those that plays portable games to meet up and play with each other. I noticed people gathered to play 3DS games together, and also Pokemon Go.
Well, that's the end of my gaming themed cafe/bar in Tokyo. How about you? Do you have anything like this near where you live? If yes, I'd love to learn more about it 🙂
