Tokyo Robot Restaurants: How to Leverage Robotics in Hospitality

Last updated on August 11th, 2024 at 07:46 pm

A trip to a robot restaurant or cafe is on everyone’s Tokyo itinerary.

I managed to go to four of them in Japan to understand how this technology is being used in the hospitality industry.

Will robots take over restaurants and cause hundreds of thousands of people to lose their jobs?

Honest answer: I have no idea.

However, based on my experiences, I think the answer is no.

At least, for now.

There are autonomous grocery stores that employ robots like Nourish + Bloom, but it will be a while before this becomes the norm.

In the meantime, there are opportunities for people to leverage robotics without having robots completely replace humans.

What is a robot restaurant or robot cafe?

For the purposes of this article, a robot restaurant or cafe relies significantly on robots and robotic equipment to cook & serve food and/or entertain customers.

Quick note: This article does not cover the robot restaurant that was permanently closed during the pandemic.

Robot Restaurants & Robot Cafes in Japan

DAWN | Avatar Robot Cafe ver.β 分身ロボットカフェ

We’re not saving the best for last. In fact, it’s going first, and that’s DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo.

This cafe has avatar robots that are operated by “pilots,” which are staff members who might be housebound and/or have disabilities.

To be clear, this is not an example of AI (artificial intelligence). DAWN has 60+ people who pilot the OriHime and the NEXTAGE tele-barista robots. 

I had the opportunity to chat with Naoki and learn his story.

Naoki expressed gratitude for working at the cafe which allows him to still make money and meet people from around the world.

He also showed me his live view of me and the cafe.

The mission of DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe is to have disabled and able bodied people build communities together. 

The cafe itself is barrier-free, meaning there are no steps and people who use wheelchairs can navigate inside and sit at the tables comfortably.

To be frank, why isn’t this normal?

The World Health Organization estimates that about 16% of the world’s population, roughly 1.3 billion people, are disabled.

How can you use robotics, and technology in general, to create a better experience for your staff and customers?

LOVOT Cafe

They say that if you’re thinking about having children, you should get a dog.

I don’t agree with that.

But maybe a few trips to LOVOT Cafe is a good start?

LOVOT Cafe, located in Kawasaki, Japan, is the perfect place to not only interact with robots, but to cuddle with them too.

Yes, I’m serious.

LOVOT, described as a pet-like robot, comes from the combination of the words “love” and “robot.”

Isn’t that cute?

Even cuter is that these robots are warm to the touch and their loving gaze will make your heart melt.

Ok, that last part is a stretch, but you have to admit that they are adorable.

There’s not a lot you can do with this robot. You can hold it like a baby and pet it.

Sometimes, it will fall asleep in your arms.

But these are limitations to playing with the robots in a cafe.

If you purchase a LOVOT, it’s supposed to form a personality based on its surroundings and interactions with you and your family.

According to the creators, GROOVE X, they wanted to build a robot that makes people happy and creates a bond similar to one of a mother and their child.

And LOVOT’s machine learning technology allows them to react in real time.

This kind of technology seems promising, but probably for a small subset of consumers.

I don’t foresee these robots having a wide appeal, especially in people’s homes. 

I could, however, imagine LOVOTs being used in children’s hospitals or in classrooms. 

For anyone on the fence about going to animal cafes, come to this cafe instead.

If you don’t feel like traveling to Kawasaki, which is about 40 min from Shibuya by train, you can also find LOVOT robots at Pepper Parlor and Miraikan – The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.

Henn-na Cafe 変なカフェ

Let’s leave Kawasaki and head back to Shibuya in Tokyo for a coffee robot at Henn-na Cafe.

For about ¥500 (about $3 USD), you can get coffee, matcha or hot cocoa made by Sawyer, the coffee robot, in just a few minutes.

Use the touch screen kiosk to place your order, scan the QR code on the receipt, and the barista robot makes your drink and places it in a clear box for you to pick up.

There isn’t much interaction with Sawyer.

And the most that Sawyer does is pick up the cup, move it, sit the cup down, press a button and move the cup again.

But what makes Sawyer stand out is its single arm gripper.

I noticed how precise Sawyer is when “making” your drink. 

Which isn’t surprising, because who wants half of the drink they paid for splashed on the floor?

QBIT Robotics built this coffee robot, and other service robots specifically for robot cafes. 

Their aim is to focus on robots that collaborate with people, although Sawyer seems to operate on its own, with little interference or help from staff.

Pepper Parlor ペッパーパーラー

Now, it’s time to brave [the highly overrated and incredibly annoying] Shibuya Crossing to get to Pepper Parlor.

This restaurant might is pretty popular because of the variety of robots as well as the many interactions you can have with Pepper – the humanoid robot.

Using its touch screen, you can choose from three languages: Japanese, Chinese (not sure which Chinese language) and English.

In English, you can have a conversation with Pepper or have it sing and dance for you.

Song choices included K-pop classics like SNSD’s Genie and (for some reason) Christmas favorites such as Deck the Halls.

There are more options in Japanese, such as the ability to play games with the robot.

After glancing at the next table, I think there’s a setting in Japanese where you can choose to take a picture with Pepper, but one of the staff members did this for me. 

Aldebaran Robotics developed Pepper with the ability to recognize human emotions and faces.

You can find Pepper at some Softbank locations helping customers with filling out forms, providing companionship to patients at hospitals and recommending items to customers at clothing stores.

And performing on stage when Pepper Parlor turns into CLUB THE PEPPER from 8 to 11 pm.

“Ok, so I’m planning my Tokyo, Japan trip now. Which one of these should I go to?”

It depends on how much time you have.

If you have about 2 weeks, that’s enough time to go to all 4 places if you make reservations in advance.

But if you only have a few days, I’d prioritize DAWN & Pepper Parlor. 

“Great, what else can I do in Tokyo besides robot restaurant hopping?”

There’s more to do in Tokyo than just TeamLAB Borderless (I promise). 

Make sure to visit Kyle’s Good Finds, which serves American-style desserts like cherry pie and carrot cake.