BEHIND THE SCENES: CRAZY WACKY THEME RESTAURANTS TOKYO. DINING AT LOCK-UP & ALCATRAZ, SCHOOLBOY & MAID COSPLAY CAFES.
I wrote a blog post for my publisher’s website (Mark Batty in NYC) about “The Making Of” Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants. Here it is below, with a bonus photo!
The concept was, from the start, a Kool-Aid trip: photograph and write about Tokyo’s bizarre new crop of theme restaurants. But my friends and I decided to up the game by not only observing but participating in the madness. For the Alice in Wonderland cafe, we wore costumes based on the characters (above: Cheshire Cat and the author as the Queen of Hearts). When it came time to shoot the tavern serviced by monkey waiters, I went disguised as a primate. Here’s a glimpse at the whirlwind antics that didn’t make it into Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants.
My Goth friends and I were quite the funeral procession as we walked to Vampire Cafe in Ginza. The blood-dripping floor and candelabras suited our aesthetic perfectly – as did the cute Dracula waiter we tried to flirt with. Above, Lady Raisu poses with the coffin-shaped drink menu and a crucifix cracker dipped in blood. (Or is that ketchup?)
My dates for the Wizard of the Opera restaurant (re-named for copyright reasons) were The Phantom and Christine Daae. The backstory: “It’s easy to spot Jim in Ikebukuro Station – the floor-length cape and half-mask give him away. Sebastien and Mayumi wear ominous Eyes Wide Shut masks, while Yukiro’s interpretation of Christine Daae involves glittery eyelashes and a tiara. “The shoes belong to my roommate.” […] “Why are they playing Disney tunes on the stereo?” Jim wonders, loudly. “This is wrong, all wrong!” He throws on skeleton gloves and beckons at our poor waiter. “Can’t you put on Gothic music? Or at least something Lloyd Webber?” Half an hour later, we hear the title track – Beneath the opera house, I know he’s there…” (We also shot a video at the restaurant, which you can watch here.)
Our beloved I Am Sebastien became a black rabbit for the Alice in Wonderland cafe (left). He created an Eyes Wide Shut mask with red glowing eyes for the Wizard of the Opera restaurant (right). That’s a red folded napkin on his head!
The most extreme of the bunch? It’s hard to choose, but the haunted mental hospital and prison restaurants (Alcatraz E.R. and The Lock-Up) are as out there as it gets. You’re drinking a cock-tail – as in, there’s a penis floating in it – when the lights go off and a red siren blares. Get ready to scream: it’s a full-out monster attack!
Hungry for more J-pop wackiness? There’s daily content here on my La Carmina blog, where I post daily about Harajuku fashion, cute food, fold-eared kitties and much more. For more info about Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo, check out this page.
Song of the Day #184: Blondie – Maria
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The Alice in Wonderland cafe and Wizard of the Opera restaurant seem great! I will definitely visit them! Thank you for showing us all those places :)
The third though…… I don't think so. It's so creeeepy!!!
I WANT TO GO TO THE VAMPIRE CAFE!! UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! (I am surprised that such places exist in the luxurious Ginza)
The Alice in Wonderland cafe and Wizard of the Opera restaurant seem great! I will definitely visit them! Thank you for showing us all those places :)
The third though…… I don’t think so. It’s so creeeepy!!!
It’s so funny… we got evil stares from rich people in Ginza because we were dressed so… interestingly!
Does Vampire Cafe sell their coffin bowls? There nothing like them anywhere online, they could make a lot of cash I bet selling them.
Ah, the bowls are made of paper I think!! hehe so you can make your own, out of black paper.
It's so funny… we got evil stares from rich people in Ginza because we were dressed so… interestingly!
All of the resturants sound amazing.
And it seems if u are too dress up along with the theme u just gonna have 100% more fun experence!
I look forward to both your cook book and your CRAZY WACKY THEME RESTAURANTS TOKYO book.
Kepp being yourslef La Carmina! B/c thats the best thing for anyone to do!
And you too – keep being your awesome self! <3
Wow how fun!
[tlr]
dawww… no photo of the cute waiter? ;P
The cute vampire waiter is in the book…. I can't give everything away on this blog! ;)
haha nice pictures!
All of the resturants sound amazing.
And it seems if u are too dress up along with the theme u just gonna have 100% more fun experence!
I look forward to both your cook book and your CRAZY WACKY THEME RESTAURANTS TOKYO book.
Kepp being yourslef La Carmina! B/c thats the best thing for anyone to do!
And you too – keep being your awesome self! <3
Wow how fun!
[tlr]
dawww… no photo of the cute waiter? ;P
The cute vampire waiter is in the book…. I can’t give everything away on this blog! ;)
haha nice pictures!
schaut in der Tat Super!
schaut in der Tat Super!
Thanks for the napkin pic :D lol
Thanks for the napkin pic :D lol
I want to go to these! Especially the Vampire Cafe! I wonder if that cute waiter you were talking about looked like my darling Demitri…I will be purchasing your books!
I want to go to these! Especially the Vampire Cafe! I wonder if that cute waiter you were talking about looked like my darling Demitri…I will be purchasing your books!
THIS IS SO COOL. I have ordered your book!!
THIS IS SO COOL. I have ordered your book!!
THIS IS SO COOL. I have ordered your book!!