Character cafés are an exciting experience in Japan which sees a café collaborate with well-known anime series, game series and various franchises by decorating the café interior with designs and illustrations based on them and meals and drinks inspired by them.
There’s plenty of cute collaborations happening for the month of October, so let’s take a look!
2PM Members x ZooPM (August 31 – October 8)
ZooPM Café, which was first opened in 2016 for a limited time, has gotten a revamp has reopened. Each dish on the menu is inspired by the ZooPM characters such as the Pan. K half-cooked pancakes, Pi Young cheese curry, emperor penguin and more, as well as a range of ZooPM drinks. You must book in advance and spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis so if you’re interested be sure to get in there quick.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/123052
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ZooPM Café
Tokyo
Location: SHIBUYA BOX CAFE & SPACE
Address: 2F Shibuya LOFT, 21-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo
Running: August 31, 2018 – October 8, 2018
Opening Hours: 10:20am-8:40pm
Osaka
Location: UMEDA BOX CAFE & SPACE
Address: 1F Umeda LOFT, 16-7 Chayamachi, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture
Running: August 31, 2018 – October 8, 2018
Opening Hours: 10:30am-8:50pm
Reservations: https://zoopmcafe.jp/
Grand Blue x 46 Shokudo (September 3 – October 8)
46 Shokudo has joined hands with popular anime series Grand Blue is teaming up with to open a collaborative café called Grand Blue Shokudo which is open until October 8. The theme of the café is ‘a house by the sea.’ The menu is packed with themed food and meals including Food Stall Snacks, Ramen, Nanaka & Chisa’s Sisterly Curry, Kebako’s Keba Keba Waffle, and more. Enjoy the last summer of Japan’s Heisei Period with the members of Grand Blue!
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/125006
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Grand Blue Shokudo
Location: 46 Shokudo, 4F Narita Bldg., 1-29-4 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo
Running: September 3, 2018 – October 8, 2018
Opening Hours: 10:30am-9:30pm
Bookings:http://grandblue-shokudo.jp/
Booking Present: Original coaster (1 design)
Booking Fee: ¥300 (Pre-Tax)
Order Present: Customers who order a drink at the café will receive a coaster selected randomly from a possible 10 designs.
Natsume’s Book of Friends: Tied to the Temporal World x BOX CAFE&SPACE (September 14 – October 14)
To celebrate the release of the Natsume’s Book of Friends movie on September 29, two themed cafes will open in Tokyo and Saitama as well as a character café booth at the Kyoto International Manga & Anime Fair 2018. They will serve a variety of themed dishes tied to autumn as well as merchandise with an autumn-time theme. Those who book at the Tokyo café in advance will receive one of four randomly selected original stickers pictured above. The menu items will differ at all three cafés, so be sure to try them all!
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/125852
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Café Dates
Tokyo: September 14, 2018 – October 14, 2018
Saitama: October 4, 2018 – October 28, 2018
Kyomaf: September 15, 2018 – September 16, 2018
Café Opening Hours
Tokyo: 11:00am-9:40pm
Saitama: 11:00am-8:00pm (Last Orders 7:00pm)
Kyomaf: 9:00am-5:00pm (until 4:00pm on September 16
Café Locations
Tokyo: Omotesando Box Cafe&Space
Saitama: BOX CAFE&SPACE
Kyomaf: Kyoto International Manga & Anime Fair (Kyomaf) 2018 Character Café Booth
*For access details check each café’s official website.
Entry
Tokyo: Booking costs ¥500 online. 80 minutes stay max.
Saitama/Kyomaf: No booking necessary.
Café Official Website: https://natsume-movie-cafe.jp
Natsume’s Book of Friends Movie Website: http://natsume-movie.com/
©Yuki Midorikawa・Hakusensha / Natsume’s Book of Friends Project
The Secret of Kawaii Ribbon Furoku x DNP Plaza (October 3 – October 22)
Japanese bookstore ‘honto’ is teaming up with DNP Plaza in Ichigaya, Tokyo to open a collaborative cafe themed on the shojo manga magazine Ribon and the free gifts included with the magazine called furoku. Customers can enjoy latte art with the familiar Ribon Mascot Comics mark illustrated by Ai Yazawa and can get their hands on coasters with designs from 6 popular authors including Momoko Sakura (Chibi Maruko-chan).
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/131026
◼︎Information
The Secret of Kawaii Ribbon Furoku Collaborative Cafe with honto
Location: 1F DNP Plaza, DNP Ichigayatamachi Bldg., 1-14-1 Ishigayatamachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Running: October 3, 2018 – October 22, 2018 (*Closed Tuesdays)
Opening Hours: 11:00am-8:00pm
Free entry. Charge for food and drinks. No bookings necessary.
Website: https://honto.jp/article/ribonwith.html
©Koi Ikeno / Shueisha ©Sakura Production ©Megumi Mizusawa / Shueisha ©Wataru Yoshizumi / Shueisha ©Yazawa Manga Seisakujo / Shueisha ©Miho Obana / Shueisha
Fate/Grand Order x Sanrio (September 20 – October 28)
Sanrio are collaborating once more with the hugely popular online free-to-play RPG mobile game Fate/Grand Order―which is based on Type-Moon’s Fate/stay night franchise―to open three themed cafés. They will open in Tokyo and Osaka alongside Sendai for the first time with newly drawn Heroic Spirits. All the food, drinks and merchandise available at the cafés are inspired by the Servants of Fate/Grand Order who have been drawn with cute designs. Enjoy a Fate experience you can’t get anywhere else.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/123977
■Information
Fate/Grand Order Design produced by Sanrio Collab Café
Booking Price: ¥650 (Pre-Tax)
Tokyo Café
Address: B1F Fujiwara Bldg., 1-3-24 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo
Running: September 20, 2018 – October 28, 2018
Opening Hours: 10:00am-9:20pm
Osaka Café
Address: 2F/3F KUS Nipponbashi Bldg., 4-8-16 Nipponbashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Running: September 27, 2018 – October 30, 2018
Opening Hours: 10:00am-9:20pm
Miyagi Café
Address: 8F Sendai LOFT, 1-10-10 Chuo, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture
Running: September 22, 2018 – October 21, 2018
Opening Hours: 10:20am-8:40pm
Bookings can be made via the official website below.
http://fgo-sanrio-cafe.jp/
©TYPE-MOON / FGO PROJECT
The Pokémon Cafe x Limited Edition Autumn Menu (September 8 – October 31)
The Pokémon Cafe in Nihonbashi released a new menu for autumn which is being served until October 31. The cute menu is inspired by different Pokémon including Gastly’s Menchi Katsu Burger, Tangela’s Halloween Mont Blanc, Golbat’s Poisonous Float Drink and more. The cafe are serving their regular grand menu too, so whether it’s your first time or you’re a regular you’re sure to have a lot of fun!
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/126707
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The Pokémon Cafe
Address: Nihonbashi Takashimaya SC East Bldg. 5F, 2-11-2 Nihonbashi, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 10:30am-11:00pm
Seats: 140
Official Website: https://www.pokemoncenter-online.com/cafe/
© 2018 Pokémon. ©1995-2018 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
ポケットモンスター, ポケモン and Pokémon are registered trademarks of Nintendo Creatures, Inc.
Shouta Aoi × Little Twin Stars Café (September 12 – November 4)
The collaboration between Japanese voice actress Shouta Aoi and the Sanrio mascots Kiki and Lala, aka the Little Twin Stars, was so popular in Omotesando that they’ve teamed up once more to bring people the new Shouta Aoi×Little Twin Stars Café ~Halloween Party~ event. As well as serving the much praised collaborative themed food from last time, there will be a new range of Halloween themed food too, as well as merchandise, all with cute illustrations and designs for a fun Halloween. The cute line-up of Halloween merchandise features rare designs you won’t find anywhere else, so don’t miss out!
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/126272
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Shouta Aoi×Little Twin Stars Café ~Halloween Party~
Dates
Tokyo: September 12, 2018 – October 14, 2018
Osaka: September 19, 2018 – November 4, 2018
Locations
Tokyo: 8F Yurakucho Marui, POP-UP-BOX
Osaka: 4F Hankyu Department Store Umeda
Opening Hours
Tokyo:
[Monday-Saturday] 11:00am-9:00pm (Last Orders 8:00pm)
[Sunday & Holidays] 10:30am-8:30pm (Last Orders 7:30pm)
Osaka:
[Monday-Thursday] 10:00am-8:00pm (Food Last Orders: 7:00pm / Drinks Last Orders 7:30pm)
[Friday & Saturday] 10:00am-9:00pm (Food Last Orders 8:00pm / Drinks Last Orders 8:30pm)
Official Website: https://shoutaaoi-littletwinstars-collab-cafe.jp
Star-Myu x Gakuensai (October 31 – November 27) *Dates depend on branch
Two cafés based on the anime series Star-Myu will open in Tokyo (October 31-November 27) and Osaka (November 2-November 27) with the theme of a school festival. The café menu will features dishes inspired by the characters from the show. You can even order the legendary yakisoba nisuto from the series. There’s merchandise to get your hands on too, and the café interior will be decked out with school festival decorations to you can feel part of the festive fun. Don’t forget that reservations are required to enter the café!
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/128485
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Tokyo Café
Location: Fujiwara Bldg. B1F, 1-3-24 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo
Running: October 31, 2018 – November 27, 2018
Opening Hours: 10:00am-9:20pm
Osaka Café
Location: KUS Nipponbashi Bldg. 2F/3F, 4-8-16 Nipponbashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Running: November 2, 2018 – November 27, 2018
Opening Hours: 10:00am-9:20pm
Reservation Bonus: Free Sticker (chosen randomly from 5 designs)
Reservation Price: ¥500 (Pre-Tax)
Menu Order Bonus: Free coaster (chosen randomly from 25 designs)
Reservations: https://hstar-mu-cafe.jp
Gudetama x Pompompurin (September 5 – November 30)
Gudetama and Pompompurin are two popular characters from Sanrio who have joined hands at the Pompompurin Cafe in Yokohama. Four cute menu items are available to choose from, all celebrating the 5th anniversary of Gudetama, the theme of which is space.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/125739
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Badtz-Maru x Gudetama Cafe (October 1 – November 30)
The Gudetama Cafe in Osaka, located in the HEP FIVE shopping center just a 3-minute walk from Hankyu Umeda Station, has teamed up with the Sanrio character Badtz-Maru in a new collaborative menu. There are 4 cute dishes to choose from as well as novelties with original designs.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/129977
◼︎Information
Gudetama Cafe HEP FIVE
Running: October 1, 2018 – November 30, 2018
Address: HEP FIVE 7F, 5-15 Kakudacho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture
Opening Hours: 11:00am-10:30pm (Last Orders 10:00pm)
No Fixed Holidays. (*Except when HEP FIVE is closed)
TEL: 06-6366-3694
Gudetama Cafe Official Website: http://gudetama.createrestaurants.com/
©1993, 2013, 2018 SANRIO CO., LTD. APPROVAL NO.S592279
Nintama Rantaro x Chaya (October 12 – December 2) *Dates depend on branch
Two cafés based on the popular TV anime series Nintama Rantaro are opening in Osaka and Tokyo for a limited time. The Osaka café will open at ‘contact’ in Shinsaibashi from October 12 and the Tokyo café will open at ‘Omotesando Box Cafe&Space’ from October 25. The menu includes udon, hitsumabushi, hamburgers, parfaits, a matcha latte and more, all themed on the characters Rintaro, Kirimaru and Shinbei from the show who are told that to become fully-fledged ninja they must be able to cook.
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/130902
◼︎Information
Nintama Rantaro Chaya
Tokyo Café
Location: Omotesando Box Cafe&Space
Address: B1F Pine Under Flat, 5-13-2 Jingumae Shibuya, Tokyo
Running: October 25, 2018 – December 2, 2018
Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00
Osaka Café
Location: contact, 1-6-24 Kitahorie, Nishi Ward, Osaka
Running: October 12, 2018 – November 25, 2018
Opening Hours: 11:00-21:20
Reservation Price: ¥650 (Pre-Tax)
Official Website: https://nintama-cafe.jp/
©Amako Sobei / NHK・NEP
The Very Hungry Caterpillar x J.S. PANCAKE CAFE (October 3 – January 31)
Japanese pancake shop J.S. PANCAKE CAFE has begun its collaboration with the internationally beloved picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle at 12 of its J.S.PANCAKE CAFE branches and 1 of its J.S. FOODIES branches. The cafés will run for four months from October 2018 to January 2019 during sweet pancakes will be served depicting that will depict the story of the caterpillar’s growth. and tale of the caterpillar. For the first month, they are serving French toast style pancakes that represents the sun on the morning that the caterpillar was born. Under the gleaming smile of the sun sits a bed of colourful fruits, all of which serves as the beginning scene to the caterpillars growth. Don’t miss this chance to immersive yourself in the vivid world of the tale!
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/129909
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pancakes
Running: October 3, 2018 – January 31, 2019
J.S. PANCAKE CAFE Official Website: http://pancake.journal-standard.jp
J.S. FOODIES Official Website: http://foodies.journal-standard.jp
Kirby x Tokyo Solamachi (September 27 – February 17)
Based on the popular Kirby game franchise, the Kirby Café is offering up a range of delicious themed food including ‘Kirby’s Inhaled Caprese’ (which best be eaten quick before Kirby himself inhales it!), ‘Waddle Dee’s Afternoon Nap Omurice’ which speaks for itself, and more, including drinks and dessert. The menu is one for both kids and adults to enjoy. But don’t forget – you need to book in advance to enter!
Full Details: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/129077
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Kirby Café
Address: Solamachi 4F, Tokyo Sky Tree Town, 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida Ward, Tokyo
Running: September 27, 2018 – February 17, 2019
Opening Hours: 10:00am-10:00pm (Last Orders 9:00pm)
TEL: 03-3622-5577 (Accessible from the first day of opening)
Kirby Café Official Website: https://kirbycafe.jp/
Kirby Café Bookings
Booking Link: https://kirbycafe.jp/
*Full details regarding booking can be found on the official website via the booking form button.
*Bookings are taken online only. Phone reservations not possible.
*Bookings are still required to access the merchandise area.
Did you enjoy this list? Let us know which café you want to visit the most!