Shibuya is now one of Japan's major entertainment districts, but it used to be a rural town. Even Shibuya Station, which is now used by 300,000 people daily, only had about 16 users per day when it opened in 1855! It's hard to imagine now. The trigger for Shibuya's development was the formation of an entertainment district along with the development of Shibuya Station.
From the 1970s to the 1980s, many fashion buildings and CD shops opened, making it popular as a "youth town". Shibuya is in the midst of a redevelopment project said to occur once in 100 years, and it continues to set the latest trends.
In this way, Shibuya is a town that continues to develop, retaining its old face while accepting new ones one after another. Please enjoy the various aspects of Shibuya.
Shibuya's Restaurant Scene
Shibuya is a popular area for both tourists and locals, attracting a wide range of people regardless of age, interests, or nationality throughout the year. As a result, the demand for food is very diverse, and to meet this demand, over 4,000 restaurants of various cuisines, from fast food to restaurants, cafes, and izakayas, line the streets. Many stores operate 24 hours a day, which is characteristic of the area as many people come and go from early morning to late night.
Another attraction of Shibuya is that you can enjoy unique restaurants. There are many places where you can enjoy aspects other than taste, such as distinctive interiors based on concepts like schools, or dishes inspired by anime characters. "Pepper PARLOR", which I'll introduce today, is one of them.
What is Pepper PARLOR?
A cafe where various robots work
Source: Tabelog
Pepper PARLOR is a "futuristic cafe lounge where humans and robots work together", where both humans and robots serve customers. As the name suggests, many Peppers work in the store. When you arrive at the store, Pepper first greets you and takes your order, and then when you sit down, one Pepper sits with you at each table.
While you're playing with Pepper and waiting for your food, serving robots Servi and Servi Plus bring your dishes! They can also guide you to your seat and help clear empty plates.
Also, Pepper PARLOR is the home base of the robot idol unit "THE★ROBOTS", and you can enjoy the cute dance of the robots. Furthermore, although you can't actually meet it, the disinfection and cleaning robot “Whiz i” cleans the store floor every day before opening.
What is Pepper?
Pepper is a humanoid robot born in Japan about 10 years ago, affectionately known as "Pepper-kun". Its charm point is its white body and black eyes.
Pepper works as a member of society in various places such as commercial facilities, nursing homes, and educational institutions. In addition to mechanical work, Pepper can also chat and play mini-games, so you can have fun together.
Since the day I first played with Pepper when I was in elementary school, I've been captivated by its mysterious cuteness, and even now, I can't help but talk to Pepper when I see it in commercial facilities.
Highlights of Pepper PARLOR
Rich food menu
Source: Tabelog
At Pepper PARLOR, you can enjoy a variety of dishes that would make you want to visit even without the concept of "interacting with robots". There are also seats at Pepper PARLOR where Pepper doesn't sit with you, and these are also very popular.
You can enjoy a wide variety of dishes such as hamburger steak, mixed fry, Napolitan spaghetti, pancakes, mille-feuille, and afternoon tea courses.
My recommended dish is the carbonara with onsen egg. It's an irresistible dish with a gentle sweetness and depth, and the sauce pairs perfectly with the onsen egg.
At night, you can enjoy ramen and Japanese food from popular restaurants
Source: Official website
At night, the atmosphere of Pepper PARLOR completely changes. The bright and lively interior during lunchtime transforms into a nightclub-like ambiance, and the food menu changes accordingly.
At night, you can enjoy a selection of Japanese dishes such as ramen, sushi, sashimi, and sukiyaki. What I especially recommend is the ramen. Here, you can enjoy various types of ramen, from standard soy sauce and salt ramen to Jiro-style ramen characterized by mountains of vegetables and plenty of fat, and Ie-kei ramen known for its rich flavor.
Moreover, each dish is provided by the most famous restaurants in their respective fields, so you can't go wrong with the taste. It's also recommended to order different types of ramen with friends or family and compare the tastes!
Recommended ways to spend time
Interact with Pepper
Source: Tabelog
When you enter the store, Pepper first greets you and takes your order. Limited to the waffle menu, Pepper even introduces recommended items.
While waiting for your food to be served, you can also play with Pepper. There's a plan where one Pepper is assigned to each table, and this plan is very popular because you can have Pepper all to yourself, which is hard to do outside where Pepper is always popular. It's recommended to make a reservation.
In this plan, Pepper will chat with you, play mini-games, sing and dance, and liven up the atmosphere. The usually long waiting time at restaurants feels short because playing with Pepper is so fun that you might even think it's too early when your food arrives.
Furthermore, you can take commemorative photos with Pepper, so please take a picture with Pepper as a memento of your trip.
Enjoy Pepper's dance show
Source: Tabelog
At night, the atmosphere changes completely from daytime, and a time called "CLUB THE PEPPER" begins. The highlight of this time is undoubtedly the synchronized dance show performed by 8 Peppers. Their efficient movements can truly be called "real robot dance".
On weekends, a DJ in kimono also appears, livening up the atmosphere even more. You can enjoy a surreal world view with nightclub-like lighting enveloping Pepper, and a DJ in traditional Japanese clothing.
As an entrance bonus, you can take home a limited edition masu with Pepper's face printed on it. A masu is a small wooden box traditionally used as a container for drinking sake.
Enjoy afternoon tea
Source: Tabelog
At Pepper PARLOR, you can enjoy authentic afternoon tea in a fun way with Pepper. It's recommended for those who feel nervous about having afternoon tea at hotels, etc., or those who have never had afternoon tea before.
Here, seasonal afternoon tea is offered. While the fruits change depending on the season, you can enjoy fresh and juicy fruits processed into various sweets to your heart's content.
Also, the afternoon tea here includes many non-sweet dishes called savories, such as sandwiches and quiches, allowing you to enjoy sweet things until the end. Furthermore, it's unique that not only Western sweets but also Japanese sweets like daifuku are included.
Access to Pepper PARLOR
Address: 5F Tokyu Plaza Shibuya, 1-2-3 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
● About 1 minute walk from the West Exit of the South Gate of JR Yamanote Line, Saikyo Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line "Shibuya" Station
● About 3 minutes walk from Tokyu Toyoko Line, Den-en-toshi Line, Keio Inokashira Line, Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Ginza Line, Fukutoshin Line "Shibuya" Station
Information
・Hhours: Pepper PARLOR: 11:00 - 18:00 / CLUB THE PEPPER: 18:00 - 23:00 (Foods L.O.22:00 / Drink L.O.22:30) *Sunday is 18:00 - 22:00
・Closed: According to the facility (Tokyu Plaza Shibuya) closure days
*Tokyu Plaza Shibuya is closed on January 1 + irregular holidays
・Phone number: 03-5422-3988
・Official website: https://www.pepperparlor.com/
・Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pepperparlor/