Every night in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho district, something very extraordinary takes place that is quite incomparable to anything else. To the sound of thumping music, bikini clad women ride out from backstage on robots of all shapes and sizes to perform mock battles.

Casting nets, swinging giant axes and generally riding into each other at full speed, the atmosphere is frantic, entertaining and somewhat bizarre. Simply called the ‘Tokyo Robot Restaurant’, it is easy to forget they also serve food, however it is quite basic – a bento box. The drinks menu is limited to canned beer, chu-hai and bottled tea, drank while waving glow sticks in the air and cheering on your favorite staff member come robot battle expert.

It is an extraordinary experience not to be missed by any traveller spending a few nights in Tokyo. While there are plenty of oddities to be discovered in the capital of The Rising Sun, this one is certainly never going to be forgotten.