11 best character cafés and restaurants in Tokyo

To celebrate the Asian debut of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ stage production, the premises around Akasaka ACT Theatre have turned into a Harry Potter plaza. Along with themed decorations, the plaza also features a Harry Potter Café in the Akasaka Biz Tower, with plenty of Instagram-worthy dishes and desserts inspired by the Wizarding World.

The menu offers four kinds of cheese toasties, each representing a Hogwarts house: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each sandwich has a different filling, such as beef and onion for Gryffindor and salmon and spinach for Slytherin. Each order comes with soup and pickles on the side.

The epicentre for all Pokémon fans out there, this venue hosts the very first Pokémon Café, where you can enjoy food and drinks inspired by Pikachu and friends. The café often features special themed menus, like Detective Pikachu offerings based on the Hollywood flick and seasonal plates such as sakura Pikachu come spring. Don't forget to stop by the adjoining Pokémon Center on your way out to shop for your favourite Pokémon merchandise and souvenirs.

Snoopy's big in Japan. Although often overshadowed by his Disney rivals, the co-protagonist in Charles M Schulz's Peanuts has his own legion of fans, while merchandise decorated with his likeness is sold everywhere from supermarkets to high-end boutiques. You'll find the deep-thinking dog and his best friend Charlie Brown at their home away from home in Nakameguro. The Peanuts Cafe serves up themed treats like a Goose Eggs lunch plate, Beagle Scout s'mores and peanut butter milkshakes, in addition to selling limited-edition Peanuts paraphernalia available only here.

Sister store to Nakameguro’s adorable Peanuts Cafe, this outpost next to the Snoopy Museum in Machida lets you savour a picnic-style meal with finger food served in picnic baskets, cast-iron pizzas, fresh salads and other outdoor-appropriate dishes. Thanks to large windows, the room is filled with lots of warm light and provides great views of the surrounding greenery, making it feel like you're actually sitting outside. A massive red frame in the shape of Snoopy's doghouse stretches over one part of the café.

If your love for Sanrio characters extends past Hello Kitty, you'd definitely want to check out the Pompompurin Cafe in Harajuku, a cutesy yellow space adorned with your favourite pudding-inspired golden retreiver. The café offers multilingual menus (including Chinese and English) to make it easier for you to order the popular pudding-shaped desserts and Pompompurin-themed curries and roast beef bowls. Don't forget to stop by the merchandise zone on your way out as the café carries items limited to this store. 

Part of European-inspired café and restaurant Sunday Brunch, this Kichijoji location offers a variety of adorable Shaun the Sheep-inspired dishes. Think French toast, hamburger steaks and fluffy soufflé pancakes featuring Timmy and Bitzer as well as their signature too-cute-to-eat sheepy cakes. 

Enter the storybook world of Beatrix Potter at this Jiyugaoka café, where you can sip tea and dine with Peter Rabbit and his friends. Complete with a terrace and souvenir shop, this charming café lets you spend the afternoon reminiscing on one of your favourite childhood stories. Order from the British-inspired menu, which offers a delightful afternoon tea set, cottage pie and beef stew, among others. There's also a colourful assortment of desserts including French toasts, parfaits and cakes. Here with children? No problem; just ask for the kids' menu.

Styled on Totoro – the beloved character from the Studio Ghibli movie ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ – these charming choux cream pastries are come in seasonal flavours, which range from strawberry to peach and chocolate. It’s almost painful cutting into these cuties as they really do look too good to eat. You can cop these guys from an easy ¥460 a piece.

Sanrio's squishy Cinnamoroll has proven popular enough to warrant its own café, which opened on the ground floor of Shinjuku's Marui Annex. In addition to its earthy and wood-heavy interior, the café wows fans with very kawaii edibles such as the Oyasumi Omu Rice, Cinnamon no Mogumogu Salad Plate and Cinnamon Special Shortcake. You'll also get to know Cinnamoroll's lesser-known family and friends in the shape of portraits and limited-edition merchandise.

Travel down the rabbit hole into the world of 'Alice in Wonderland' at this fantastical restaurant in Shinjuku. There are a number of Alice restaurants in Tokyo and even one in Osaka, which says a lot about its popularity here in Japan.

With its outlandish décor and fun menu, the restaurant feels like an escape into Lewis Carroll's trippy imagination. Try copping a table under the heart chandelier while you pick from a menu of colourful drinks and food options that range from pasta to fish and chips. If you've always wondered what it's like to be invited to Mad Hatter's tea party, this is the closest you'll ever get.