Kirby Café in Japan – How to Get a Reservation & Is It Worth It (2026)? 

If you’re a Nintendo fan, then you have to visit the Kirby Café in Japan.

You can dine with Whispy Woods, munch on Kirby-shaped food and even buy exclusive souvenirs. 

Although this sounds like a dream come true for Kirby fans, it’s also a very popular experience.

It gets a lot of hype and often goes viral on social media. So, getting a reservation here is a challenge worthy of a boss battle in Dream Land. 

As a huge fan of Kirby, this place has been on my bucket list for a while, and I was over the moon to finally visit on my trip to Tokyo. 

So, here is my honest review of the Kirby Café, including how to get a reservation and whether it’s worth it. 

What is a Kirby Café in Japan?

Kirby is an adorable, round and pink character who lives on Planet Pop Star from the Kirby series of video games by Masahiro Sakurai. 

He also has his own novel, anime series, several manga series and heaps of merchandise to boot. 

Since his creation, Kirby has featured in over 30 video games, including Super Smash Bros. 

Although his fame was never pushed like Pikachu or Super Mario. Kirby is one of Nintendo’s most famous and recognisable mascots today.  

He’s also very popular in Japan as he is so kawaii (despite his lore as a destroyer). So, it makes sense that there is a chain of Kirby Cafés.

The first Kirby Café was built in Osaka in 2016. Now, there are also branches in Tokyo and Hakata. 

Thanks to social media, the Kirby Café is now one of the most popular themed cafés in Japan, so making a reservation is a feat in itself. 

How to get a Kirby Café Reservation

Due to all the hype, securing a Kirby Café reservation can be very difficult as they sell out in seconds. 

It’s almost as tough as trying to battle King Dedede in Dream Land.

The reservations are taken from 6 pm Japan Time on the 10th of the month for the entire following month. 

For example, reservations for all dates between the 11th of February and the 10th of March will be released on the 10th of January at 6 pm JST. 

However, these reservations sell out in a matter of seconds. So, you need to be flexible and quick in order to get one. 

Make sure to set a reminder in your calendar, wherever you are in the world, and be on the website at exactly 6 pm sharp, no later.

The website is in Japanese, but you can easily use translation tools on your browser.  

The reservation page also crashes with so many people, but be patient and keep trying. 

If you have managed to secure a time, you’ll enter your details and then receive an email confirmation. 

You’ll also need to bring your passport on the day to confirm the ID on the booking. 

What if you don’t get a reservation?

Unfortunately, unlike the Pokémon Café, you cannot walk in or queue to dine at the Kirby Café. You must have a reservation to visit.

They are very strict on this, and we did see some hopeful diners get turned away on our visit.

Many people cancel their reservations, so it’s worth checking the website to see if any days open up closer to your travel dates.

There are also some paid reservation services, but always do your research. 

My advice would be to remain flexible and keep trying! Good luck.

Where is the Kirby Café in Japan? 

At the time of writing, there are currently three Kirby Cafés in Japan.

1. Solamachi, Tokyo (Skytree Town)
2. Shinsaibashi, Osaka.
3. Hakata, Fukuoka

We booked the Tokyo branch, and it was quite easy to find once you arrive at Tokyo Skytree Town, a mall surrounding the iconic tower.

The closest train/metro stations are Tokyo Skytree or Oshiage Station (SKYTREE).

Then, you can take a series of escalators to the entrance of Tokyo Skytree. 

You’ll find the entrance of the Kirby Café just before you reach the main plaza building.

Arriving at the Kirby Café

Once you arrive at the Kirby Café, you’ll see a row of stools outside.

These all have signs on them asking you to take a seat and to wait to be called for your reservation.

There are usually some mascots of Kirby and Waddle Dee outside the restaurant. I’m sad to report that on our visit, they weren’t there. 

Hopefully, this was just due to the Christmas Market that they had going on, and they’ll come back. 

There was a cute photo opportunity on the wall, so we took some photos while we waited to be called through. 

Once it’s your turn, the friendly staff will welcome you inside the Kirby Café.

They will double-check your reservation and ask to check the passport/ID of the one who made the booking (so don’t forget it!).

They will also give you some instructions on how much time you have to eat (85-90 minutes), how to order, and if there are any order limits.

Getting your souvenir photo 

Before you’re shown to your table, you’ll get the opportunity to take a souvenir photo in front of a giant Kirby Café plate.

Kirby and Waddle Dee as plushies are in front, and there’s a set of giant cutlery that you can hold as well! It’s very kawaii.

Your host will take a few photos on your phone and make a little song and dance about it.

It does feel a little awkward getting a photo in front of everyone at the restaurant.

But it’s a rite of passage of dining at the Kirby Café, and know that everyone else had to go through this, too. 

I loved it, and I thought it was a great way to remember my visit! 

What is it like inside? 

All of the Kirby Cafés have a different theme, and Tokyo’s is designed like an enchanted forest with Whispy Woods from Dream Land.

It’s the first boss that Kirby faces on his adventures, and you’ll find the Guardian of the Forest in the middle of the restaurant. 

There are some seats surrounding the tree for solo diners. Then, there is a range of tables dotted throughout.

I have to admit, aside from the tree, the Kirby theming is pretty light touch. The decor is minimalist with wooden tables and big glass windows.

There are a few Kirby sketches on the walls and Kirby photos, but nothing over the top. 

It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but compared to other themed cafés in Japan, the theming fell a little short. 

What’s on the Kirby Café menu?

Fortunately, the huge menu of Kirby-shaped food more than makes up for the theming. 

Their signature dish is their Kirby Burger, served on a pink bun. They also have a Waddle Dee Burger on an orange bun.

You can sample Waddle Dee’s Nap Omlette, a Star Curry, and a Whispy Woods Hearty Feast Plate. 

There’s also a selection of tasty and authentic oven-baked pizzas served on a Kirby-shaped pizza board. 

You must try their famous Kirby Car Cake (Henkei! Car Filled Cake). This is a fun sponge cake with jam and covered in strawberry-flavour gelatine. 

We already tried a miniature version of this from Kirby Petit at Tokyo Station and weren’t the biggest fans. So, we skipped this.

Kirby Burgers

We both ordered the Kirby Burgers, which were the cutest dishes. 

The Kirby version came served on a pink bun and had Kirby’s face on it, and Waddle Dee’s had an orange bun with their face on it. 

My Kirby Burger had a juicy beef patty with a glaze, melted cheese, lettuce and tomato. 

My friend’s Waddle Dee Burger was a soy meat patty topped with cheese, lettuce and tomato. 

The combination of side dishes was…interesting. Instead of fries, you got some potato wedges, a star-shaped croquette and a portion of spaghetti. 

There was also a side jug of soup. Beyond the weird mix of dishes, it was very well presented. 

I ordered an Orange Ocean drink to go with my meal, and it was very sweet but enjoyable. My friend ordered a glass of Coke.

With every drink order, you receive a free souvenir Kirby or Waddle Dee coaster. I loved collecting these in Japan.

What’s the food like? 

After hearing horror stories about the food being bland at the Kirby Café, I didn’t set my expectations too high.

As someone who visits theme cafés often, I already knew I wasn’t visiting for the quality of the food. I was paying for the overall experience.

To my surprise, the burger was actually pretty tasty; it was pink, the patty was juicy, and it was slathered with cheese. What more could you want?

The star-shaped croquette was delicious, and the spaghetti added some flavour (and some much-needed sauce).

If I were being really picky, the wedges were just a little undercooked.

Despite the small size of the portion, it was pretty filling. I was too full in the end to even touch the side dish of soup. 

All in all, I thought that the taste of my Kirby meal was above average for a themed café in Japan. 

It wasn’t mind-blowing, but it wasn’t flavourless either, and the fact that it was Kirby-shaped made me so happy.

I love Kirby, so the taste of the meal wasn’t a deal breaker for me; I was just happy to be there. 

Is the Kirby Café expensive? 

Our Kirby Burger and Waddle Dee Burger dishes were ¥2,530 each, including tax (£12).

You can also get a souvenir plate for an extra ¥1100, which makes a total of ¥3,630 (£17).

I was so tempted, but I was so scared of breaking it on my travels. 

My Orange Ocean drink was ¥968 (£4.60), and my friend’s glass of Coke was around ¥500 (£2.30).

So, our total came to around ¥6,528 or £31, which was quite expensive for your typical Japanese restaurant, but not extortionate.

The cost was definitely on par with other themed cafés around Tokyo and Japan. 

Kirby Café Shop 

Before you leave the restaurant and pay your bill, you exit through the Kirby Café Shop.

They have all sorts of exclusive merchandise that you can purchase to remember your visit. 

I hope you have left some room in your suitcase, as everything here is so cute.

They have Kirby Café plates and cutlery to purchase, as well as a plethora of kitchenware. There are even bags of Kirby-shaped pasta!

They also have mugs, keyrings (including a Kirby Car version), notebooks, pens and hand towels.

They also had magnet and keyring versions of all their dishes. These make fab souvenirs. 

My favourite area was their selection of Kirby and Waddle Dee plushies. 

I already bought some exclusive bag charms from Kirby Petit, but I knew I needed more. 

I ended up buying a plushie version of my pink Kirby Burger, and I have absolutely zero regrets. 

Is the Kirby Café worth visiting? 

Yes, if you’re a fan of the adorable pink superstar Kirby, then the Kirby Café is worth visiting. 

As a huge fan, I absolutely loved the experience and thought it was enchanting. 

Of course, getting a reservation here can be stressful, but it’s so worth it to dine with Whispy Woods and munch on kawaii Kirby-shaped food.

Just manage your expectations when it comes to the flavour, and be prepared to budget for elevated prices. 

Kirby Café Take-Out 

If you didn’t happen to get a reservation at the Kirby Café, why not order a takeaway?

You’ll find the Kirby Café take-out in Skytree Town near the gift shop.

You can purchase oven-baked pizzas, themed drinks and their famous Kirby Burgers.

The best part is that the Kirby burger meals (both Kirby and Waddle Dee) come with a souvenir lunch box that you can keep.

You can’t order online; you can only order in-store on the day. 

Kirby Café The Store

There is another Kirby Store in Skytree Town that is worth visiting before/after your reservation. 

This is separate from the shop in the café, so you can visit with or without a booking.

I was so excited as they had a Kirby mascot outside. This made up for the outdoor statues not being there.

It’s a huge shop with many Kirby-themed items, including blind boxes, homeware, kitchenware and stationery.

Sadly, I had to be firm with myself here, as I had already spent a small fortune on trinkets that day. But I wanted everything.

Also, look out for the group of Gachapon machines with Kirby-themed capsule toys. 

Kirby Café Petit

Lastly, if you love Kirby, then make sure to pay a visit to Kirby Café Petit in Tokyo Station.

It’s a gorgeous pop-up shop that joins many other mascot stores in Tokyo’s Character Street. 

This shop has exclusive Kirby Petit merchandise, including plushies, robes, slippers, hair clips and towels. 

But the main draw is their sweets counter that serves up Kirby-themed cakes and drinks. 

There’s Kirby cupcakes, a range of fun pudding jars and a Twinkle Parfait. 

You can also try a petite version of the Kirby Car Cake if you didn’t want such a big portion.  I bought this and a matching Kirby Car keyring.

As I mentioned, I really didn’t like the cake. It looks cute, but the texture is strange, and it’s pretty flavourless.

I’m glad I tried it here rather than spending big on the full-size one at the Kirby Café.

The only thing to note is that it’s a small store and gets insanely crowded. 

Also, the car cakes usually sell out by the early afternoon. So, I would visit this place in the morning (around 10 am) to secure one.

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Save the Kirby Café in Japan for later!