DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe is an innovative eatery in Tokyo built around inclusive design for people of all physical capacities. Expect to be served by literal robots, which are operated remotely by homebound staff.
Image credit: Keisuke Tanigawa
DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe is run by Ory Laboratory Inc, a Japanese robotics company striving to create an accessible society. With its OriHime and OriHime-D robots, the cafe is revolutionising the idea of “barrier-free”.
Image credit: @dawncafe2021
As many of the cafe’s staff are homebound – due to physical ailments, social anxiety, or household commitments – they operate these robots remotely via the Internet.
The staff are called pilots. Currently, more than 60 skilful pilots run the cafe. That’s why the cafe’s name, DAWN, is an acronym that stands for “Diverse Avatar Working Network”.
Image credit: @hatsu3
What’s cooler than a mecha anime concept IRL is the line-of-sight input device. It allows even immobilised pilots to work just by controlling the robots with their eyes.
Image credit: Keisuke Tanigawa
If you’ve ever dreamt of teleporting while you run errands, the pilots here do exactly that. They log on to any robot and hop between avatars to respond to guests.
Image credit: Keisuke Tanigawa
These robots collect orders, serve food and drinks, and even make coffee on the spot. They can also virtually head to the back room during break time to chat with each other.
Image credit: DAWN CAFE
DAWN Cafe aims to help homebound individuals form meaningful connections with others despite physical barriers, and to prevent loneliness.
Even though they’re not physically present, the pilots’ unique personalities shine through interactions with guests.
Image adapted from: @dawncafe2021, @dawncafe2021
If you order a drink, you might even find different hand-drawn messages on the cup.
Image credit: @hatsu3
Pilots customise their robots’ eyes to match their favourite colours or their mood for the day. The robots even don special outfits on festive occasions – they wore maid costumes for Halloween back in 2022.
Image adapted from: DAWN CAFE, DAWN CAFE
They’re also equipped with a camera, microphone and speaker. Feel free to chat with your pilots while you enjoy your meal or watch your robot barista at work.
You can check out the pilots’ personal profiles to learn more about the people behind the pleasant atmosphere here.
Image credit: Ory Laboratory Inc.
Not only does DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe offer a barrier-free space for its staff, it also takes good care of guests. The cafe spells out all allergens clearly and guests with dietary restrictions can request for modifications to the food.
Image credit: DAWN CAFE
The menu offers Western-style set meals including the juicy Black Angus Beef Rump Steak (¥3,080, ~USD22.15).
Image credit: DAWN CAFE
For the indecisive, get the DAWN sweets special (¥3,300, ~USD23.73), which is a medley of their best-selling desserts. Besides that, latte and sandwiches are available from ¥600 (~USD4.32) to ¥700 (~USD5.03) each.
Image credit: @hatsu3
You’re in good hands for all forms of meal support too. If you have babies present, and they require baby food or are drinking formula milk, you’re welcome to bring your own meal and warm it up here. Cooking utensils such as blenders and strainers are available for rent if you need to prepare anything on the spot.
Image credit: DAWN CAFE
The futuristic interior design combines form and function into one smooth dining experience. The floor plan, furnishing, and wiring are designed for a spectrum of physical capacities.
Image credit: DAWN CAFE
There’s a barrier-free toilet with a nursing bed, ample space to manoeuvre stretcher type and electric wheelchairs, and rentable power supplies to charge medical equipment.
Image credit: DAWN CAFE
DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe is divided into three dining areas, with different menu items. At Tele-Barista, a pilot prepares your coffee live. The OriHime Seat area is served by robots while the Cafe Seat area is self-serviced and for customers who are only here for a drink.
You’re recommended to make a reservation in advance for the former two options as there are specific time slots allotted.
Image credit: @dawncafe2021
Getting there: Take the JR Sobu Line to Shin-Nihonbashi Station and head out of Exit 5, where you’ll find the cafe just round the corner.
Address: 1F, Nihonbashi Life Science Building 3, 3-8-3 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0023
Opening hours: Fri-Wed 11am-6pm (Closed on Thursdays)
Contact: 03-3527-2136 | Dawn Avatar Robot Cafe website
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Cover image adapted from: Keisuke Tanigawa, DAWN CAFE, Ory Laboratory Inc.
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