Monster Hunter Bar (Akihabara, Japan)

If you’ve met me, you probably know that one of my favorite video games is Monster Hunter. I was introduced to Monster Hunter 3 on the Nintendo Wii all the way back in 2010. It was the first double joystick game I played and taught me how to walk and aim, something I’m still not particularly good at virtually or otherwise, and it is single-handedly the reason I have bought every console I own. Monster Hunter 3 had an amazing couch coop arena mode (that I will never forgive them for removing), and later iterations of the game did not support couch coop and I wasn’t going to sit and watch my ex play all day. So, on more than one occasion, I went out and got the required console and game and delved in.

Why Monster Hunter?

Look at Grammeowster Chef. She loves you. She’s proud of all the hard work you’re doing for the village, keeping all those big scary dragons away. She’s making you your favorite big, hearty stew, made with love.

But really, Monster Hunter is just fun. Just fun. There’s no big, intricate story. The controls don’t take years to master. If I put it down and pick if up in three months, I’m not punished for my transgressions (and as a time traveler, you know I struggle with this!). Recent iterations have been incredibly cooperative and enjoyable with friends. You grab an outlandishly large weapon, grab your cat or dog friend (or a lost child*), and seriously "Research" some monsters.

Over half a decade ago, when Monster Hunter: World came out on the PS4 and allowed friends to play together, my ex and I got our own setups and bought copies for several friends… including David Adashek. Neither David nor I could have guessed we’d end up each other’s player two, and still be playing Monster Hunter to this day. David loved World so much he bought the expansion, Monster Hunter: Iceborne, when it came out, and subsequently out-leveled and outclassed the heck out of me. So, here we are now, playing Monster Hunter: Sunbreak on the switch together on a lazy afternoon in Nagoya, Japan.

The point of this entire exposition is to say that David and I almost lost our minds when we were wondering around Sunshine City Mall in Ikebukuro and just happened across the Capcom Café. Not only that, but as you may have heard previous stories about David-level-luck, it happened to be Monster Hunter’s 20th year anniversary! The café had decorations, including a miniature Meowscular Chef <3, and a menu celebrating the anniversary. We quickly made a date of it, and enjoyed our SO TASTY** dishes, while listening to the soundtrack and enjoying the cozy café.

I had read reviews online that said the experience was poor and unenjoyable, especially when the Monster Hunter Bar exists. I reread those reviews. Then I made reservations. Somehow I missed the fact that only a short train ride away in Akihabara, was the Monhan Sakaba: Monster Hunter Bar. It’s not well advertised and sits next door to the Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy themed bars, which may overshadow it for some, but not for me.

David and I visited during a quiet weekday, and were able to enjoy the fully Monster Hunter themed bar. They had life-size models of every weapon and a set of the iconic Rathalos armor on a manikin. The food and drinks were themed after several of the monsters, a projector on one side of the bar ran interesting information about all the different iterations of the game, and on the other side was a setup of four (max party size) televisions and chairs with switch docks and playstations for players to choose which Monster Hunter to play and enjoy. If you completed a specific hunt in under twenty minutes, you could get a 500 yen off voucher. David and I pulled out our Switches, launched Sunbreak, and WON at 19 minutes 16 seconds!!! That had to be the most insane hunt I ever did.

The atmosphere, the models, the food and drinks were all amazing. The experience dwarfed the Capcom Café and reignited David and my passion for the game and excitement at Monster Hunter: Wilds’ 2025 release. I now more than ever want to introduce a whole new group of friends into the game and maybe get them to visit Japan sometime.

8/10 – Amazing atmosphere, fun experience, a little pricey… no Grammama Cat. :(

*MH3 had a small companion who fought with you named Cha-Cha, who was literally a lost child from a Shakalaka tribe within the Deserted Island. Later iterations of the game have moved towards Palicoes (Cats), Palimutes (Dogs), Seikrets (Mini dinosaurs) … and no one ever talks about whatever it was MH3 was doing.

**Relevant youtube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVHigvYeoYw