A unique shop found near Nakano, leading to Arai Yakushi. During the day, it operates as a cafe, and at night, it transforms into a bar. The interior is colorful and fun, like a toy box turned upside down, filled with sofubi, figures, mysterious plush toys, gacha, original goods, and various trinkets on the tables. During the day, you can enjoy drinks for 500 yen with a one-drink per hour system, and food for 800 yen. After 6 pm, it becomes a bar with a simple menu of 800 yen for both drinks and food, with a good selection of alcohol. The staff, especially a lovely woman, is friendly. Even if you're not a monster or figure enthusiast, it's an interesting place to visit and soak in the atmosphere.

From the outside, at first glance (first photo), you might think, "Oh, it's a shop selling monster figures or something. It's Nakano, after all." But that's not the case. Because this is Tabelog, a restaurant review site. The name of the shop is "Daikaiju Salon." Despite the name "salon," they don't do nails or hair styling. It's a salon for discussing monsters. When you sit at a table, the staff (humans) will say, "Our kids are okay with being touched," and they'll set up many young ladies (monsters) for you. They are generous enough to let you touch them without any additional fees. As someone from the generation of the late 40s, I know a fair amount about monsters, but the only familiar face was Busuka. The rest were monsters I didn't recognize, but apparently, this shop exhibits original monsters created by monster sculptors. The conversation leads to a deep world, and I don't quite understand it all. I ordered a draft beer (tax included 800 yen) and was served spinach as a complimentary appetizer (free). I also received some Kashiwa mochi, which was given as a gift from a customer. I shared these foods with the hostesses of the shop and took a photo together (second photo), which ended up looking like mischievous children playing around a Buddhist altar. Now, thinking of writing a review on Tabelog, I also ordered the Daikaiju Curry (tax included 800 yen). It was served as Thai green curry with salad greens on top, finished with a hot spring egg. I'm not sure what makes it a Daikaiju curry, but it was a mild curry that even children who like monsters can enjoy. As for the pricing of this shop, after 6 p.m., all drinks and food are 800 yen including tax. Ordering soft drinks, in particular, would be a bad deal, but with monsters as the waitstaff, complicated calculations are impossible. I would appreciate a simple fixed price for easier calculations.