Assassin's Creed Shadows launched on March 20th, 2025, and in celebration, Ubisoft has set up a themed cafe in Harajuku. Game8 was invited to preview the event, so read on for our impressions of the venue, the food, and the exhibitions.

Hidden Away from the Public

Something of a Secret

The weather was much milder today, surprising after the heavy snow just two days prior. Though not quite warm spring weather, hints of it were starting to peek through, making it a good day to be outside. The hustle and bustle at Harajuku Station was as usual, with tourists and young people crowding in line to explore the cute, fashionable stalls and stores. But just around the corner from Takeshita Street, away from the crowds, the buzz of the public quickly fades into silence.

In this quiet area, fittingly away from peering eyes, lies a themed cafe celebrating the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Ubisoft partnered with a major fan of the series, Dante Carver, to create this themed cafe within the chic dotcom space Tokyo venue. Game8 received an invitation to experience the cafe at a media event before its public opening tonight, and a big thank you goes to Ubisoft. This article is not sponsored, and Ubisoft will see this at the same time as everyone else.

The Venue

dotcom space Tokyo

Though the location was a bit of a secret, once you find the entrance, with the title “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” boldly displayed in bright neon lights, it's clear what the place is for. The finely crafted lights showcase the two protagonists, Yasuke and Naoe, fused with the iconic Assassin’s Brotherhood emblem.

I had never been to dotcom space Tokyo before, but it hadn't transformed so much that I couldn't tell what it normally looked like. It's a hip, modern, minimalist style cafe area with barren white walls, exposed ceilings, cracked floors (I actually stumbled on one of the cracks), attractive drink machines, and angular beige furniture, with two long tables and several seating areas against the left-most wall. By a rough estimate, there’s probably enough room for 40-50 people to be comfortably seated at a time.

The Assassin’s Creed theme was evident, but fairly surface-level: posters of different games in the series lined the walls, artwork was displayed here and there, pillows with Ubisoft’s logo, encyclopedias and artbooks from previous entries, and a projector playing a show they did for Shadows in Kyoto back in February. The projector had no sound, so it barely caught my attention. Instead, the venue played several classic BGM from the games to set the ambiance.

There were also several exhibits towards the back, but I’ll get to those later. First, since it's a cafe, let’s talk about the food.

The Menu

Pleasantly Affordable

For a themed cafe, the prices were very reasonable. Drinks ranged from 650 to 750 yen (roughly $4 to $5 USD), and food was 800 yen (roughly $5.30 USD). More expensive than the 100 yen drinks from vending machines, but quite reasonable considering the specialty drinks and branding. Plus, you get a free goodie bag (while supplies last) and something extra for ordering either food or drinks, making it a great deal for even casual fans.

For drinks, there were 5 options:
⚫︎ Cafe Latte for the Assassin who Serves the Light - 650円
⚫︎ Cafe Mocha for the Assassin who Works in the Dark - 750円
⚫︎ Shadows 檸檬水 (Lemonade in Japanese) - 700円
⚫︎ Valhalla Sitronbrus (Lemonade in Norwegian) - 700円
⚫︎ Odyssey λεμονάδα (Lemonade in Greek) - 700円

For food, there were just 2 options:
⚫︎ Assassin’s Creed Dolce Set - 800円
⚫︎ Assassin’s Creed Crest Toast - 800円

As part of the media event, we were given both food options, but we had to choose just one of the drinks. Desperately in need of caffeine, but in solidarity with the launch, I chose the Shadows Lemonade. After waiting a while for my number to be called, everything came on a tray, along with a tote bag of goodies, and I quickly found a spot to sit and snap photos of my food.

The Food

The Toast Tasted Terrific

The amazing smell of melted cheese permeated the area, noticeable as soon as I walked in, but even more tempting when laid out on a thick piece of buttered toast in front of me. The cheese-covered toast was decorated with an Assassin Brotherhood logo, using what I think might be paprika, though my palate wasn’t discerning enough to be sure. It comes with a side of syrup for you to pour over it and eat together.

While some might gasp in horror at the combination, in Japan, it's not that unusual. The saltiness of the cheese pairs well with the sweetness of the syrup. It was unfortunate that I had spent too much time taking pictures, so it was lukewarm by the time I bit into it. The crust of the bread was a bit tough at that point, but the crumb (the inside part of the bread) was incredibly soft while having some bite from being toasted. Even lukewarm, it was quite the bite. If you’ve ever had Japanese bread, you know its fluffiness is on another level.

I sipped my red lemonade drink, which might have just been lemonade soda with red food coloring, but I'm convinced I could taste a hint of cranberry's signature tartness in there. Again, my palate isn't discerning enough to tell, so if anyone who can, please share in the comments.

Dolce Disappoints

The Dolce Set came with two pastries: a madeleine and a cookie with the AC logo in sugar. The madeleine was moist, with a pleasant, almond-y aftertaste. It was good, but quite dense, making me reach for my definitely-cranberry-lemonade lemonade after a few bites. It would have paired better with the coffee options, but I had already made my choice.

The cookie, on the other hand, wasn't as good. It looked nice; a luck of the draw as to which of the three colors you’d get, but the teal color of my cookie was quite pleasant. However, the heavy frosting made it hard to bite into. I attempted it with just my front teeth at first, but resorted to my molars instead.

Once I broke through the royal icing, the cookie wasn’t much gentler on the teeth. The taste wasn't bad, with a slight hint of cocoa flavors through the sugary icing, but it was nothing to write home about. The madeleine was definitely the silent winner of the two.

The Exhibitions

Artwork and Replicas

After finishing my plate, I took a closer look at the exhibitions. There were replicas of in-game items on display, particularly Yasuke’s mask and Naoe’s Hidden Blade. Two mannequins were dressed up in faithful recreations of the protagonists’ outfits. I had hoped for cosplayers for photo opportunities, but seeing them on mannequins was fine too. There were detailed origami and figurines on display, and a powerful painting of the two protagonists using broad strokes on one wall.

Many items on display would be killer as collector’s items, and you can order them from PureArts, like the Hidden Blade and Yasuke’s helmet. For those on a budget, appreciating the intricacies of the items through the display might be good enough.

Is It Worth It?

If You Temper Your Expectations

It’s hard to gauge whether the venue will be packed. Opinions on the game are divisive, the venue itself is fairly hidden, but these themed cafes attract both casual and diehard fans, and the event is only available for a limited time. The event will run for just two days: March 22nd to the 23rd, from 11am to 6:30pm.

If you’re an Assassin’s Creed fan and you go into it knowing what to expect, it's definitely worth checking out. Don't expect an immersive experience that brings you into the world of Assassin’s Creed; you’ll be disappointed. Come understanding that it’s a place with food, drinks, and products with the AC logo, and you’ll get what you expect.

The prices are reasonable, the cheese toast is good, you’ll get gifts for going (while supplies last), and you get to see the art and exhibitions without an entrance fee. It would have been nice if they had hired cosplayers, but these pop-up themed cafes don’t necessarily promise that.

If you’re a fan living or visiting Japan and exploring Harajuku this weekend, I recommend stopping by for 30 minutes before continuing your civilian life. If you're not a fan, the cheese toast is still good and the drinks are colorful, but the bulk of the experience might be lost on you.

If you are a fan but not in Japan and won’t be in the next two days, hopefully, you can live vicariously through this article.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Harajuku Event Information

⚫︎ Location: dotcom space Tokyo (1-19-19 Erindale Jingumae B1F, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001)
⚫︎ Date and time: March 22, 2025 (Sat) to March 23, 2025 (Sun), 11:00am to 6:30pm (Last Order: 6:00pm)