Originally Posted By Malin Since the Oriental Land Company owns and operates the Rainforest Cafe inside Ikspiari though a franchising agreement, I'm trying to understand why the company hasn't considered opening more of these Restaurants in Japan. The venue inside Ikspiari seems to be popular enough, and the menu does cater more to the Japanese palate than other American Restaurant chains in Japan.
Originally Posted By Malin Since the Oriental Land Company owns and operates the Rainforest Cafe inside Ikspiari though a franchising agreement, I'm trying to understand why the company hasn't considered opening more of these Restaurants in Japan. The venue inside Ikspiari seems to be popular enough, and the menu does cater more to the Japanese palate than other American Restaurant chains in Japan.
Originally Posted By Malin Since the Oriental Land Company owns and operates the Rainforest Cafe inside Ikspiari though a franchising agreement, I'm trying to understand why the company hasn't considered opening more of these Restaurants in Japan. The venue inside Ikspiari seems to be popular enough, and the menu does cater more to the Japanese palate than other American Restaurant chains in Japan.
Originally Posted By Mr X I don't understand how you can consider it "popular enough", I've glanced down into the restaurant (easy to do) probably a hundred times over the years and every time I do it's utterly empty. I've heard others say it's popular, but my unscientific outlook says it is decidedly NOT. Just like all the other American bar & grill joints that seem to be hanging on just barely in Tokyo (Hard Rock, TGIFridays, Outback, Bubba Gump etc..). It's just not something most Japanese folks are into, plain and simple. Each and every time I've set foot into any of those joints over the years (and trust me, I've been to all of them more times than I care to admit! lol), they are somewhere from empty to half-full at best. And a large portion of the clientelle seems to be American (I've often asked Japanese friends if they've heard of ANY of them, and the only one they seem to even be aware of is Hard Rock Cafe). I think I actually had to wait for a table once or twice at TGIFridays in Shibuya during rush time, but that's about it (and it couldn't have been more than a 10 minute wait at most). Hard Rock USED to be busy in the original Roppongi location, when it was the only game in town, but at this point with expanded locations and competition, it too is pretty empty much of the time. I asked a guy once why he didn't like Planet Hollywood. His answer? "there's no sake" And their idea of "bar food" is definitely miles away from the American idea of desirable. I wish it were different, but clearly it's not. They wants what they wants. And it's not American themed bar and grills, by and large. Just look at the lines-out-the-door for other popular places in Ikspiari like Monsoon Cafe and Seryumon, compared to the nearby, empty restaurants that are Rainforest and (formerly) Planet Hollywood...HUGE difference. And I can say the same for TGIFriday's and other restaurants' locations around Tokyo as well.
Originally Posted By Malin TGI Fridays has just opened a new Restaurant in Kyoto, so it can't be doing to badly. I visited a few Restaurant chains when I was in Osaka and Hard Rock Cafe at Universal was very quiet as the park was closing, but the Restaurant in Osaka was very busy for a lunch time, and most of the diners were Japanese. The Outback in Osaka was also very full with only tables being in the smoking section, and these were quickly taken, so many had to wait, and this was on a Thurs evening in March. Although the people of Osaka do tend to eat out more, if you believe what the travel guides write. As a local of Tokyo Mr X, your in a much better position to say how the likes of Outback and Hard Rock are doing so I can't comment but will probarely visit one of these Restaurants when I'm next in town. But in regards to the Rainforest Cafe I have seen it both very quiet and extremely busy. I don't think the Restaurant is doing that badly because you never see any promotions or offers being given out. One of the advantages it does have is more of a fish based menu, than other US franchise Restaurants.
Originally Posted By Mr X Wow, TGIFriday's Kyoto. The sort of reminds me of Starbucks in the Forbidden City. Yeah, I don't mean to imply that these joins aren't "viable", per se...they do seem to be struggling by and large though (or perhaps my perceptions and/or timing is just consistently wrong...certainly a possibility). IN GENERAL, whenever I ask about an American style bar & grill my Japanese friends invariably reply either "what they heck is THAT!?" OR "I don't like that!". Just sayin (and trust me, I drag them in anyway lol). I'll take your word for Rainforest doing well. It didn't seem so to me, but then again as I said my opinion is hardly a matter of science or fact (just stuff I saw). Interesting that the Outback in Osaka filled up in non-smoking first, too. In my experience, it's the smoking sections that are unavailable and the non-smoking sections that are free and clear around town for the most part (haven't spend enough time in kansai to really judge, but definitely in kanto that seems to be the trend).
Originally Posted By SeaTokyo sorry when I hear RAIN FOREST CAFE it sends chills down my back... I inadvertantly ended up at the RFC at Animal Kingdom and immediately felt that something just wasn't right... something just wasn't disney... eventually I caught on and learned it was an imposter restaurant on disney property. till this day I still cannot understand why disney would allow an outside company to manage one of the key restaurants for AK. I also know that the swan hotel is also ran by an outside company and thus I would never stay there - not that I would stay there to begin with. sorry I am hard core about this, a disney purist.
Originally Posted By Mr X Technically speaking, the Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom is outside of the main gates. As for the Swan (and Dolphin as well) those are an interesting story...I've read and heard several versions but basically what it comes down to is that the hotel companies that run them were screwed out of a deal with Eisner and as a compromise they were afforded premium "very much on property" locations for their hotels. Or something like that. I can appreciate the Disney purist mindset...I hate the fact that there is a gigantic McDonalds inside "the gates" near the All-Star hotels...I dunno why, but that just bugs the heck out of me!
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I could swear I saw a huge sign/ground being cleared on WDW prop as I was leaving to go back to the airport. The sign said Best Friends Kennel Resort I think and it seemed to be near the campgrounds. I immediately cringed. I have tried to google but find nothing. Has anybody local noticed this?
Originally Posted By Malin *** till this day I still cannot understand why disney would allow an outside company to manage one of the key restaurants for AK. *** Disney have a good relationship with Landry's and the Restaurant chain also opperates the Yak & Yeti Restaurant inside DAK. I don't have so much of a problem with Landry's as much as I did when the parks went though that Mcdonald's era.
