Partners Dining announced that the last branch of its The Lockup, in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho, will close for good on 31 July.
While the restaurant's operators have not given an official reason for the closure, The Lockup was particularly popular with international tourists, so the pandemic's impact on overseas visitors likely played a role in the restaurant's closure.
The prison-themed restaurant first opened its doors in Kyoto in 1999 and has since expanded to over a dozen locations across Japan, including five in Tokyo.
Upon entering, diners are handcuffed and led to dining rooms that resemble prison cells by a staff member dressed as a police officer. Plus, three times a night, there's a surprise jailbreak, during which all the lights go out and staff dressed as clowns, monsters, and other terrifying characters terrorize patrons.
The restaurant is holding a closing event entitled “Everyone Jailbreak! Final The This final event includes a special "Goodbye Lockup Course," which includes 13 of the most popular menu items and costs US$22.41 for the food but no money for the "imprisonment" or the 550 yen entry fee.
During their meal, thirsty inmates can choose from a wide variety of strange beverages, with all-you-can-drink "beaker drink" cocktails priced at 690 yen until June 26.
The closing event will take place from June 13 to July 24, about a week before the restaurant closes.


Deutsche Bank Fined A$2 Million by ASIC Over OTC Derivatives Reporting Errors
European Regulators Clash With U.S. Treasury Over Private Credit Transparency
Fast Retailing Raises Full-Year Forecast After Uniqlo Owner Beats Q3 Profit Estimates
SK Hynix Shares Drop After Strong Nasdaq Debut Despite $26 Billion ADR Listing
BOJ May Raise Japan Growth Forecast While Keeping Focus on Inflation Risks
Dollar Slips After Fed Minutes as Iran Tensions, Inflation Risks Keep Markets Cautious
Morgan Stanley Says China’s Reusable Rocket Progress Poses Long-Term Challenge to SpaceX
Dollar Slips as Oil Prices Ease, Fed Rate Outlook Remains Uncertain
Oil Prices Slip but Stay on Track for Weekly Gains as U.S.-Iran Conflict Persists
OpenAI Executive Fidji Simo to Step Down Amid Health Challenges Ahead of IPO
Nippon Paint Reportedly Offers Up to €7.5 Billion for Akzo Nobel Decorative Paints Business
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Launches Task Forces to Overhaul U.S. Monetary Policy Framework
Japanese Yen Rises as Pension Fund Plan and BOJ Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Dollar
US Back-to-School Spending Seen Falling as Families Focus on Essentials
The pandemic is still disrupting young people’s careers
Telenor to Buy Controlling Stake in Bahnhof in $630 Million Broadband Deal 



