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Japan Buddhist monk bar has heaven- and hell-inspired drinks, offers beating service

A Tokyo bar run by Buddhist monks has become an online sensation for its unusual blend of cocktails, chanting and death-themed rituals.
At the Vowz Bar…

By Samantha Johnson / June 1, 2026

A Tokyo bar run by Buddhist monks has become an online sensation for its unusual blend of cocktails, chanting and death-themed rituals.

At the Vowz Bar in the city’s Shinjuku district, patrons can sip drinks inspired by heaven and hell, seek life advice from the monk staff and listen to sutras performed in a modern musical style.

According to a Chinese visitor @kaolababyy, the menu features cocktails such as “Nirvana in the Pure Land”, “Never Ending Suffering in Hell” and “Love and Hate leading to Hell”, each priced at 1,000 yen (US$6).

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The drinks combine fruits and spirits to create sweet, sour and spicy flavours, and are served with incense stick-shaped snacks.

The interior of the Buddhist-themed bar in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. Photo: averylives
The interior of the Buddhist-themed bar in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. Photo: averylives

Guests can also try brush calligraphy while waiting for their orders, with handwritten characters by past visitors covering the ceiling and adding to the bar’s offbeat atmosphere.

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