Located in Shinjuku, Vowz Bar serves cocktails inspired by heaven and hell. Guests can converse with monks about life's issues and listen to Buddhist sutras presented in a modern style.

According to Chinese tourist kaolababyy, the menu features Buddhist-themed cocktails such as "nirvana in the Pure Land", "endless suffering in hell", or "love and hate leading to hell", each priced at 1,000 yen (approximately 6 USD). Monks craft the drinks from fruit and alcohol, offering sweet, sour, or spicy flavors. Snacks resembling incense sticks accompany the beverages.

Diners fill Vowz Bar. Photo: Brian

The bar's interior features Buddhist decor. While waiting for drinks, guests can try writing calligraphy with a brush pen. Guests paste their papers onto the ceiling, adding a unique touch to the establishment.

At 21h daily, guests are invited to participate in a sutra chanting session led by the resident monk. In a social media video, a Chinese tourist mentioned that this experience helped her feel relaxed. "When chanting, my mind truly becomes calm, and by the end of the session, I feel purified", she said.

Some visitors noted that the bar is small, requiring advance reservations. Beyond beverages and Buddhist activities, the bar offers unusual experiences. Guests can try the keisaku ritual, where a monk gently taps their shoulder with a flat wooden stick, traditionally used in meditation to encourage focus.

For 1,000 yen, guests can also participate in a "coffin experience". Participants wear white robes and lie in a flower-decorated coffin while a monk chants sutras and strikes a wooden fish drum (mo).

According to Japanese food and culture information site Onaji.me, owner Yoshinobu Fujioka worked as a part-time bartender before becoming a monk of the Jodo Shinshu sect, a branch of Buddhism that permits clergy to marry and eat meat. "For me, Buddhism is a way to help people navigate life", Fujioka said, suggesting the bar's model could make Buddhist teachings more accessible to those facing difficulties.

Many Buddhist decorative items in the bar were gifted by customers. Some individuals visit to seek advice from Fujioka and other monks on family, relationship, or life issues.

A monk converses with diners at Vowz Bar. Photo: coolmamma11

Fujioka recounted assisting a woman experiencing domestic violence by contacting local authorities and finding information on victim support services. He also observed a growing number of international visitors to the bar, drawn by their interest in Japanese Buddhist culture. "Drinking alcohol while listening to sutra chanting is a very peculiar experience", a tourist commented. Another person suggested that the coffin experience helped them gain a clearer awareness of the value of their present life after leaving the bar.

Japan is known for its many unusually themed bars. In Kyoto, Macho Bar operates with a concept inspired by muscular bodybuilders. Male staff even carry some guests into the bar. Visitors can pay from 900 to 1,400 yen (5-9 USD) to take photos with staff or watch performances like shirt-ripping to display muscles.

By Mai Phuong (According to SCMP)