Tokyo, a city known for its vibrant nightlife and eclectic entertainment options, offers a truly one-of-a-kind bar scene that caters to all tastes and preferences. As the sun sets and the city’s neon lights illuminate the streets, Tokyo’s unique bars come to life, each offering a distinct and unforgettable experience.
From sipping cocktails beneath a starry sky in a planetarium bar to immersing yourself in the mysterious worlds of vampire and detective establishments, or some humble experiences such as sake tasting or trying Japanese late-night dessert. Tokyo’s nightlife has something for everyone. Join us on a journey through some of the most extraordinary and imaginative bars in Tokyo that are sure to leave you with lasting memories of a night out in this dynamic metropolis.
1. Planetarium Bar
Image source: LetsGoOut
Uniqueness: Bar with immersive planetarium experience.
🍸 Location
If you’re seeking a romantic night out in Tokyo, we’ve got just the spot for you. Tokyo’s dazzling cityscape often makes it tough to see stars and planets, but fear not, there’s a bar that solves this problem for you. Enter the Planetarium Bar, where you can sip your drink while gazing up at a breathtaking display of around 5 million stars projected onto the ceiling. Whether it’s raining, cloudy, or chilly outside, you’ll always find the zodiac signs here. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a delicious drink beneath a clear sky filled with shimmering stars.
2. Vows Bar
Image by. The Japan Times
Uniqueness: Cozy and zen bar run by a real Buddhist monk.
🍸 Location
In Tokyo, not far from Yotsuya Sanchome station, there’s a unique bar called Vowz. It’s owned by Mr. Yoshinobu Fujioka, who happens to be a Buddhist monk. He opened the bar to bring people from all walks of life together. What’s interesting is that all the bartenders there are also Buddhist monks, and their cocktails have names related to Buddhism. Alongside drinks, they offer some surprising snacks inspired by zen cuisine.
If you’re curious about Buddhism, Japanese culture, or history, the friendly staff at Vowz will gladly answer your questions. You can also read the books they have available for everyone. Sometimes, you might even get to hear sutra chanting, called “okyo” in Japanese. The staff can speak some English, and they have a menu with pictures in English. So even if you don’t know Japanese, you’ll have a great time and might even learn some valuable life lessons!
3. Mr. Kanso
Image source: Tokyo Girls Update
Uniqueness: One-stop for Japanese canned foods.
🍸 Location
While many folks prefer fresh meals, Mr. Kanso does something different – they serve food from cans. With over 50 locations all across Japan, their canned dishes range from ¥200 to ¥2,000. You’ll find canned delights from Japan and around the globe. Visiting one of their restaurants is a unique experience where you can explore a wide variety of canned foods from all over the world. Plus, it’s fun to gaze at the neatly arranged shelves filled with cans.
4. Vampire Cafe
Image by. DD Group
Uniqueness: A gothic vampire-themed cafe.
🍸 Location
Step into the world of vampires at The Vampire Cafe, a uniquely themed dining experience that’s sure to intrigue and captivate your senses. In this one-of-a-kind cafe, you’ll immerse yourself in a mysterious ambiance where a vampire slumbers in a coffin while bats gracefully flutter about. But it’s not just the atmosphere that’s bewitching; the menu offers a delectable array of Italian dishes that are both delicious and creatively designed to match the theme.
From dishes adorned with roses and flames to those that playfully incorporate “blood” elements, every bite is a delightful adventure into the vampire lore. Whether you’re a couple seeking a memorable date night or a family looking for something out of the ordinary, The Vampire Cafe offers a refreshing departure from your typical Italian restaurant experience.
5. Shooting Bar EA
Image by. @Bar_EA (via Twitter)
Uniqueness: A bar that not only serves food and drinks but also various guns to try on the spot.
🍸 Location
Just 10 minutes from Kichijoji Station, you’ll find the EA Shooting bar, a cool spot to have some fun and relax. They’ve got a menu with lots of guns, including a .50-caliber sniper rifle and the SCAR machine gun that you can try out. Folks really like the Samurai Edge, a .45-caliber pistol from the Resident Evil video games. It’s a great place to practice your shooting skills or unwind after a long week.
While visitors wait for their turn at the firing lanes, there are booths and a bar located nearby. These spaces have screens above them, so groups can watch each other take their shots at the targets while sipping on the bar’s gun-themed drinks. Spending your night at Shooting Bar EA would feel like dining in a stylish neo-noir film bar.
6. Tokyo Video Gamers
Image source: TimeOut
Uniqueness: Arcade bar and cafe.
🍸 Location
Step into gamer heaven at Tokyo Video Gamers, a cozy spot tucked under a railway arch near Akihabara Station. It’s a cool blend of a bar, café, and arcade, where you can enjoy tasty food and play arcade games for free. This place is a hit with gaming giants like Sega and SNK, and they’ve got awesome cocktails inspired by games like Guilty Gear and Kunio-kun. Even the glasses and coasters are all about that gaming vibe, making them great souvenirs to take home.
Getting into this pixelated paradise is easy. Just order anything from the menu, and you can play all the classic games like Space Invaders, Metal Slug, and King of Fighters ’98 for free. The staff here are super friendly and love to play games with you, adding to the fun, social atmosphere.
7. Kakigori Cafe & Bar Yelo
Image source: Tokyo Girls Update
Uniqueness: A one-stop late-night Japanese traditional dessert.
🍸 Location
Yelo offers a cool twist on late-night desserts in a city that usually goes for ramen after dark. They do something special here with kakigori, those fluffy mountains of shaved ice that are usually a sweet treat. At Yelo, they turn them into alcoholic cocktails, making it a tasty choice for folks who love both desserts and drinks.
Yelo has a wide range of kakigori options, from familiar flavors like tiramisu, matcha, and mango milk to some unusual ones like avocado mascarpone and hojicha kinako (roasted green tea with soybean powder). Even though these treats might look big, their delicious flavors make them disappear pretty quickly.
8. Tir na nOg
Image source: TimeOut
Uniqueness: Celtic mythology-themed bars and pubs.
🍸 Location
This basement tavern, beautifully adorned and named after Celtic mythology as the ‘Land of Youth,’ welcomes you with a charming atmosphere. As you descend the narrow stairs, you’ll be surrounded by hundreds of butterflies and delicate fairy figurines dangling from the ceiling. The walls are lined with small glass bottles filled with magical pixie dust.
Their drink menu is like a page out of a fantasy book, featuring cocktails like the Pink Tako, a rich fruity blend topped with squid tentacles, and the Lilly, where your drink is hidden beneath a fluffy cloud of blue candy floss.
9. Detective Cafe ‘PROGRESS’
Image source: NAVITIME Travel
Uniqueness: The cafe is run by a legitimate private detective by day, and a bartender by night.
🍸 Location
In Tokyo, there are lots of cool themed cafes and bars, with waitresses dressed up as vampires or putting up extra acts as cute maids. But Progress Detective Bar is more than just a ‘detective-themed’ bar. The bartenders here are legitimate private detectives by day, searching for missing people and solving mysteries. By night, they’ll serve you a drink and some cool stories from about their one-of-a-kind job.
If possible, they might even offer you their services; playing detective with the bar as it’s a real crime scene. This is how they connect with the general public through their occupation, and Ikebukuro is just the perfect location to experience that one night you encounter a detective as your bartender.
10. Kurand Sake Market
Image source: Klook
Uniqueness: An all-you-can-taste sake bar.
🍸 Location
Located in Shibuya Izakaya, Kurand Sake Market is the perfect stop for you to taste your first sake in Japan. With over 100 varieties of sake, this place is an all-you-can-taste sake bar! Grab a cup, make your way to the fridge, and find the sake you’d like to taste. As it is only serving sake, you are allowed to bring your own snacks.
It offers some packages based on duration, from 30 minutes to no time limit, from 1100 yen to 3300 yen. Even if the bar would accept bookings on the same day (if the space is available), you might want to make a reservation beforehand.