Deathmatch in Hell

Awesome experience. Lived up to expectations. Great atmosphere of heavy metal fans and very cool horror and metal memorabilia. Horror movies showing on small screens while heavy metal music is pumping on the stereo. The owner is friendly and a true fan. The drinks are all ¥666 and delicious. From beer to Japanese whiskey, to plum wine. A great time!

I absolutely cannot recommend this bar enough! Having passed by it on my first trip to Japan, I made sure to not make the same mistake twice and stop in. The vibes were immaculate from the nonchalant bar owner to the heavy metal blasting on the speakers. Rock albums adorn the walls and are stacked on the bar. Cheesy horror movies play on the TVs. Red lights aluminate your decent into hell. We visited around 10pm on a Tuesday and it was standing room only with barely enough room to move. We gestured “#2” on our fingers and the bar owner, looked at us, shrugged and pointed at a vaguely empty space near the entrance. Love it! Drinks all priced a 666¥. The bar was absolutely some of the most fun I had in Golden Gai! Pours on drinks were solid, some even heavy, absolutely worth a stop when in Japan.

This is my favorite bar in the entire world: a heavy metal and horror themed hole-in-the-wall dive in Golden Gai, Shinjuku, where every drink costs a mere ¥666, and is served quickly and jovially by Go, the owner and mastermind of its hellish interior aesthetic. From the bar made of glued-together clamshell VHS & DVD cases, to the walls plastered with movie posters and metal paraphernalia, to the iconic horror movie figurines behind the counter, every single piece of infernal effluvia SCREAMS with flavor and drips with character like the blood of countless hapless horror movie victims. It's all shock and schlock in here, with a pulse-pounding soundtrack of riffs and guitar solos beating into your skull like a ball-peen hammer, and drowning you to death in liquor, tonic and soda. It's HELL ON EARTH...or as some of us call it: home! Rock on, Go! Metal is religion! Metal is life! Metal is forever! \m/ \m/

My favorite bar in all Golden Gai. Great price but more importantly great bartender! I always come back for more when I visit Tokyo. Love coming here to kick back and talk to other travelers visiting Tokyo. Look forward to another visit or shall I say visits!

If you like metal and you like dive bars this is the holy Grail. Hands down the best atmosphere and service I've had in my entire life. There are always great people to talk to and the drinks are some of the most affordable in the city. This is a true bucket list bar.

Fantastic experience. Enjoyed the owner and the atmosphere. Enormously. All drinks are 666 yen. Playing Japanese horror on the TV. Bought the T-shirt

10/10 best bar in Golden Gai especially if you’re into the metal or horror community. Super tiny spot with maybe 8 seats but could possibly fit 2 more standing. Drinks were all ¥666 which is super reasonable for the area. Decor is awesome and owner usually has a movie playing too. If you’re a metalhead this is for you.

This might be one of my favorite places I've been to in Japan. The owner is super friendly, the prices are very reasonable, and the atmosphere is fun and welcoming. It is a tiny place, but it's Golden Gai, so that's to be expected. I cannot recommend this place enough.

This is by far my favorite bar in the Golden Gai, and that is saying a lot. The atmosphere is creepy cool, with Sci fi and horror memorabilia covering the walls. And of course the blasting heavy metal music also adds to rocking vibe. But the star of the show is Death Match in Hell's bartender Go. He is a cool cat that knows just about anything regarding horror and Sci fi movies. He turned me onto Robo Geishas, and I have to say that you owe to yourself to check that one out.

Deathmatch in HELL is the best bar that I've ever been to. Hands down. Once I heard that there was a bar in Golden Gai lined with VHS tapes that played horror movies all night, I knew I had to go! Deathmatch seats about 8 people and has standing room for maybe a few more. The owner is very nice and the bar offers a simple menu of spirits, beers, and wine all priced at ¥666. Duh. Don't get discouraged if it looks full. It seems like the routine in Golden Gai is to have a drink or two and move on to the next place, but Rus and I were having such a good time here that we ended up staying all night! We sat through Dead Alive, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Evil Dead and during that time we met other people visiting Tokyo and some very nice locals that gave us tips for our travels. If I owned a bar, I'd want it to be exactly like this place. I felt like we left knowing so many more people in Tokyo. If you're a fan of horror, metal, or just want to meet some folks, definitely check out Deathmatch in Hell.

DMIH is one of many tiny bars in the alleys of Shibuya, aka the Golden Gai neighborhood. Most bars there open between 5 and 10pm and close between 4 and 6amish. I so love a city that supports its local vampires. Some travelers may be intimidated walking down a dark alley in the middle of the night and prying open the door of a place with a simple sign in bloody letters that reads Deathmatch in HELL, but this is what we live for... We could hear laughter and Slayer from the street. Good sign. As we entered, the red light hit us and all we saw were smiles, including that of the long haired bartender welcoming us in. There's about enough room for ten people max and the bartender, providing no one needs too much personal space. Over the next couple of hours we met tourists, locals, glanced at Evil Dead muted on the tiny tv, perused all of the horror DVDs and some posters that are probably on a collector's wish list, and heard some great music, including In This Moment, which was unexpected (squee!) The drinks are all 666 yen, and despite not seeing any major mixology, anyone offering me Malibu or gin & juice is a friend. Unlike many other bars in this area, there is no cover. Can't think of a better way to spend the wee hours of the night after a our Christmas dinner in Shinjuku emceed by futuristic Elvis, sparkly showgirls, robots, and alcohol enhanced boba drinks (but that's another review). I hope this becomes our new holiday tradition.

In all of its glorious darkness, "Deathmatch in Hell" outshines the ~200 bars situated in Golden Gai of Shinjuky Tokyo. Every drink on the menu, from beer to shochu to spirits, is 666 yen! Plus there's no cover. There's red lighting, old-school horror movies on the 2 TVs, and an infinite collection of horror, metal, thriller, and inappropriate memorabilia. It's just a little safe satanic fun! Like most Golden Gai spots, this bar fits about 6 people. The bartender (and owner?), whom seems to always be wearing a Wayne's World hat, is a real hoot too! This place really rocks, so if you're in the area, try to make a point to come in to enjoy a drink and a little cinematic gore.

So glad we wondered into this Golden Gai bar. There's all kind of fun stuff here, from the death metal, gore and sci-fi theme, you'd swear you're at a cool hobby shop or your one weird-but-cool friend's rumpus room. The bartender/proprietor is super friendly and plays great metal jams and shows classic horror flicks for guests. And all the drinks are 666yen. Come on, that's perfect. If you have a twisted sense of humor and/or love goth, metal, gore, et cetera, Deathmatch in Hell is a must-visit if you're in Shinjuku.

I wanted to come to this place because the title is catchy and I want to experience what this bar is like. This is one of the many mini bars in Golden Gai aka Piss Alley. Surprisingly all the drinks were decent well/house drinks all priced at 666¥. They were regular sized drinks and has a limited number of drinks on the menu. I'm here for the atmosphere and it was extremely friendly just like the rest of Japan. The owner was wearing a Wayne's World hat on and introduced himself to us and was quite talkative with his perfect English. The bar fits about 8 people max, others would have to stand. However there are much more bars but the decor and ambiance felt extremely dark, inviting and fun. I would recommend this place to anyone traveling to Shinjuku in Tokyo. It is a place you must stop by. Nothing else in the world compares to this unique and bold theme. Check it out on your next stop to Japan! Tips... This place is very hard to find it took us a long time because the sign is so small and maps was not accurate. We asked around and found it. Just look for the sign. it's somewhat on a corner.

Though strongly recommended, I resisted because I could care less for morbid, slasher movie, death metal, satanic themes and ambiance. Upon poking my head through the door, I knew I was called to be there realizing Peter Jackson's "Dead-Alive" was playing. Boy, am I glad I overcame my reluctance. I had a couple drinks famously priced at ¥666 and met with pleasant travelers. It's really cool how these teeny-tiny bars in this Shinjuku neighborhood make the spaces all their own. Their passion makes the experience welcoming and inspiring. Be sure to notice the Yoda feeding on a foot. Sacrilegious? A little. But it's all highly charming and fun. You may have to hunt a bit to find Deathmatch in Hell, but completely worthwhile. Go San, who sports the Wayne's World cap, is the sweetest man and I wish him the best with his bar in the Golden Gai.

Cool bartender, great theme, good drink prices and no cover charge. Solid place to get a Jager energy

This place is EPIC! Death metal music, horror films, and free popcorn...what more could you want? I can honestly say I have never been anywhere like this and its an experience I will never forget. Pros A great selection of drinks for $666 yen Decor is museum quality horror! Bartender "Wayne" is super cool Cons Only thing to remember (like everywhere in the Golden Gai) its no good for groups...I'm talking like you and your +1 max! Any more than that and you likely won't be able to find a seat.

Awesome bar that's a must stop in Golden Gai! Has to be one of the most unique places to grab a drink in the world. Super friendly and welcoming, with the background ambiance provided by horror flicks on small TVs and a death metal soundtrack. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face! Prices are excellent, with virtually all drinks costing only Y666. The only slight negative is that it seems like it's more popular with tourists than it is with locals. Not necessarily a problem, but worth noting.

Another awesome local haunt in the Golden Gai. Theme here is metal/horror/American culture. When you go in - if your idea of a good night is listening to some classic 80s metal (think pre-black album Metallica, Megadeth and Iron Maiden), watching some bizarre horror movies and looking at really cool tidbits of American culture - then chances are you're gonna have a good time at Deathmatch. Bartender is a really friendly dude and if you've been to metal concerts before he will chat with you about his experiences.

This is the BEST BAR IN GOLDEN GAI. The music is amazing. The bar tender is cool as hell and awesome and he rocks !!! The way everything is decorated is awesome ! I can't wait to come back to Tokyo just to come here. The only reason I'm sad to leave Tokyo is because of this bar. I want to come back just to be here. Please please please check this place out guys. PLEASE . And tell him I said hi. I was wearing an Avenged Sevenfold shirt and he played Avenged Sevenfold for me ^.^ . This is just the best place in golden Gai . No cover charge and has good drinks. He also plays cool ass movies and gives you popcorn as an appetizer. There is a good drink menu and he also has wine (I suggest the Japanese plum wine, AMAZEBALLS)z Love love love this place so much. I want to come back for this. !!

Proudly death metal and horror movie themed bar in Shinjuku's Golden Gai. No cover charge, and all drinks were 666 yen. The bartender was friendly and attentive, and it was a fun small crowd when I visited. Great bar with a strong, unique theme :P

The place definitely has a lot of personality. As you probably already gathered, it features death metal and American horror flicks as one of the tiny bars in Golden Gai. Thank god for NO COVER, which is a rare find for tourists in the alley. I personally preferred Hair of the Dogs (another punk metal bar), which had less crowd and a more intimate vibe, and was a little annoyed by a group of male tourists, desperate for a one night stand, macking hard on local ladies. The place gets pretty busy at night, and you may find it hard to find standing space. If you don't want to deal with the crowd, come a little earlier in the night. Decently prized drinks, friendly bartender.

Cool dudes, cool decor. The beer was cold and its practically the heart of fun Japan. We stayed for about 45min. It's extremely small so you kinda want the experience but move on so others can enjoy too.

Best bar I've ever been to. More details on my Instagram post here https://www.instagram.com/p/BWefdQ-AbDc/

Absolutley loved this place had such a great time here two of the seven nights we were in Tokyo. The barman who's name escapes me was a legend, very accomadating and sporting a Wayne's world hat. Had plenty of drinks in this horror themed bar that is always packed but worth waiting for a seat.

Love this place!!! Best bar in Toyko! ! The guy is down to earth and the beer and liquor is cheap everything about this is just RAD!!

Epic place!! The owner is a sweet heart, heavy metal is played at all times, no exceptions! Seats about 10 people, this particular bar has a great vibe, very chill. Also has a bathroom, which may not seem like much but in that area is golden!! All drinks for the most part were 666JY, and feel free to watch the movies playing and look at all the cool things all over the place. Def worth checking out!!

Really nice place, but 666yen for a drink isn't that chip. It got the typical size for a japanese bar, so not more than 15 people fit in it

Awesome bar in Golden Gai. Randomly went inside, and did not regret it. Drinks were decently priced and the bar tender is super friendly. Not your basic bar, I highly recommend.

Bar fits about 8 people like all the other bars in the area. Plays good movies with a bunch of movies and posters around to create conversation. Dude in the Wayne's World hat is definetly a legend...

This was my favorite bar in Tokyo! A horror movie and an action movie on screens, death metal playing in the background, memorabilia owned by a true fan who has had many famous guests here! The place is small, but it was friendly. The owner speaks English well. Free wifi and popcorn. You'll have great stories if you go here! Highly recommended.