8 live music worth the night across Japan, editor-ranked. All Japan guides.
Blue Note Tokyo ★ 4.7 · Tokyo
Aoyama · Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan
Blue Note Tokyo in Aoyama is the 300-seat sister room of the New York club, open since 1988. Two sets a night of international jazz, soul, and R&B.
Tip: Two seatings nightly, table service with a music charge plus food and drink minimum. Book the early set for sound, late set for atmosphere.
Cotton Club ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
Marunouchi · Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-6402, Japan
Cotton Club in Tokyo's Marunouchi is Blue Note Japan's 180-seat sister room, open since 2005. Chosen jazz, soul, and singer-songwriter bookings beside Tokyo.
Tip: Two sets nightly, music charge plus food and drink minimum. Reservations open about two months out via the Blue Note Japan site.
Shinjuku Pit Inn ★ 4.6 · Tokyo
Shinjuku · Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan
Shinjuku Pit Inn is the basement jazz room running since 1965, the canonical Tokyo room for serious modern and free jazz. Two sets daily on a tight 100-seat.
Tip: Matinee at 14:30 is the bargain; evening set 19:30 is the marquee. Cash on the door, no reservations, no food.
Billboard Live Tokyo ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
Roppongi · Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan
Billboard Live Tokyo in Tokyo Midtown is the 4th-floor terrace dinner-show room. Three-tier seating, big-name pop, jazz, and rock tours from Japan and abroad.
Tip: Service area tables face the stage but cost more; casual cocktail seats further back are cheaper. Two sets nightly, reservations via the official site.
Liquidroom ★ 4.5 · Tokyo
Ebisu · Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0011, Japan
Liquidroom in Tokyo's Ebisu is the 1,000-capacity live house that moved from Shinjuku in 2004. International indie, electronic, and alternative tours.
Tip: Standing room only on the main floor; arrive 30 minutes early for the front rail. Time Out Cafe and Liquid Loft lounge on site for pre-show food.
Shinjuku Loft ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
Kabukicho · Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0021, Japan
Shinjuku Loft in Tokyo's Kabukicho is the basement live house anchoring the Loft Project network. Indie rock, punk, and noise tours, a 25-plus-year Tokyo.
Tip: Standing room basement, doors usually 18:00 or 19:00 on weeknights. Bar at the back stays open through the set, cashless accepted.
Minami-Aoyama Mandala ★ 4.3 · Tokyo
Aoyama · Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan
Minami-Aoyama Mandala in Tokyo is the 80-seat basement room running since 1994. Jazz, folk, acoustic, and singer-songwriter sets in a low-ceilinged listening.
Tip: Seated tables, two-drink minimum on most shows. Walk from Gaienmae exit 1A; small bar at the rear opens with doors.
Good Times Reggae Bar ★ 3.8 · Osaka
Shinsaibashi and Amerikamura · 2-10-21 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0086
An Amerikamura reggae bar with a Sound System imported from Jamaica and live DJ sessions every night of the week. Open since 1992; one of the oldest.