Cotton Club in Tokyo's Marunouchi is Blue Note Japan's 180-seat sister room, open since 2005. Curated jazz, soul, and singer-songwriter bookings beside Tokyo Station.
Tip: Two sets nightly, music charge plus food and drink minimum. Reservations open about two months out via the Blue Note Japan site.
Address: 2-7-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-6402
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.
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 counter.
Tip: Matinee at 14:30 is the bargain; evening set 19:30 is the marquee. Cash on the door, no reservations, no food.
Liquidroom in Tokyo's Ebisu is the 1,000-capacity live house that moved from Shinjuku in 2004. International indie, electronic, and alternative tours; the standing reference room.
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 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 touchstone.
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 in Tokyo is the 80-seat basement room running since 1994. Jazz, folk, acoustic, and singer-songwriter sets in a low-ceilinged listening room.
Tip: Seated tables, two-drink minimum on most shows. Walk from Gaienmae exit 1A; small bar at the rear opens with doors.
Andaz Tokyo's Rooftop Bar is on the 52nd floor of Toranomon Hills. Mixology cocktails using yuzu, wasabi, and matcha, sweeping views to Tokyo Bay and Rainbow Bridge.
Tip: Reserve via Tablecheck for a window seat at sunset; cover charge 1,500 yen after 19:00. The 52nd floor is also the only fully open-air terrace.