Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
253
many Korean restaurants in Akasaka, earning it the nickname “Little Korea.” For orienta-
tion purposes, stop by the koban (police box) at the huge intersection of Aoyama Dori
and Sotobori Dori at Akasaka-mitsuke Station. The “Nightlife & Where to Stay & Dine
in Akasaka” map on p. 103 will help you locate the Akasaka spots mentioned in this
chapter.
One of the most popular districts for young Japanese by day,
Harajuku
doesn't have
much of a nightlife district because of city zoning laws. A few places scattered through
the area, however, are good alternatives if you don't like the crowds or the commercialism
of Tokyo's more famous nightlife districts. There are also a fair number of sidewalk cafes
open late into the night.
Shibuya's
Shibuya Center Gai,
a pedestrian lane just a minute's walk from the
Hachiko exit of Shibuya Station (look for the pedestrian lane with the steel arch), is
popular with young Japanese for its whirl of inexpensive restaurants, open-fronted shops,
bars, fast-food joints, and pachinko parlors.
Ebisu
also has a few very popular expatriate
bars.
LIVE MUSIC
The live-music scene exploded in the 1990s and now spreads throughout Tokyo. In addi-
tion to the dedicated venues below, several bars offer live music many nights of the week,
including Warrior Celt, What the Dickens!, Dubliners' Irish Pub in Shibuya, Vagabond,
and Bar Bourbon Street (see “The Bar Scene,” below).
Bauhaus
Since 1981, this small club has had the same great house band that plays
mostly 1970s and 1980s British and American hard rock, including the music of Led
Zeppelin, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Aerosmith, The Eagles, Van Halen, Santana,
Red Hot Chili Peppers, and others, with music beginning around 8pm. The band puts
on quite a show—a bit raunchy at times but very polished. Open Monday to Saturday
7pm to 1am. Closed holidays.
Reine Roppongi, 2nd floor, 5-3-4 Roppongi.
&
03/3403-0092.
Cover ¥2,835. Station: Roppongi (3 min.). From Roppongi Crossing, walk toward Tokyo Tower
on Gaien-Higashi Dori and turn right at McDonald's. It's ahead to the right of the parking lot.
Birdland
Open since the 1970s and moving from Roppongi to Akasaka in 2007, this
music club used to feature primarily jazz but in the past few years has morphed into the
city's number-one spot for Hawaiian music, offered 2 to 3 nights a week in addition to
jazz. Yes, you read that right, and if you don't mind the cafeterialike atmosphere, hefty
cover charge, and older, appreciative crowd, you might find this place camp enough to
qualify as interesting, if not unique. Check Birdland's website for the music schedule.
Open Monday to Saturday 6pm to 11pm (music begins at 7pm).
Akasaka KT Building, 5th
floor, 3-16-7 Akasaka.
&
03/3583-3546.
www.birdland-tokyo.jp. Cover ¥3,600, plus ¥900 drink
minimum and 10% service charge. Station: Akasaka (2 min.) or Akasaka-mitsuke (5 min). On
Hitosuji Dori, across from a shrine.
Blue Note
Tokyo's most expensive, elegant jazz venue is cousin to the famous Blue
Note in New York. The musicians are top-notch; Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, Chick
Corea, David Sanborn, Roberta Flack, the Milt Jackson Quartet, and Tower of Power
have all performed here. However, the 300-seat establishment follows the frustrating
Japanese practice of selling tickets good for only one set. There are usually two sets
nightly, generally at 7 and 9:30pm Monday to Saturday and 6:30 and 9pm Sunday and
holidays.
6-3-16 Minami Aoyama.
&
03/5485-0088.
www.bluenote.co.jp. Cover ¥7,350-¥8,400
for most performances, more for top names. Station: Omotesando (8 min.). Off Kotto Dori.
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