Bars, clubs and live music - The Rough Guide to Tokyo - page 173

Womb ΢ʔϜ 2-16 Maruyama-chō, Shibuya-ku T 03
5459 0039, W womb.co.jp; Shibuya station; map p.115.
Mega-club with a spacious dancefloor, enormous glitter
ball and a pleasant chill-out space. Top DJs work the decks,
but be warned that at big events it can get ridiculously
crowded. Usually ¥3000 with a drink; discount before
midnight. Events most nights.

you're into reggae. The cover charge is unusually
reasonable, and includes one drink. Entry ¥1000-1500.
Daily 9pm-6am.

IKEBUKURO AND THE NORTH
Bed ϕου B1F Fukuri Building, 3-29-9 Nishi-Ikebukuro
T 03 3981 5300, W ikebukurobed.com; Ikebukuro
station; map p.130. Ikebukuro isn't known for its hip
nightlife, but this place is hugely popular with local
students. DJs keep things jumping with a mix of hip-hop,
reggae, jungle, r'n'b and occasional drum'n'bass. Also
stages live music performances. Entry ¥2000. Events most
nights until 5am.

SHINJUKU AND THE WEST
Garam ΨϥϜ 7F Dai-Roku Polestar Bldg, 1-16-6
Kabukichō, Shinjuku-ku T 03 3205 8668; Shinjuku
station; map pp.118-119. This tiny, Jamaican-style
dancehall is very friendly, and the place to head if

LIVE MUSIC VENUES
Pop and rock acts usually play in “live houses”, many of which are little more than a pub with a small stage, although
some clubs such as SuperDeluxe and Unit also have live music events. Jazz and blues are also incredibly popular in Tokyo,
with scores of clubs across the city. There are several larger venues where top local and international acts do their thing,
most notably the cavernous Tokyo Dome (see p.200), and the Nippon Budōkan (see p.43). Tickets for concerts can be
bought through ticket agencies (see box, p.180).

Cyber αΠόʔ B1, 1-43-14 Higashi-Ikebukuro T 03
3985 5844, W ikebukuro-cyber.com; Ikebukuro station;
map p.130. Dark, throbbing rock dive among the
soaplands and love hotels north of Ikebukuro station. The
bands are of variable quality, so keep those fingers crossed.
Usually Sat only; gigs start as early as 4.30pm.
Liquid Room ϦΩουϧʔϜ 3-16-6 Higashi,
Shibuya-ku T 03 5464 0800, W liquidroom.net; Ebisu
station; map pp.100-101. A live-music venue with some
DJ events, the latter usually held in their Liquid Loft space.
Tickets ¥2800-5800. Events most nights.
Red Shoes Ϩουγϡʔζ B1F Chigau Aoyama Bldg,
6-7-14 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku T 03 3486 1169,
W redshoes.jp; Roppongi station; map pp.90-91.
A little uphill from the Nishi-Azabu crossing towards
Shibuya, this is where fledgling bands try out their stuff.
Worth a look. Tickets free-¥3000. Events most nights.
Shibuya O-East 2-14-8 Dōgenzaka, Shibuya-ku T 03
5458 4681, W shibuya-o.com; Shibuya station; map
p.115. This complex has several venues, all hosting live-music
events, ranging from J-pop to hard rock. International bands
also play here. Tickets from ¥2500. Events most nights.

ROCK AND POP
Billboard Live Tokyo ϏϧϘʔυϥΠϒ౦ژ 4F Tokyo
Midtown 9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku T 03 3405 1133,
W billboard-live.com; Roppongi station; map pp.90-
91. A relatively intimate space at which everyone on the
three levels gets a great view of the stage. Mainstream
pop, rock and lounge artists. Tickets usually from ¥5800.
Events most nights.
BYG 2-19-14 Dōgenzaka, Shibuya-ku, W www.byg
.co.jp; Shibuya station; map p.115. Tiny rock venue
which has been around since the late 1960s - the acts
often play music of a similar vintage. Tickets ¥1500-3500.
Usually a few events each week, 5.30pm-2am.
Club Citta Ϋϥϒνολ 4-1-26 Ogawachō, Kawasaki
T 044 246 8888, W clubcitta.co.jp; Kawasaki station.
A major live-music venue in Kawasaki, around 20min from
central Tokyo, hosting a variety of local and international
rock bands. It's part of an entertainment and shopping
complex called La Cittadella. Tickets ¥2000-3000. Events
most nights.
Club Quattro ΫϥϒΫΞοτϩ 5F Quattro Building,
32-13 Udagawa-chō, Shibuya-ku T 03 3477 8750,
W club-quattro.com; Shibuya station; map p.115.
Intimate rock music venue which tends to showcase
up-and-coming bands and artists, though it also plays
host to well-known local and international acts. Tickets
¥2000-4500. One or two events per week.
Crocodile ΫϩίμΠϧ 6-18-8 Jingūmae, Shibuya-ku
T 03 3499 5205; Meiji-jingūmae or Shibuya stations;
map p.113. You'll find everything from samba to blues
and reggae at this long-running basement space on
Meiji-dōri, between Harajuku and Shibuya. Tickets ¥3000-
4000. Events most nights.

16

JAZZ AND BLUES
Blue Note ϒϧʔϊʔτ 6-3-16 Minami-Aoyama,
Minato-ku T 03 5485 0088, W bluenote.co.jp; Omote-
sandō station; map pp.108-109. Tokyo's premier jazz
venue, part of the international chain, attracts world-class
performers. Entry for shows is ¥6000-10,000 (including one
drink), depending on the acts. Shows Mon-Sat 7pm & 9pm.
Blues Alley Japan ϒϧʔζΞϦʔ B1F Hotel Wing
International Meguro, 1-3-14 Meguro, Meguro-ku
T 03 5496 4381, W bluesalley.co.jp; Meguro station;