A Night Out in Tokyo: Top Spots for Live Music

Like any metropolitan area on Earth, Tokyo is full of musicians. With a population like Tokyo’s, you can expect a wide variety of music and places to experience it. Let’s break down some of the most ideal spots in the city by genre to ensure that you can find a spot to let it all out on the dance floor that’s just for you.

Move to Rock and Pop Covers

There’s no better way to let loose than with a night full of a list of your favourite jams. If grooving with your partner in front of the stage and belting your heart at the chorus, perhaps your preferred night out doesn’t have to differ too much from back home. These kinds of places are also common ways to meet other tourists and locals interested in foreign music.

Without a doubt, Bauhaus in Roppongi is perfect for just this. An underground rock hall, Bauhaus invites fans of new and old to come for the vibe and stay well into the night for the music. The long list of hits is led by city-known professionals that are sure to give you what you’re looking for.

Likewise, relaxing, English-friendly spots like What the Dickens in Ebisu have music nightly with the liveliest nights on the weekends. Resembling a British pub, What the Dickens is a local favourite of the expat community and is regularly a soup of nationalities including Japanese. With a fine assortment of drinks, food, and some balcony seating to admire the stage, What the Dickens is a fine place to make friends. There are also opportunities for musicians of all skill levels to play with the band on the last Tuesday of every month on open-jam nights.

Relax with Jazz

There’s no denying that many Tokyoites love jazz, and it’s apparent in its great number of live jazz houses.

Aside from nationally renowned clubs like Blue Note and Cotton Club, which regularly host international acts of new and old legends, the related yet local Blue Note Place in Ebisu is an equally classy and accessible live house and restaurant that often features many of the city’s beloved acts. Here, you can often find many of Tokyo’s top jazz musicians trading fours on stage while you enjoy unique and delicious cocktails. It’s easily a hit as a romantic date spot.

If wining and dining is an even greater focus, Satin Doll in Roppongi is a lower-volume, low-lit jazz spot. Almost completely lacking a dance floor, the dinner and a show atmosphere is perfect for experiencing entertainment doesn’t discourage a bit of casual conversation. The menu is also a classy mix of dishes that include couscous and wagyu.

Do the Cha Cha

If a consistent dose of rhythm to guide your hips is what you seek, Tokyo’s got what you need. Believe it or not, Latin American influence exists proudly in Tokyo.

For a list like this, it’s difficult not to think of places like Havana 1950. Located just outside of Hiroo Station, this retro cigar bar teleports visitors to Cuba and insists that dance floor be filled at all times with nights of pop hits, Afro-Cuban, or a fusion of both. Coming for the vibe alone promises a hospitable and classy experience, but staying off the dance floor might prove difficult as the night goes on. This is undoubtedly one of the top spots to experience in Tokyo for cuisine, cocktails, and a cultured night out.

Raise the Roof with Live DJs

Hoping to dive even further into Tokyo’s neon wonderland nightlife? Nightclubs are plentiful, and the choices can be overwhelming. If you’re looking for an all-in-one dinner, drinks, and dancing, Cé La Vi on the seventeenth and eighteenth floors of Shibuya Fukuras building has a wide selection of just that along with a magnificent view of the city skyline. Afterparties, dancers, VIP tables, DJ’s; it’s really an all-evening spot, and especially on the weekends.

Likewise, Vent in Omote-Sando boasts a sound system like no other and with a bar separate from the dance floor. At Vent, it’s all about the party. With lights glowing and drinks flowing, partiers gather here until the early morning – a nice place to be if you miss the last train of the night. With an eclectic mix depending on the DJ, you’re sure to find your vibe in tunes you either have or haven’t heard before. Truly, this place is quite a ride.

Discover Local Originals

Like anywhere else, Tokyo is full of songwriters and musicians hoping to have their music heard by as many people as possible. While independent artists prepare for festivals and showcases, there are a few local favourites that musicians love to debut their new stuff.

Ruby Room in Shibuya is one of them. A part of the inner alleys of downtown Shibuya, Ruby Room is a small club that hosts numerous live sessions and open mics throughout the year on top of local lineups and weekend parties. There’s always something going on here every night of the week.

Similarly, 7th Floor is also located in Shibuya and comes with a grand view as the name might suggest. A favourite for musical groups wanting to host special events, fans that support local Tokyo music come to 7th Floor to be the first to see the next big thing, and the atmosphere is as welcoming as the artists.

On the other hand, places like Space Orbit in Setagaya promote live paintings, dance, and acoustic acts that put the audience right in front of the performers with their homely sofa and floor pillow seating. The atmosphere couldn’t be any more relaxing, and the artists they showcase typically perform a range of emotions that are delivered at a suitable volume for the low-lit vibe.

Experience Big International Acts

While many of these aren’t a secret, it’s important to always consider a travel rule for music lovers: always check the show schedule of every city you go to.

While getting to catch your favourite international artist may not be what you always consider first when you think of travel, the coincidence of having their tour schedule line up with your travel dates could become a regret once you realize you’ve missed your chance. Undoubtedly, Tokyo is a hot spot for big names.

As the host stadium of the Tokyo Giants baseball team, Tokyo Dome is the kind of place where everyone from Taylor Swift to the Pope would appear in and has. You can expect an explosion of light and sound in a place like this enormous, covered dome. The area has a hall set aside for artists of equal merit but may not sell out an arena.

Likewise, rooms like the Garden Theatre near Odaiba have an array of floor and balcony seating and regularly see some of the biggest names in music on their stage. The same can be said for halls like Shibuya O-East, Club Quattro, and the Tokyo Zepp halls that often host the hottest artists in Japan.

As mentioned before, the schedules of jazz clubs like Blue Note and Cotton Club should be regularly checked as they often provide spotlights for the biggest living jazz giants of our time.

When it comes to live music in Tokyo, there is so much to see and, likewise, so much to miss! So, don’t miss your chance to add some of these opportunities to your travel itinerary.

Dancing Shoes Strapped On?

Taste a local delicacy fresh from the sea on our Tsukiji Market and Sushi Workshop tour!

Consider venturing out a little further to see Mt. Fuji on our Mt. Fuji and Hakone in a Day tour!