The Eigakan (映画館 “Movie Theater) is a jazz cafe for both jazz lovers and cinephiles. Owner Yoshida-san has worked in the film world for several decades and made several documentaries. He has filled the Eigakan with vintage European film posters from the 60s and hundreds of old film journals and magazines. (Be sure to ask him to show you the three-volume photo book by Takase Susumu, the pics of old movie palaces around Japan in the 50s & 60s were amazing.)
Yoshida-san opened the place “sometime in the late 70s” (he couldn’t remember the exact date) and said the name comes from when he and some film friends first found the space for a showing of Imamura Shohei’s film “Pigs and Battleships”. It slowly transformed into a jazz cafe and now has only the rare film showing.. I’m tempted to ask him to pull down some of the dusty 16mm film cans he has on the shelves to get some film events started again..
Yoshida-san is a huge Thelonious Monk and Eric Dolphy fan and also features a lot of rare Eastern European jazz records in the cafe. He’s very chatty when the place is not busy and will be happy to talk jazz, films and art with you. On my last visit he pulled out a map of the neighborhood to show me two more jazz spots I had not heard of..guys with the warm heart of Yoshida-san really do make the world a better place. Viva Eigakan. Photos of Eigakan over at Tokyo Jazz Joints.
Open from 1600 most days.
Size
11-20
Food
Yes
Directions link
Directions
Station: Hakusan – Mita Line Subway
Exit: A3
Distance from station: 1 minutes
Come out exit A3 at Hakusan subway station and turn around, you’ll see the white sign for the Eigakan right across the narrow street.
Date published
06/01/2009 Updated March 2016
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Jazz Live Bar Independence is another great joint located in the surprisingly hip neighborhood ...
1-8 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-Ku 4.5 km
03-3357-985703-3357-9857
Eagle is really the prototypical jazz cafe. It opened in 1967 in Yotsuya, right down the street...
Igari Bldg., 1-23-9 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-Ku 4.82 km
03-3200-451303-3200-4513
Milestone sadly closed its doors at the end of July, 2019 after 45 years in business. As the nam...
B1, 3-23-5 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-Ku 4.82 km
03-3367-123303-3367-1233
Hot House is the world’s smallest jazz club! Maybe 8 or 10 customers max in this place. Mak...
3-11-12 2F, Shinjuku 4.85 km
CLOSED Fall 2014. Ten years after closing, and I still miss Jazz Pub Michaux and all those nights...
Chome 34-8, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 5.12 km
03-3359-677703-3359-6777
Someday is a nice, spacious club in Shinjuku, well known for their various big band and Latin jaz...
Maruha Bldg. B1, 1-1-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku 5.32 km
03-3204-202803-3204-2028
NOTE: Now Bar Clarisse’s, still with a lot of bourbon! 200 types of Bourbon, cool jazz play...
1 Chome−1−10, Kabukicho, Shinjuku 5.34 km
How can I describe this place? It’s small, dark and old; owner Otsuka-san was surly and u...
Shinjuku 2-12-4, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-0022 5.36 km
The Pit Inn remains near, or at the top, of any list of live jazz venues in the Tokyo area. 2015 ...
6-6-4, Sakae Bldg B1, Akasaka, Minato-ku 5.36 km
The B Flat in Akasaka is a great straight-ahead jazz club in an area without many other options f...
1-19-11 B1F Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku 5.36 km
03-3351-485603-3351-4856
Jazz Tweeter was opened a couple of years ago by long-time hotel restaurant chef Ishizuka-san. He...
3-7-15 Akasaka, Minato-Ku 5.39 km
Hashi no Shita (橋 の下 means “Under The Bridge” in Japanese) is in Akasaka-Mitsuke...
Shinjuku-Ku, 3-chome 8-5 5.4 km
03-3351-271403-3351-2714
Curtis is one of my favorite bars in Tokyo. As the name gives away, this is a soul music bar with...
Ebisu Kaikan Bldg, 4F Kabukicho 1-10-5. Shinjuku, Tokyo 5.41 km
03-6273-843503-6273-8435
In 2013 Black Sun moved from it’s long time home in Nishi-Shinjuku to the heart of Kabukich...
2-4, Dai Kyo Machi, Shinjuku-Ku 5.41 km
03-3351-790403-3351-7904
Kissa Sakaiki gives me hope that the spirit of the Japanese jazz-kissaten will survive. Owner F...
Royal Mansion B1, Shinjuku 5-1-1, Shinjuku-Ku 5.41 km
03-3354-033503-3354-0335
Old basement club, lots of vocalists on the schedule. Mellow vibe and not too expensive.
2F, 1 Chome−13−6, Kabukicho, Shinjuku 5.44 km
I found this tiny gem of a jazz cafe amidst the chaos that is Kabukicho in Shinjuku. It is a smal...
東京都千代田区有楽町2-3-6 マスヤビルB1F 5.5 km
03-3575-031503-3575-0315
Kiri is a wonderful little basement spot in between Hibiya, Ginza and Yurakucho stations. It̵...
5-1-2 Akasaka Engel Bldg 2F, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 5.51 km
Volontaire moved to its current location in Akasaka a few years ago after more than three decades...
FS Bldg 4F, 3-20-6 Shinjuku 5.51 km
03-3354-477403-3354-4774
This is a quiet piano bar with live music nightly though more BGM style, not really a live club. ...
3 Chome−22, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 5.6 km
Jazz Room Stick is a great old jazz joint in the heart of Shinjuku, located almost directly beh...
3-26-2 Shinjuku Shinjuku Tokyo 5.67 km
03-3354-935403-3354-9354
The Old Blind Cat in Shinjuku has a long and fascinating history, as much as any jazz bar in town...
B1, 3-35-12 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku 5.72 km
Jazz Pepe is as old school as it gets. Opened in 1969 by the now 77 year old Okuma-san, Pepe is a...
Daikan Plaza B-306, 7-10-17 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku 5.73 km
03-3364-157703-3364-1577
It’s all about vinyl at Hal’s Jazz. Owner Ikeda-san keeps a few racks of cds in the c...
Mori Bldg. 5F, 3-35-5, Shinjuku-Ku 5.76 km
03-3341-038303-3341-0383
Samurai is located in the building that used to house the Shinjuku Pit-Inn before they moved to t...
B2F 8-6-18 Ginza, Chuo 5.79 km
Cygnus is the sister club to Aries in Ueno but a bit more upscale. Live shows three times a night...
Nishi-shinjuku 1-4-20, Shinjuku-Ku 5.81 km
03-3348-910903-3348-9109
The Vagabond is a classic joint right next to the West Exit of Shinjuku station. I think the revi...
Higashi Shin Bldg , 4F, 3-21-7, Shinjuku, Shunjuku-Ku 5.83 km
03-3354-757703-3354-7577
Pearl Bar is a real sleek “grown up” jazz bar in the center of Shinjuku. Lots of cock...
3-15-12 Shinjuku 6.2 km
03-3354-777603-3354-7776
The ‘New Dug’ in Shinjuku is a cafe/bar with a complex back story. It was the annex...
4 Chome−3−1, Higashinakano, Nakano 6.31 km
03-3365-057203-3365-0572
Neighborhood cafe/bar/small live club. This is the kind of place you really only find in Japan; i...
1−28−9, Shibuya, Yoyogi 6.44 km
03-6300-523103-6300-5231
Music Bar is part of the new development Yoyogi Village (read more about it here. It’s no...
Watanabe Bldg B2 Ginza 8-6-19 6.56 km
The Ribbon is what most people would think of when hearing the words “Ginza Jazz”. It...
Minami Bldg B1 Asagaya-Kita 2-13-5 6.56 km
03-3337-132503-3337-1325
Masuda-san sadly passed away in 2012. Stardust is an old bar, first opened in Asagaya in 1971 ...
Inaba Bldg , 2F Asagaya-Minami 3-28-31 6.56 km
03-3220-127503-3220-1275
吐夢 (Pronounced “To-mu” or just “Tom”) is unique in a couple of ways. ...
Asagaya 3-37 6.56 km
Note: Closed in early 2015. I guess he couldn’t get many customers after all… Cafe El...
Marco Polo Bldg 2F, 1-8-14 Hon-Chi, Kichijoji 6.56 km
Scratch is a quiet cafe/bar that’s been in heart of Kichijoji since 1974. They open durin...
Wako Bldg 1F 1-62-4 Kanda Jimbocho Chiyoda-Ku 6.56 km
03-5283-711703-5283-7117
Closed 2015 Small Hours is a new cafe/bar located in the back streets between Ochanomizu, Jimbo...
Ikebukuro Roudou Kijun Kyoukai Bldg B2, Ikebukuro 1-8-8 6.56 km
03-5951-680703-5951-6807
Jazz, Funk & Soul are on tap at Miles’ Cafe. The Ikebukuro area is not known for having...
2Ｆ Dai Ichi Nishimura Bldg. 2F, 2-17-4 Miyagawa-cho, Naka-Ku 6.56 km
045-261-4542045-261-4542
Jazz Spot Dolphy opened in 1980 but moved to its current location in 1990 and has kept up a ste...
Chiyo Bldg, B1, 5-9-22 Dai 2, Roppongi 6.76 km
Electrik Jinja opened in April 2012 and quickly became the hippest spot in Roppongi. It’s ...
Hama Roppongi Bldg. 5F, 6-2-35 Roppongi, Minato-Ku 6.76 km
03-3479-203703-3479-2037
Opened in May 1980 and now in its 41st year, Alfie is simply one of the best live jazz spots in ...
Annex Bldg. 4F, Ropoongi 4-11-5, Minato-Ku 6.79 km
03-3401-308003-3401-3080
Very supper-club type place, most nights featuring vocal-led bands. The food is good, the service...
Kashiwagi Mura2 7-20-12, Nishi-Shinjuku 6.9 km
Swanky live club, heavy on the vocalists. Enjoyable but a bit soft for my tastes. It’s the ...
Jingumae, 3 Chome−5−2 6.92 km
03-3402-753703-3402-7537
Gekko Sabou (月光茶房 “moon-light-tea-chamber”, a wonderful name) is not a jazz cafe/...
東京都 港区 六本木 7-18-16 川久保ビル １Ｆ・４Ｆ 7.04 km
03-3401-626203-3401-6262
Bar Spice is a classic little Soul music bar overlooking Roppongi-Dori, right across from the Rop...
6-13-9 Minami Aoyama, Minato-Ku 7.11 km
03-5466-334803-5466-3348
Body & Soul is one of the most historically important jazz clubs in Tokyo. Featuring many of ...
Azeria Bldg 1F, 1-3-6 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 7.18 km
03-5770-384303-5770-3843
Vanilla Mood is a cool little jazz bar/club just across from Roppongi Hills. It has been open for...
Toyo Bldg. B1, 2-20-19 Yoyogi, Shibuya-Ku 7.31 km
03-3370-180103-3370-1801
Haikara-Tei is another Shinjuku jazz bar that somehow never popped up on my jazz radar after all ...
1-31-8 Kita-Senju, Adachi-Ku, Tokyo 7.6 km
Birdland is a beautifully decorated cafe and bar located in the north-east part of Tokyo, just a ...
スズノビル1F, 3 Chome-2-10 Honchō, Nakano-ku 7.6 km
03-3372-347103-3372-3471
Genius was one of Shibuya’s more famous jazz cafes for more than 20 years before increasing...
102 Dai-Ichi Mitomi Bldg 102, 1-30-6 Arai, Nakano-Ku 7.73 km
03-6454-028303-6454-0283
Rompercicci is a fairly new jazz cafe/bar just a short ten-minute walk from Nakano Station. It...
5-56-15 Nakano, Nakano-Ku 7.91 km
03-3389-798003-3389-7980
Jikan Ryokou (the sign is in Japanese 時間旅行, it means “Time Travel”) is simply won...
Numabukuro 1-34-4 B1, Nakano-Ku 7.95 km
03-3388-204003-3388-2040
Organ Jazz Club: the name gives it away, doesn’t it? One of the few places in town with a r...
〒150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Shibuya, 1 Chome−5−6 B1F 7.97 km
INC Cocktails opened in late 2018 just a short walk from Shibuya Station. It’s a very large...
〒150-0002 東京都渋谷区渋谷２丁目３−４ 7.98 km
03-3499-189003-3499-1890
Seabird is a lovely old cafe next to Aoyama Gakuin University, between Shibuya and Omotesando sta...
Fuji Shoji Bldg. 2F, Sakuragaoka 2-3, Shibuya-Ku 8.09 km
03-3461-338103-3461-3381
Many years back I found Mary Jane by accident, as I had been looking for the wonderfully named ...
Himawari Bldg. 2F, Dogenzaka 2-26-5, Shibuya-Ku 8.09 km
Very small place that is really just a bar with live music every night of the week. I’ve go...
B-113 Lions Mansion Nakano Dai-5 B-113, Arai 1-14-16, Nakano-Ku 8.15 km
I found this small-even-by-Tokyo-standards “piano bar” while lost in Nakano one nig...
Shibuya-ku, Udagawacho 19-5 8.23 km
Koen-Dori Classics is a small performance space located underneath a church in the heart of Shibu...
Shibuya Parco B1, Udagawa-Cho 15-1 8.24 km
03-6455-300103-6455-3001
The central streets of Shibuya often conceal some cool little music spots amidst the brand stores...
B1 26-6, Utagawa-cho, Shibuya-Ku 8.36 km
03-3461-825603-3461-8256
Modern jazz specialty shop, more than 8000 records on sale from the 50s & 60s. Been open sinc...
41-23 Udagawa-Cho, Shibuya-Ku 150-0044 8.37 km
03-5458-418503-5458-4185
Bar Bossa in Shibuya is a quiet gem of a place, perfect for bossa nova fans and/or couples lookin...
16-4 Kamiyamacho, Shibuya, Tokyo 8.39 km
03-5790-954403-5790-9544
Despite its old-world cafe atmosphere, Swing only opened in 2014 and is one of the newer jazz spo...
Utagawacho 30-4, Shibuya-Ku 8.4 km
03-3463-284803-3463-2848
Pres Jazz Bar is located up near the end of “Center Gai” street in Shibuya, not the...
東京都渋谷区桜丘町 17-10 8.66 km
03-5784-456503-5784-4565
Music Bar 45 is a small 2nd floor joint located just a few minutes walk from the south exit of Sh...
1-17-10 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-Ku 8.8 km
There’s a beautiful simplicity about JBS (Jazz,Blues,Soul). Owner Kobayashi-san has more th...
3-1-12 Koenji-Kita, Suginami-Ku, Tokyo 9.55 km
080-3496-3883080-3496-3883
S.U.B. Store (Small Unique Bookstore) is a very hip new hybrid cafe/bar/gallery/bookstore/records...
Hotel Wing International Meguro B1, 1-3-14, Meguro 10.21 km
03-5496-438103-5496-4381
Blues Alley Japan. is a sophisticated club with great food and an eclectic live schedule. It...
5-16-17, Meguro Honcho, Meguro-Ku 10.21 km
Fat Mama is named after the great Herbie Hancock track from his album “Fat Albert Rotunda&#...
2-20-2 Kitazawa, Setagaya-Ku 10.28 km
NOTE: Masako closed in FEB 2010…I’m leaving it here anyways, so people will remember....
155-0032 東京都世田谷区代沢5-31-14 10.39 km
TEL 03-3412-3947TEL 03-3412-3947
Lady Jane has a very cinematic feel to it, the kind of joint that a lot of people outside Japan w...
1-18-1 Midori-Cho, Tokorozawa-Shi, Saitama-Ken, Japan 10.42 km
042-924-4230042-924-4230
Jazz & Coffee Swan first opened in 1965 and still retains every bit of ambiance from that gol...
Minami-Shinozaki-cho 3-2-12, 2F, Edogawa-Ku 10.62 km
03-3698-218603-3698-2186
European style cafe, heavy on female vocalists and piano jazz.