Sasaki Bldg, B1, 2-8-3 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-Ku
Takadanobaba 2 Chome 8-3
Shinjuku-ku
Tōkyō-to
JP
03-3200-145203-3200-1452
Gate One is a small bar run by the husband and wife guitar-vocal duo Hashimoto-san and Kajiwara-san. They have live music at least three nights a week here with a ￥2000 cover-charge, very reasonable. Hashimoto-san sadly passed away in July 2021, but the bar remains open with a regular schedule of live sets.
The vocal+instrument live show is very common in Japan, often because of the limited space in the bars where having a full quintet can sometimes be difficult. These kinds of spots may a bit soft for some jazz fans, but they offer the most authentic ‘local’ feel of what many customers in Japan experience on their way home. The Gate One is warm and friendly and well worth a visit if you’re in Takadanobaba. Be sure to stop upstairs in Bar Stereo for a drink on your way out.
Size
11-20
Directions
Station: Takadanobaba -JR Yamanote, Seibu Shinjuku,Tozai Subway Lines
Exit: Waseda Exit
Distance from station: 5 minutes
Date published
02/16/2009 UPDATED June 2021
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Montgomery Land opened up a couple of years ago just a short walk from Ikebukuro Station. It̵...
Umimoto Bldg (梅本) , 4F, 3-29-2 Nishi-Ikebukuro 2.86 km
03-3985-024003-3985-0240
Paper Moon (ぺーぱーむーん) is a 15 seat L-shaped counter bar opened and run by the friendly Ya...
Parkside Fuki B1, 3-22-8 Nishi-Ikebukuro 2.86 km
03-5960-225203-5960-2252
Jazz Live Bar Independence is another great joint located in the surprisingly hip neighborhood ...
Watanabe Bldg B2 Ginza 8-6-19 2.94 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 2.94 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 2.94 km
03-3220-127503-3220-1275
吐夢 (Pronounced “To-mu” or just “Tom”) is unique in a couple of ways. ...
Asagaya 3-37 2.94 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 2.94 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 2.94 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 2.94 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 2.94 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...
Kashiwagi Mura2 7-20-12, Nishi-Shinjuku 3.06 km
Swanky live club, heavy on the vocalists. Enjoyable but a bit soft for my tastes. It’s the ...
1-14 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku 3.32 km
03-3267-842303-3267-8423
UPDATE: Found out just yesterday that the lovely Matsuura-san passed away just about two years ag...
1-8 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-Ku 3.37 km
03-3357-985703-3357-9857
Eagle is really the prototypical jazz cafe. It opened in 1967 in Yotsuya, right down the street...
1−28−9, Shibuya, Yoyogi 3.45 km
03-6300-523103-6300-5231
Music Bar is part of the new development Yoyogi Village (read more about it here. It’s no...
スズノビル1F, 3 Chome-2-10 Honchō, Nakano-ku 3.62 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 3.71 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 3.84 km
03-3389-798003-3389-7980
Jikan Ryokou (the sign is in Japanese 時間旅行, it means “Time Travel”) is simply won...
B-113 Lions Mansion Nakano Dai-5 B-113, Arai 1-14-16, Nakano-Ku 4.08 km
I found this small-even-by-Tokyo-standards “piano bar” while lost in Nakano one nig...
Toyo Bldg. B1, 2-20-19 Yoyogi, Shibuya-Ku 4.08 km
03-3370-180103-3370-1801
Haikara-Tei is another Shinjuku jazz bar that somehow never popped up on my jazz radar after all ...
Numabukuro 1-34-4 B1, Nakano-Ku 4.09 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...
Bunkyo-Ku, Hakusan 5-33-19 4.1 km
03-3811-893203-3811-8932
The Eigakan (映画館 “Movie Theater) is a jazz cafe for both jazz lovers and cinephiles. Own...
1-11 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda 4.54 km
03-3233-434303-3233-4343
Big Boy is a tiny cafe/bar on a side street off the main road through Jinbocho, the old book shop...
Fujimi Yoshida Bldg. B1, Fujimi 2-2-11, Chiyoda 4.54 km
Cafe Ragtime has live music every Thursday and Friday nights, usually piano and sax or vocalist d...
2-24 Jimbocho Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku 4.54 km
Kissa Ko is one of the older cafes in town but had a facelift in 2012 so now has an all new decor...
2F 1-52-1 Jimbocho, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku 4.54 km
03-3294-362103-3294-3621
All used records (and a few CDs) here with vocals & swing jazz being the specialty. Lots of o...
6-6-4, Sakae Bldg B1, Akasaka, Minato-ku 4.75 km
The B Flat in Akasaka is a great straight-ahead jazz club in an area without many other options f...
Jingumae, 3 Chome−5−2 4.82 km
03-3402-753703-3402-7537
Gekko Sabou (月光茶房 “moon-light-tea-chamber”, a wonderful name) is not a jazz cafe/...
3-7-15 Akasaka, Minato-Ku 4.88 km
Hashi no Shita (橋 の下 means “Under The Bridge” in Japanese) is in Akasaka-Mitsuke...
5-1-2 Akasaka Engel Bldg 2F, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 4.91 km
Volontaire moved to its current location in Akasaka a few years ago after more than three decades...
Japan, 〒101-0051 Tōkyō-to, Chiyoda-ku, Kanda Jinbōchō, 1 Chome−2−9 ウェルスビル 4.95 km
The Adirondack Cafe is a unique jazz cafe and bar just off the main road through the Jinbocho are...
2 Chome-43-2 Sendagi, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 5.02 km
‘Modern Jazz’ Players Bar R started in June 2022 in the existing Players Bar R, with ...
2 Chome−1−10, Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku 5.04 km
03-3291-232103-3291-2321
Naru in Ochanomizu first opened in 1969 as the sister live spot to the Naru jazz cafe in the Yoyo...
Yoshino Bldg B101, NIshi-Ogikubo, Kita 5.05 km
03-3395-950703-3395-9507
Aketa No Mise (“The Open Store”) is out in west Tokyo, not far from Nishi-Ogikubo s...
Ogawamachi 3-24, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku 5.23 km
03-3259-005503-3259-0055
Jazz Olympus was opened by the very friendly Komatsu-san in 2009. It’s a sleek cafe/bar t...
2F 3-20-13 2F, Ogawamachi, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku 5.41 km
03-5577-482603-5577-4826
Grauers is a new cafe/bar opened August, 2011. Owner Furusho Shinjiro is a long time jazz journal...
Fuji Shoji Bldg. 2F, Sakuragaoka 2-3, Shibuya-Ku 5.43 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 5.43 km
Very small place that is really just a bar with live music every night of the week. I’ve go...
3-1-12 Koenji-Kita, Suginami-Ku, Tokyo 5.48 km
080-3496-3883080-3496-3883
S.U.B. Store (Small Unique Bookstore) is a very hip new hybrid cafe/bar/gallery/bookstore/records...
3-14-10 Nishi-Nippori, Arakawa-Ku, Tokyo 5.53 km
Charmant opened in 1955 and certainly looks and feels its age. It’s a tiny bar on the secon...
16-4 Kamiyamacho, Shibuya, Tokyo 5.59 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...
2 Chome-17 Kanda Tsukasamachi Chiyoda-ku 5.63 km
Jazz Bar Gugan is a small bar in the east side of Tokyo, near both the Ochanomizu and Jimbocho ...
Shibuya Parco B1, Udagawa-Cho 15-1 5.64 km
03-6455-300103-6455-3001
The central streets of Shibuya often conceal some cool little music spots amidst the brand stores...
41-23 Udagawa-Cho, Shibuya-Ku 150-0044 5.65 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...
Chiyo Bldg, B1, 5-9-22 Dai 2, Roppongi 5.66 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 5.66 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 ...
Shibuya-ku, Udagawacho 19-5 5.67 km
Koen-Dori Classics is a small performance space located underneath a church in the heart of Shibu...
〒150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Shibuya, 1 Chome−5−6 B1F 5.69 km
INC Cocktails opened in late 2018 just a short walk from Shibuya Station. It’s a very large...
Utagawacho 30-4, Shibuya-Ku 5.79 km
03-3463-284803-3463-2848
Pres Jazz Bar is located up near the end of “Center Gai” street in Shibuya, not the...
B1 26-6, Utagawa-cho, Shibuya-Ku 5.8 km
03-3461-825603-3461-8256
Modern jazz specialty shop, more than 8000 records on sale from the 50s & 60s. Been open sinc...
Azeria Bldg 1F, 1-3-6 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 5.82 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...
〒150-0002 東京都渋谷区渋谷２丁目３−４ 5.84 km
03-3499-189003-3499-1890
Seabird is a lovely old cafe next to Aoyama Gakuin University, between Shibuya and Omotesando sta...
東京都 港区 六本木 7-18-16 川久保ビル １Ｆ・４Ｆ 5.89 km
03-3401-626203-3401-6262
Bar Spice is a classic little Soul music bar overlooking Roppongi-Dori, right across from the Rop...
Makita Bldg B1, 2-4-8 Ueno, Taito-Ku 5.94 km
Aries is a very local jazz live-house in the back streets of Ueno. By “local” I mea...
Tsuji Bldg B1, 3-14-12 Ueno, Taito-Ku 5.94 km
Every Swing is a small friendly club in the barren back streets east of Ueno Station. This is n...
Annex Bldg. 4F, Ropoongi 4-11-5, Minato-Ku 6.09 km
03-3401-308003-3401-3080
Very supper-club type place, most nights featuring vocal-led bands. The food is good, the service...
30 Konya-Cho, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku 6.18 km
03-3252-498203-3252-4982
Root Down moved down the street just 30 meters from it’s original spot, it’s now Tō...
1-17-10 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-Ku 6.22 km
There’s a beautiful simplicity about JBS (Jazz,Blues,Soul). Owner Kobayashi-san has more th...
東京都渋谷区桜丘町 17-10 6.25 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...
東京都千代田区有楽町2-3-6 マスヤビルB1F 6.47 km
03-3575-031503-3575-0315
Kiri is a wonderful little basement spot in between Hibiya, Ginza and Yurakucho stations. It̵...
1-6-12 Minami-Koenji, Suginami-Ku 6.66 km
Kissa Seikatsu (喫茶生活 “Cafe Lifestyle”) is a gem of a place a few mins walk from...
1-35-21 Minami-Asagaya, Suginami-Ku 6.66 km
Misty is a small cafe located in the heart of Asagaya’s old style “shotengai” (...
2-12-5-2F Kita-Koenji, Suginami-Ku 6.66 km
03-03339-621103-03339-6211
Nadja is a great little cafe in Koenji that stands out for its tasty lunch menu, especially the M...
Inoue Bldg (井上ビル) B1, 5-16-15, Ogikubo, Suginami-Ku 6.66 km
03-5347-736903-5347-7369
Rooster is a great little live-house that features jazz, blues, funk, New Orleans..basically all ...
2 Chome−2−7, Asagayakita, Suginami 6.72 km
03-3336-796103-3336-7961
Tiny club in jazz rich Asagaya, Manhattan is always worth stopping by. All-night jam sessions thr...
2-20-2 Kitazawa, Setagaya-Ku 6.82 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 7.01 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...
Matsubara 1-37-14, Setagaya-Ku 7.06 km
03-3321-943103-3321-9431
Miles is a treasure. It opened in 1960 and is one of the few remaining neighborhood jazz bars fro...