Hakuraku 10x10 - CLOSED May 2014

Hakuraku 10x10 inside.jpg
Hakuraku 10x10 inside.jpg
Hakuraku 10x10 outside.jpg
Hakuraku 100, Yokohama-shi
Kanagawa-ku Hakuraku 100 Yokohama-shi Kanagawa-ken JP
045-421-1550045-421-1550

Sadly, 10×10 closed in 2014. A neighboring cafe owner told me that Takeyama-san closed the shop to take care of her grandchildren..I hope they appreciate her Max Roach records.

Hakuraku (白楽) 10×10 is a hidden gem of a cafe. It’s in a residential part of Yokohama city (but only about 25 mins from Shibuya in Tokyo, on the Tokyu Toyoko Line) yet has regular live events at night. The lovely Takeyama-san has been the owner for the past 40 years. She’s one of the world’s top Max Roach collectors; there are portraits and photos of the great drummer/composer all around the cafe, all drawn by the wonderfully named “Asobi-nin no Kin-san” (遊び人のKINSAN)

I only visited 10×10 a few times but Takeyama-san always treated me like an honored guest. When I left last time she gave me a copy of Kin-san’s book of essays and drawings about life and jazz as a present, proving yet again that jazz cafe & bar owners are generally among the kindest people you will ever meet. 10×10 is worth the trip out on the Tokyoko Line; after the cafe you can stroll along Hakuraku’s famous old-town shopping street, and maybe grab a meal at the legendary TanTan Ramen shop.

Size
11-20
Directions

Station: Hakuraku -Tokyu Toyoko Line (from Shibuya about 25mins)

Exit: West Exit

Distance from station: 1 minutes

West Exit, turn left down the little alleyway. At the end look left, you’ll see the cafe on the 2nd floor.

Date published
09/01/2009 UPDATED Sept 2015
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