Herbie

Herbie-6.jpg
B1F Fuji Bldg B1, Hara-Machida 6-17-1, Machida-Shi
Haramachida 6 Chome 17-1 Machida-shi Tōkyō-to 194-0013 JP

Herbie is the kind of jazz bar you stumble upon randomly on the way home some night and end up staying in for three hours. Located in unfashionable Machida (about 25mins south west of Shinjuku on the express Odakyu Line), it’s a tiny basement bar that seats 20 people max, though it’s rarely that full. The room is a small rectangle with a mix of counter seats and 4-seat tables, but is more suited for quiet drinks & jazz time rather than a noisy get-together.

Owner Fukuoka-san is a cool cat with a taste for whiskey; there are 75 different brands of whiskey, bourbon and rye behind the bar. The music is anything from classic jazz from the 50s up to current releases; last time there I heard some 1990s fusion back to back with Horace Silver. Although you wouldn’t think it, Herbie does host the occasional live gig; check the website for the schedule.  It’s a fairly dark room and may be slightly claustrophobic for some, but it’s pretty much a perfect neighborhood jazz bar to hit after dinner or for a late night-cap. Look for a picture of Herbie on the wall near the door, otherwise it’s mainly Miles on the walls.

More pics of Herbie here at Tokyo Jazz Joints.

Size
20
Date published
Oct 2016
Noise.jpg
JORNA 4F, Hara Machida 6-6-14, Machida-Shi, Tokyo 0.29 km
Noise is one of the more unique jazz cafes still around. It opened in 1980 as the sister shop to ...
IMG_5744.JPG
1 Chome-6-21 Higashiikuta, Tama-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa-ken 214-0031, Japan 13.16 km
044-922-5298044-922-5298
What an unreal treat Garo was to visit. It was first opened in 1967 by the very welcoming Mr. and...
bitchesbrew-shop-logo.jpg
3-152-1 Nishi-Kanagawa, Kanagawa-Ku, Yokohama-Shi 17.48 km
Bitches Brew is yet another only-in-Japan kind of place. It’s a tiny sqaure room on the sec...
Hakuraku 10x10 inside.jpg
Hakuraku 100, Yokohama-shi 17.55 km
045-421-1550045-421-1550
Sadly, 10×10 closed in 2014. A neighboring cafe owner told me that Takeyama-san closed the...
Downbeat outside.jpg
Miyamoto Bldg, 2F 1-43 Hanasakicho, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi 19.69 km
Downbeat in Yokohama is one of the classic jazz spots in the entire Kanto (Tokyo Metropolitan) ...
Chigusa+2-5.jpg
2-94 Noge-cho Naka-ku, Yokohama,Kanagawa 231-0064 19.69 km
Chigusa is the the gold standard of jazz cafes in Japan. It was first opened in 1933 in the rough...
Jazz House Five Stars Records inside.jpg
Hanasaki-cho 1-16-1, Naka-ku, Yokohama-Shi 19.86 km
Jazz House Five Star Records is a unique little place in the Noge neighborhood, next to Sakurag...
IMG_3977.JPG
231-0033 横浜市中区長者町 9-140 19.89 km
First is an old-school Yokohama jazz bar with a vibe and sound all its own. It’s more spaci...
photo(15).JPG
3-11 Yoshidamachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken 231-0041, Japan 20.07 km
Ad-Lib is an old club in Yoshida-cho, a block of dingy streets between Kannai and Noge in Yokoham...
Kamome outside.jpg
Sumiyoshi-cho 6-7-6, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi 20.08 km
Kamome means “seagull” in Japanese; it’s an apt name for a venue in the port ...
IMG_6082.JPG
5-60 Sumiyoshicho, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0013 20.17 km
Located in the in historic Bashamichi area of downtown Yokohama, Airegin is one of the best live ...
Yoidore Hakushaku inside.jpg
Suehiro-Cho 2-5, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi 20.23 km
Yoidore Hakushaku (よいどれ伯爵-the name translates as “The Drunken Earl or The Drunken C...
little02.jpg
3-9 Yoshida-cho, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi 20.63 km
Little John is a well known jazz bar/tiny club in the Yokohama scene, yet its erratic opening hou...
unnamed.jpg
Tokyo, Mitaka, Inokashira, 3 Chome−32−16 20.91 km
090-9332-9070090-9332-9070
トムネコゴ (Tomunekogo) is a small, cozy and rustic cafe alongside the entrance to Inokashira-Koe...
IMG_5521.jpeg
Japan, 〒231-0023 Kanagawa-ken, Yokohama-shi, Naka-ku, Yamashitachō, 巴里堂ビル 21.1 km
Marshmallow is a lovely new(ish) cafe located right in the heart of Chinatown, in Yokohama. It wa...
TN Koramu Bldg, 2-12-13, Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-shi 21.23 km
0422-28-50350422-28-5035
Good Italian food at this restaurant/bar/club. The schedule on the website shows the genre of eac...
2F, 2-13-4 Minami-Cho, Kichijoji, Musashino-Shi 21.24 km
0422-46-02250422-46-0225
Jazz, Funk, Blues, Soul..like they say here in Japan, all “Black Music” available. Al...
1-7-3 Honcho, Kichijoji 21.29 km
Funky is the upstairs “Bar” part of the Bar & Kitchen Funky. It’s a sleek...
IMG_0934.JPG
Yokohama-shi, Naka-ku, Yamashita-cho 276, Hamada-Bldg 1F 21.33 km
JULY 2022: Minton House has been under threat of closure the last two years, and the owner is sti...
Sometime.jpg
Musashino, Kichijoji Honcho, 1−11−31 21.47 km
SOMETIME Kichijoji (they use all caps..) opened in 1975 and still packs people in every night o...
Meg inside.jpg
Meg
Kichijoji Honcho 1-31-3, Musashino-shi 21.5 km
Meg is a small cafe/club in Kichijoji, western Tokyo that is a vibrant part of the local scene...
Casa Rosa 2F Seijo 6-16-5, Setagaya-ku 21.81 km
I’ve known Yoshioka-san, owner and sole staff at Cafe Beulmans for several years now, since...
IMG_2694.JPG
Minami Karasuyama 5-17-13 3F, Setagaya-Ku 21.81 km
Ragtime is the ideal jazz cafe in many ways. It’s a small place up on the 3rd floor of a ru...
SlowBoat2.jpg
1-chōme-3-16 Minamiyukigaya, Ota City, Tokyo 145-0066 21.98 km
Slow Boat is a beautiful neighborhood jazz cafe opened only in 2019, on the first floor of an oth...
IMG_0767.JPG
東京都杉並区西荻南2-25-4 22.18 km
Opened in 2010, Juha is a small but lively coffee shop about 5 minutes walk from Nishi-Ogikubo St...
IMG_1033.JPG
Matsubara 1-37-14, Setagaya-Ku 23.05 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...
IMG_1849.JPG
〒210 - 0006 川崎市川崎区砂子 2-11-21 深沢ビル3F 23.11 km
Sugar Shack Soul Brothers Bar in Kawasaki is the real deal, a place where soul music fans can sit...
Maze Soul Extension outside.jpg
4-Chome 6-2 Koenji Minami 23.11 km
03-3312-768403-3312-7684
Maze is a very hip soul music bar located right in the middle of the Koenji Pal Arcade ‘s...
Gi inside.JPG
Gi
416 Imai Minami-Cho, Nakahara-Ku, Kawasaki-Shi 23.22 km
Gi is a tiny dining bar located just about 10 minutes walk from Musashi Kosugi station in Kawasak...
Shin-Yuri Green Plaza B1, Hakusan 4-1-3 Aso-Ku, Kawasaki-Shi 23.22 km
Coming out the station go to Bus Stop #3, take the bus bound for Shin-Yuri Green Town. Get off at...
IMG_2704.JPG
5-6-14 Daizawa, Setagaya-Ku 23.43 km
Jazz Haus Posy was opened in 1973 by jazz fanatic Misa. She’s a serious enough fan to hav...
IMG_1046.JPG
155-0032 東京都世田谷区代沢5-31-14 23.64 km
Lady Jane has a very cinematic feel to it, the kind of joint that a lot of people outside Japan w...
Masako inside.jpg
2-20-2 Kitazawa, Setagaya-Ku 23.7 km
NOTE: Masako closed in FEB 2010…I’m leaving it here anyways, so people will remember....
Tams Bar outside.JPG
Suginami 24.27 km
Tam’s Bar is a tiny basement bar that seats no more than ten people at a time. As the sign ...
kissaseikatsu.jpg
1-6-12 Minami-Koenji, Suginami-Ku 24.27 km
Kissa Seikatsu (喫茶生活 “Cafe Lifestyle”) is a gem of a place a few mins walk from...
Misty outside.JPG
1-35-21 Minami-Asagaya, Suginami-Ku 24.27 km
Misty is a small cafe located in the heart of Asagaya’s old style “shotengai” (...
Nadja inside.JPG
2-12-5-2F Kita-Koenji, Suginami-Ku 24.27 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 24.27 km
Rooster is a great little live-house that features jazz, blues, funk, New Orleans..basically all ...
IMG_0020.JPG
Tokyo-to, Meguro-Ku, Yutenji 1-22-6 24.47 km
Ohio is great, an intimate, friendly bar with a huge collection of soul music. Owner Kin-chan has...
2 Chome−2−7, Asagayakita, Suginami 24.6 km
Tiny club in jazz rich Asagaya, Manhattan is always worth stopping by. All-night jam sessions thr...
Pithecanthropus Erectus.JPG
3F, 7-61-8 Nishi-Kamata, Ota-Ku 24.61 km
This is as old school a jazz bar as you will find in the Tokyo metro area. 直立猿人 (Chokuritsu E...
Matsu1.jpg
1-11-17 Higashinakanobu, Shinagawa City, Tokyo, Japan 25.05 km
Jazz Snack Matsu sadly closed suddenly due to the neighborhood being torn down for re-development...
Hotel Wing International Meguro B1, 1-3-14, Meguro 25.12 km
Blues Alley Japan. is a sophisticated club with great food and an eclectic live schedule. It...
Fat Mama.jpg
5-16-17, Meguro Honcho, Meguro-Ku 25.12 km
Fat Mama is named after the great Herbie Hancock track from his album “Fat Albert Rotunda&#...
IMG_6009.JPG
3-1-12 Koenji-Kita, Suginami-Ku, Tokyo 25.5 km
S.U.B. Store (Small Unique Bookstore) is a very hip new hybrid cafe/bar/gallery/bookstore/records...
JBS (Jazz,Blues,Soul).jpg
1-17-10 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-Ku 25.8 km
There’s a beautiful simplicity about JBS (Jazz,Blues,Soul). Owner Kobayashi-san has more th...
Swing-6.jpg
16-4 Kamiyamacho, Shibuya, Tokyo 25.92 km
Despite its old-world cafe atmosphere, Swing only opened in 2014 and is one of the newer jazz spo...
bar bossa.jpg
41-23 Udagawa-Cho, Shibuya-Ku 150-0044 26 km
Bar Bossa in Shibuya is a quiet gem of a place, perfect for bossa nova fans and/or couples lookin...
wahwah.jpg
Daihachi-Toto Bld. B1 15-19 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuyaku Tokyo, Japan 150-0031 26.04 km
The Room is one of Tokyo’s best clubs, if not THE best for fans of funky/groovy music. It&#...
Pres Jazz Bar.jpg
Utagawacho 30-4, Shibuya-Ku 26.09 km
03-3463-284803-3463-2848
Pres Jazz Bar is located up near the end of “Center Gai” street in Shibuya, not the...
IMG_5335.jpeg
東京都渋谷区桜丘町 17-10 26.09 km
Music Bar 45 is a small 2nd floor joint located just a few minutes walk from the south exit of Sh...
B1 26-6, Utagawa-cho, Shibuya-Ku 26.17 km
Modern jazz specialty shop, more than 8000 records on sale from the 50s & 60s. Been open sinc...
IMG_0139.jpg
Shibuya Parco B1, Udagawa-Cho 15-1 26.23 km
The central streets of Shibuya often conceal some cool little music spots amidst the brand stores...
koendori.png
Shibuya-ku, Udagawacho 19-5 26.27 km
Koen-Dori Classics is a small performance space located underneath a church in the heart of Shibu...
Mary Jane outside.jpg
Fuji Shoji Bldg. 2F, Sakuragaoka 2-3, Shibuya-Ku 26.29 km
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 26.29 km
Very small place that is really just a bar with live music every night of the week. I’ve go...
Genius.jpg
スズノビル1F, 3 Chome-2-10 Honchō, Nakano-ku 26.47 km
03-3372-347103-3372-3471
Genius was one of Shibuya’s more famous jazz cafes for more than 20 years before increasing...
IMG_2402.JPG
Higashi-Ooimachi 5-6-10 1F. Shinagawa-Ku 26.59 km
Jazz Bar Impro is small, even by the incredibly small standards of most Japanese jazz joints. It&...
Haikara-Tei inside.jpg
Toyo Bldg. B1, 2-20-19 Yoyogi, Shibuya-Ku 26.65 km
03-3370-180103-3370-1801
Haikara-Tei is another Shinjuku jazz bar that somehow never popped up on my jazz radar after all ...
Nakano Pignose  inside.jpg
B-113 Lions Mansion Nakano Dai-5 B-113, Arai 1-14-16, Nakano-Ku 26.66 km
I found this small-even-by-Tokyo-standards “piano bar” while lost in Nakano one nig...
Screen Shot 2019-12-16 at 9.35.19.png
〒150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Shibuya, 1 Chome−5−6 B1F 26.75 km
INC Cocktails opened in late 2018 just a short walk from Shibuya Station. It’s a very large...
Seabird inside.JPG
〒150-0002 東京都渋谷区渋谷2丁目3−4 26.88 km
03-3499-189003-3499-1890
Seabird is a lovely old cafe next to Aoyama Gakuin University, between Shibuya and Omotesando sta...
Jikan Ryokou outside.jpg
5-56-15 Nakano, Nakano-Ku 26.9 km
03-3389-798003-3389-7980
Jikan Ryokou (the sign is in Japanese 時間旅行, it means “Time Travel”) is simply won...
Kashiwagi Mura2 7-20-12, Nishi-Shinjuku 27.06 km
Swanky live club, heavy on the vocalists. Enjoyable but a bit soft for my tastes. It’s the ...
b.JPG
102 Dai-Ichi Mitomi Bldg 102, 1-30-6 Arai, Nakano-Ku 27.29 km
Rompercicci is a fairly new jazz cafe/bar just a short ten-minute walk from Nakano Station. It...
Ribbon outside.jpg
Watanabe Bldg B2 Ginza 8-6-19 27.35 km
The Ribbon is what most people would think of when hearing the words “Ginza Jazz”. It...
Stardust inside.JPG
Minami Bldg B1 Asagaya-Kita 2-13-5 27.35 km
03-3337-132503-3337-1325
Masuda-san sadly passed away in 2012. Stardust is an old bar, first opened in Asagaya in 1971 ...
Tom inside.JPG
Inaba Bldg , 2F Asagaya-Minami 3-28-31 27.35 km
03-3220-127503-3220-1275
吐夢 (Pronounced “To-mu” or just “Tom”) is unique in a couple of ways. ...
Cafe Ellington outside.jpg
Asagaya 3-37 27.35 km
Note: Closed in early 2015. I guess he couldn’t get many customers after all… Cafe El...
Scratch inside.JPG
Marco Polo Bldg 2F, 1-8-14 Hon-Chi, Kichijoji 27.35 km
Scratch is a quiet cafe/bar that’s been in heart of Kichijoji since 1974. They open durin...
Small Hours Cafe & Bar outside.jpg
Wako Bldg 1F 1-62-4 Kanda Jimbocho Chiyoda-Ku 27.35 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 27.35 km
Jazz, Funk & Soul are on tap at Miles’ Cafe. The Ikebukuro area is not known for having...
Jazz Spot Dolphy.JPG
2F Dai Ichi Nishimura Bldg. 2F, 2-17-4 Miyagawa-cho, Naka-Ku 27.35 km
Jazz Spot Dolphy opened in 1980 but moved to its current location in 1990 and has kept up a ste...
1−28−9, Shibuya, Yoyogi 27.55 km
Music Bar is part of the new development Yoyogi Village (read more about it here. It’s no...
Numabukuro 1-34-4 B1, Nakano-Ku 27.66 km
Organ Jazz Club: the name gives it away, doesn’t it? One of the few places in town with a r...
Jingumae, 3 Chome−5−2 27.68 km
Gekko Sabou (月光茶房 “moon-light-tea-chamber”, a wonderful name) is not a jazz cafe/...
1-36-12 Yoyogi Shibuya 27.69 km
Sister-branch of Naru in Ochanomizu.
4 Chome−3−1, Higashinakano, Nakano 28.04 km
Neighborhood cafe/bar/small live club. This is the kind of place you really only find in Japan; i...
matchgreen.jpg
Nishi-shinjuku 1-4-20, Shinjuku-Ku 28.09 km
The Vagabond is a classic joint right next to the West Exit of Shinjuku station. I think the revi...
Pearl Bar outside.JPG
Higashi Shin Bldg , 4F, 3-21-7, Shinjuku, Shunjuku-Ku 28.1 km
Pearl Bar is a real sleek “grown up” jazz bar in the center of Shinjuku. Lots of cock...
Samurai inside.JPG
Mori Bldg. 5F, 3-35-5, Shinjuku-Ku 28.15 km
Samurai is located in the building that used to house the Shinjuku Pit-Inn before they moved to t...
Hals Jazz outside.jpg
Daikan Plaza B-306, 7-10-17 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku 28.18 km
It’s all about vinyl at Hal’s Jazz. Owner Ikeda-san keeps a few racks of cds in the c...
IMG_2862.JPG
B1, 3-35-12 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku 28.19 km
Jazz Pepe is as old school as it gets. Opened in 1969 by the now 77 year old Okuma-san, Pepe is a...
Old+Cat_-2.jpg
3-26-2 Shinjuku Shinjuku Tokyo 28.23 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...
IMG_0284(1).JPG
Azeria Bldg 1F, 1-3-6 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 28.27 km
Vanilla Mood is a cool little jazz bar/club just across from Roppongi Hills. It has been open for...
Jazz Room Stick inside.jpg
3 Chome−22, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 28.31 km
Jazz Room Stick is a great old jazz joint in the heart of Shinjuku, located almost directly beh...
FS Bldg 4F, 3-20-6 Shinjuku 28.4 km
This is a quiet piano bar with live music nightly though more BGM style, not really a live club. ...
Narushisu inside.jpg
2F, 1 Chome−13−6, Kabukicho, Shinjuku 28.47 km
I found this tiny gem of a jazz cafe amidst the chaos that is Kabukicho in Shinjuku. It is a smal...
photo(14).JPG
Ebisu Kaikan Bldg, 4F Kabukicho 1-10-5. Shinjuku, Tokyo 28.5 km
In 2013 Black Sun moved from it’s long time home in Nishi-Shinjuku to the heart of Kabukich...
Kissa Sakaiki inside.JPG
2-4, Dai Kyo Machi, Shinjuku-Ku 28.5 km
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 28.5 km
Old basement club, lots of vocalists on the schedule. Mellow vibe and not too expensive.
curtisinside.jpg
Shinjuku-Ku, 3-chome 8-5 28.53 km
Curtis is one of my favorite bars in Tokyo. As the name gives away, this is a soul music bar with...
New Dug.jpg
Dug
3-15-12 Shinjuku 28.53 km
The ‘New Dug’ in Shinjuku is a cafe/bar with a complex back story. It was the annex...
Jazz Tweeter outside.JPG
1-19-11 B1F Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku 28.56 km
Jazz Tweeter was opened a couple of years ago by long-time hotel restaurant chef Ishizuka-san. He...
Shiramuren.jpg
1 Chome−1−10, Kabukicho, Shinjuku 28.57 km
How can I describe this place? It’s small, dark and old; owner Otsuka-san was surly and u...
index.jpg
Shinjuku 2-12-4, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-0022 28.58 km
The Pit Inn remains near, or at the top, of any list of live jazz venues in the Tokyo area. 2015 ...
IMG_0276.JPG
東京都 港区 六本木 7-18-16 川久保ビル 1F・4F 28.58 km
03-3401-626203-3401-6262
Bar Spice is a classic little Soul music bar overlooking Roppongi-Dori, right across from the Rop...
Maruha Bldg. B1, 1-1-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku 28.59 km
03-3204-202803-3204-2028
NOTE: Now Bar Clarisse’s, still with a lot of bourbon! 200 types of Bourbon, cool jazz play...
IMG_0291.JPG
Chiyo Bldg, B1, 5-9-22 Dai 2, Roppongi 28.77 km
Electrik Jinja opened in April 2012 and quickly became the hippest  spot in Roppongi. It’s ...
IMG_5232.JPG
Hama Roppongi Bldg. 5F, 6-2-35 Roppongi, Minato-Ku 28.77 km
Opened in May 1980 and now in its 41st year, Alfie is simply one of the best live jazz spots in ...
Showing 1 - 100 of 144 results