3-10-12 Inage-Higashi, Inage-Ku, Chiba-Ken
Inage-ku Anagawa 4 Chome 12-1
Chiba-shi
Chiba-ken
263-0024
JP
043-246-7726043-246-7726
Jazz Spot Candy is a gem, one of the finest jazz joints in the entire Tokyo metro area. It opened in 1976, then moved to its current location in 2002 and has been run since the beginning by the ebullient and kind Hayashi-san.
It’s a small room but does not feel as claustrophobic as many other jazz spots due to its high ceiling and natural light. There are a few tables and some bar counter seats, with the right wall dominated by Hayashi-san’s impressive and varied collection of vinyl. She’s happy to take requests and talk about the music or anything else; within minutes of being there we were trading stories about how we first came to love this music. (For Hayashi-san, it was working in an electronics store as a teenager and hearing John Coltrane play on the radios and stereos.)
The left wall of the room acts as a ‘stage’ for weekend live shows, usually featuring more experimental/improvisational groups. Hayashi-san has good connections with both American and European musicians (the late, great Billy Bang was a regular visitor), as well as local ‘free jazz’ players. Cafe and bar time though you’ll hear any and all genres; during my visit Hayashi-san played B.B. King & Diane Schur, Jack DeJohnette, then some heavy Norwegian improv group.
I was so happy to finally find Jazz Spot Candy, it’s now firmly in my Top Ten Jazz Joint ranking. See good pics of Candy here at Tokyo Jazz Joints.
Size
15-20
Directions
JR Inage Station, come out the West Exit. Go straight up the main road across the station front rotunda, then take the first left after the Family Mart convenience store. Walk down and then take the second right, you’ll see Candy on the right side, 1st floor of a large (by Japan standards..) house.
Date published
Nov 2015
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03-3737-129203-3737-1292
This is as old school a jazz bar as you will find in the Tokyo metro area. 直立猿人 (Chokuritsu E...
Yoshino Bldg B101, NIshi-Ogikubo, Kita 36.14 km
03-3395-950703-3395-9507
Aketa No Mise (“The Open Store”) is out in west Tokyo, not far from Nishi-Ogikubo s...
〒150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Shibuya, 1 Chome−5−6 B1F 36.34 km
INC Cocktails opened in late 2018 just a short walk from Shibuya Station. It’s a very large...
Chome 34-8, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 36.37 km
03-3359-677703-3359-6777
Someday is a nice, spacious club in Shinjuku, well known for their various big band and Latin jaz...
Shinjuku 2-12-4, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-0022 36.61 km
The Pit Inn remains near, or at the top, of any list of live jazz venues in the Tokyo area. 2015 ...
1-19-11 B1F Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku 36.68 km
03-3351-485603-3351-4856
Jazz Tweeter was opened a couple of years ago by long-time hotel restaurant chef Ishizuka-san. He...
Shinjuku-Ku, 3-chome 8-5 36.69 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...
New Gold Bldg, 2F, 3-6-10 Shinjuku-Ku 36.76 km
03-5367-236603-5367-2366
Houdenasu (ほうでなす) is a small 2nd floor bar located right in the heart of Shinjuku 3-Chome,...
東京都渋谷区桜丘町 17-10 36.76 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...
Toshima-Ku, Higashi-Ikebukuro 1-28-1 Takuto T.O. Bldg 2F 36.78 km
03-5391-738803-5391-7388
The Owl cafe in Ikebukuro was a great mystery to me as the first three times I went by it was clo...
1 Chome−1−10, Kabukicho, Shinjuku 36.92 km
How can I describe this place? It’s small, dark and old; owner Otsuka-san was surly and u...
Shibuya-ku, Udagawacho 19-5 36.93 km
Koen-Dori Classics is a small performance space located underneath a church in the heart of Shibu...
Maruha Bldg. B1, 1-1-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku 36.94 km
03-3204-202803-3204-2028
200 types of Bourbon, cool jazz playing on the system. That about sums it up. Small place, go alo...
Higashi Shin Bldg , 4F, 3-21-7, Shinjuku, Shunjuku-Ku 36.95 km
03-3354-757703-3354-7577
Pearl Bar is a real sleek “grown up” jazz bar in the center of Shinjuku. Lots of cock...
Hotel Wing International Meguro B1, 1-3-14, Meguro 36.96 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 36.96 km
Fat Mama is named after the great Herbie Hancock track from his album “Fat Albert Rotunda&#...
B1 26-6, Utagawa-cho, Shibuya-Ku 36.97 km
03-3461-825603-3461-8256
Modern jazz specialty shop, more than 8000 records on sale from the 50s & 60s. Been open sinc...
Sasaki Bldg, B1, 2-8-3 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-Ku 36.97 km
03-3200-145203-3200-1452
Gate One is a small bar run by the husband and wife guitar-vocal duo Hashimoto-san and Kajiwara-s...
Shibuya Parco B1, Udagawa-Cho 15-1 37 km
03-6455-300103-6455-3001
The central streets of Shibuya often conceal some cool little music spots amidst the brand stores...
Ebisu Kaikan Bldg, 4F Kabukicho 1-10-5. Shinjuku, Tokyo 37.01 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 37.01 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 37.01 km
03-3354-033503-3354-0335
Old basement club, lots of vocalists on the schedule. Mellow vibe and not too expensive.
1−28−9, Shibuya, Yoyogi 37.02 km
03-6300-523103-6300-5231
Music Bar is part of the new development Yoyogi Village (read more about it here. It’s no...
B1, 3-35-12 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku 37.04 km
Jazz Pepe is as old school as it gets. Opened in 1969 by the now 77 year old Okuma-san, Pepe is a...
Mori Bldg. 5F, 3-35-5, Shinjuku-Ku 37.04 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...
FS Bldg 4F, 3-20-6 Shinjuku 37.05 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. ...
Fuji Shoji Bldg. 2F, Sakuragaoka 2-3, Shibuya-Ku 37.07 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 37.07 km
Very small place that is really just a bar with live music every night of the week. I’ve go...
Utagawacho 30-4, Shibuya-Ku 37.07 km
03-3463-284803-3463-2848
Pres Jazz Bar is located up near the end of “Center Gai” street in Shibuya, not the...
3-26-2 Shinjuku Shinjuku Tokyo 37.1 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...
2F, 1 Chome−13−6, Kabukicho, Shinjuku 37.12 km
I found this tiny gem of a jazz cafe amidst the chaos that is Kabukicho in Shinjuku. It is a smal...
1-17-10 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-Ku 37.14 km
There’s a beautiful simplicity about JBS (Jazz,Blues,Soul). Owner Kobayashi-san has more th...
3 Chome−22, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 37.19 km
Jazz Room Stick is a great old jazz joint in the heart of Shinjuku, located almost directly beh...
2-14-8 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-Ku 37.19 km
03-3200-439603-3200-4396
Jazz SPOT Intro in Takadanobaba is a tiny basement bar about 2 minutes walk from the station. I...
41-23 Udagawa-Cho, Shibuya-Ku 150-0044 37.29 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...
Toshima-Ku, Nishi-Ikebukuro, 1-15-6, Toshima Kaikan B2F 37.4 km
Absolute Blue is a new club opened in Feb 2015 by Ayumi Hoshikawa, previously a club owner in New...
Nishi-shinjuku 1-4-20, Shinjuku-Ku 37.43 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...
Palace Garden Milano Bldg, 1F, Ikebukuro 2-63-6 37.44 km
Kenny’s Bar is by far the hippest place in not-so-hip Ikebukuro. It’s a small, dark j...
16-4 Kamiyamacho, Shibuya, Tokyo 37.44 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...
Daikan Plaza B-306, 7-10-17 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku 37.47 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...
Tokyo-to, Meguro-Ku, Yutenji 1-22-6 37.52 km
Ohio is great, an intimate, friendly bar with a huge collection of soul music. Owner Kin-chan has...
Igari Bldg., 1-23-9 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-Ku 37.73 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 37.73 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...
Toyo Bldg. B1, 2-20-19 Yoyogi, Shibuya-Ku 37.77 km
03-3370-180103-3370-1801
Haikara-Tei is another Shinjuku jazz bar that somehow never popped up on my jazz radar after all ...
Dai 2 Okumura Bldg, B1, 1-47-13 Ikebukuro, Toshima-Ku 37.82 km
03-6914-349903-6914-3499
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 37.82 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 37.82 km
03-5960-225203-5960-2252
Jazz Live Bar Independence is another great joint located in the surprisingly hip neighborhood ...
4-Chome 6-2 Koenji Minami 37.98 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...
Watanabe Bldg B2 Ginza 8-6-19 37.99 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 37.99 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 37.99 km
03-3220-127503-3220-1275
吐夢 (Pronounced “To-mu” or just “Tom”) is unique in a couple of ways. ...
Asagaya 3-37 37.99 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 37.99 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 37.99 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 37.99 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 37.99 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...
3-11-12 2F, Shinjuku 38.07 km
CLOSED Fall 2013. Music fans know that Japan is a country filled with dedicated, serious, almost ...
416 Imai Minami-Cho, Nakahara-Ku, Kawasaki-Shi 38.37 km
044-711-0760044-711-0760
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 38.37 km
044-989-4666044-989-4666
Coming out the station go to Bus Stop #3, take the bus bound for Shin-Yuri Green Town. Get off at...
〒210 - 0006 川崎市川崎区砂子 2-11-21 深沢ビル3F 38.52 km
044 (223) 8131044 (223) 8131
Sugar Shack Soul Brothers Bar in Kawasaki is the real deal, a place where soul music fans can sit...
Kashiwagi Mura2 7-20-12, Nishi-Shinjuku 38.59 km
Swanky live club, heavy on the vocalists. Enjoyable but a bit soft for my tastes. It’s the ...