2Ｆ Dai Ichi Nishimura Bldg. 2F, 2-17-4 Miyagawa-cho, Naka-Ku
045-261-4542045-261-4542
Jazz Spot Dolphy opened in 1980 but moved to its current location in 1990 and has kept up a steady live schedule since then. It’s a small, square space that seats about 50 people, most seats facing the stage.
The music can vary with everything from extreme free jazz to vocal-led standards groups. Pianist Itabashi Fumio is a regular (I was told the piano usually needs repairs after one of his energetic performances..) Jam sessions and student led jams happen a couple times a month, and the whole room is available for private events. Occasionally owner Komuro-san even joins in with his own gigs as does manager-vocalist Sachiko-san. Very friendly atmosphere with an extensive drinks menu, it’s an all-around great jazz joint.
Dolphy gets extra points as well for staying open late so you can pop in for a drink after the live sets have finished about 10pm. Look out for the really nice portrait of Thelonious Monk on the wall next to the bathroom door. More pics of Dolphy here at Tokyo Jazz Joints.
Size
41-50
Food
Yes
Directions link
Directions
Station: Keikyu Line – Hidenocho Stn. , JR Lines – Sakuragicho Stn
Exit: Hidenocho – Main Exit, Sakuragicho – Main Exit
Distance from station: 3 minutes
Date published
05/28/2014
1-14 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku
03-3267-842303-3267-8423
UPDATE: Found out just yesterday that the lovely Matsuura-san passed away just about two years ag...
1-11-17 Higashinakanobu, Shinagawa City, Tokyo, Japan
03-3785-487703-3785-4877
Jazz Snack Matsu sadly closed suddenly due to the neighborhood being torn down for re-development...
2 Chome-43-2 Sendagi, Bunkyo City, Tokyo
‘Modern Jazz’ Players Bar R started in June 2022 in the existing Players Bar R, with ...
Yokohama-shi, Naka-ku, Yamashita-cho 276, Hamada-Bldg 1F
JULY 2022: Minton House has been under threat of closure the last two years, and the owner is sti...
5-60 Sumiyoshicho, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0013
045-641-9191045-641-9191
Located in the in historic Bashamichi area of downtown Yokohama, Airegin is one of the best live ...
Sasaki Bldg, B1, 2-8-3 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-Ku
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...
6-13-9 Minami Aoyama, Minato-Ku
03-5466-334803-5466-3348
Body & Soul is one of the most historically important jazz clubs in Tokyo. Featuring many of ...
Hama Roppongi Bldg. 5F, 6-2-35 Roppongi, Minato-Ku
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 ...
2 Chome−1−10, Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku
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...
3-7-15 Akasaka, Minato-Ku
Hashi no Shita (橋 の下 means “Under The Bridge” in Japanese) is in Akasaka-Mitsuke...
Chome 34-8, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku
03-3359-677703-3359-6777
Someday is a nice, spacious club in Shinjuku, well known for their various big band and Latin jaz...
30 Konya-Cho, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku
03-3252-498203-3252-4982
Root Down moved down the street just 30 meters from it’s original spot, it’s now Tō...
Jingumae, 3 Chome−5−2
03-3402-753703-3402-7537
Gekko Sabou (月光茶房 “moon-light-tea-chamber”, a wonderful name) is not a jazz cafe/...
Shibuya Parco B1, Udagawa-Cho 15-1
03-6455-300103-6455-3001
The central streets of Shibuya often conceal some cool little music spots amidst the brand stores...
〒150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Shibuya, 1 Chome−5−6 B1F
INC Cocktails opened in late 2018 just a short walk from Shibuya Station. It’s a very large...
Japan, 〒231-0023 Kanagawa-ken, Yokohama-shi, Naka-ku, Yamashitachō, 巴里堂ビル
045-401-6516045-401-6516
090-2202-3293090-2202-3293
Marshmallow is a lovely new(ish) cafe located right in the heart of Chinatown, in Yokohama. It wa...
1 Chome-6-21 Higashiikuta, Tama-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa-ken 214-0031, Japan
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...
1124-1 Masuo, Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture
04-7139-926504-7139-9265
Nefertiti lives up to its very lofty name as it’s one of the finest jazz spots in the entir...
231-0033 横浜市中区長者町 9-140
First is an old-school Yokohama jazz bar with a vibe and sound all its own. It’s more spaci...
3-15-12 Shinjuku
03-3354-777603-3354-7776
The ‘New Dug’ in Shinjuku is a cafe/bar with a complex back story. It was the annex...
3 Chome−22, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku
Jazz Room Stick is a great old jazz joint in the heart of Shinjuku, located almost directly beh...
Minami Karasuyama 5-17-13 3F, Setagaya-Ku
03-3309-146003-3309-1460
Ragtime is the ideal jazz cafe in many ways. It’s a small place up on the 3rd floor of a ru...
41-23 Udagawa-Cho, Shibuya-Ku 150-0044
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...
Miyamoto Bldg, 2F 1-43 Hanasakicho, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi
Downbeat in Yokohama is one of the classic jazz spots in the entire Kanto (Tokyo Metropolitan) ...
5-6-14 Daizawa, Setagaya-Ku
03-3412-594503-3412-5945
Jazz Haus Posy was opened in 1973 by jazz fanatic Misa. She’s a serious enough fan to hav...
1-18-1 Midori-Cho, Tokorozawa-Shi, Saitama-Ken, Japan
042-924-4230042-924-4230
Jazz & Coffee Swan first opened in 1965 and still retains every bit of ambiance from that gol...
3-14-10 Nishi-Nippori, Arakawa-Ku, Tokyo
Charmant opened in 1955 and certainly looks and feels its age. It’s a tiny bar on the secon...
Azeria Bldg 1F, 1-3-6 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-Ku, Tokyo
03-5770-384303-5770-3843
Vanilla Mood is a cool little jazz bar/club just across from Roppongi Hills. It has been open for...
Inaba Bldg , 2F Asagaya-Minami 3-28-31
03-3220-127503-3220-1275
吐夢 (Pronounced “To-mu” or just “Tom”) is unique in a couple of ways. ...
東京都渋谷区桜丘町 17-10
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...
Marco Polo Bldg 2F, 1-8-14 Hon-Chi, Kichijoji
Scratch is a quiet cafe/bar that’s been in heart of Kichijoji since 1974. They open durin...
5-16-17, Meguro Honcho, Meguro-Ku
Fat Mama is named after the great Herbie Hancock track from his album “Fat Albert Rotunda&#...
3-1-12 Koenji-Kita, Suginami-Ku, Tokyo
080-3496-3883080-3496-3883
S.U.B. Store (Small Unique Bookstore) is a very hip new hybrid cafe/bar/gallery/bookstore/records...
B1F Fuji Bldg B1, Hara-Machida 6-17-1, Machida-Shi
042-725-1241042-725-1241
Herbie is the kind of jazz bar you stumble upon randomly on the way home some night and end up st...
16-4 Kamiyamacho, Shibuya, Tokyo
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
03-3463-284803-3463-2848
Pres Jazz Bar is located up near the end of “Center Gai” street in Shibuya, not the...
1-31-8 Kita-Senju, Adachi-Ku, Tokyo
Birdland is a beautifully decorated cafe and bar located in the north-east part of Tokyo, just a ...
Higashi-Ooimachi 5-6-10 1F. Shinagawa-Ku
Jazz Bar Impro is small, even by the incredibly small standards of most Japanese jazz joints. It&...
3-26-2 Shinjuku Shinjuku Tokyo
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
Jazz Pepe is as old school as it gets. Opened in 1969 by the now 77 year old Okuma-san, Pepe is a...
スズノビル1F, 3 Chome-2-10 Honchō, Nakano-ku
03-3372-347103-3372-3471
Genius was one of Shibuya’s more famous jazz cafes for more than 20 years before increasing...
Bunkyo-Ku, Hakusan 5-33-19
03-3811-893203-3811-8932
The Eigakan (映画館 “Movie Theater) is a jazz cafe for both jazz lovers and cinephiles. Own...
Umimoto Bldg (梅本) , 4F, 3-29-2 Nishi-Ikebukuro
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...
Musashino, Kichijoji Honcho, 1−11−31
SOMETIME Kichijoji (they use all caps..) opened in 1975 and still packs people in every night o...
2-94 Noge-cho Naka-ku, Yokohama,Kanagawa 231-0064
045-315-2006045-315-2006
Chigusa is the the gold standard of jazz cafes in Japan. It was first opened in 1933 in the rough...
Japan, 〒101-0051 Tōkyō-to, Chiyoda-ku, Kanda Jinbōchō, 1 Chome−2−9 ウェルスビル
The Adirondack Cafe is a unique jazz cafe and bar just off the main road through the Jinbocho are...
1-11 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda
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...
3-152-1 Nishi-Kanagawa, Kanagawa-Ku, Yokohama-Shi
090-8343-5621090-8343-5621
Bitches Brew is yet another only-in-Japan kind of place. It’s a tiny sqaure room on the sec...
Fuji Shoji Bldg. 2F, Sakuragaoka 2-3, Shibuya-Ku
03-3461-338103-3461-3381
Many years back I found Mary Jane by accident, as I had been looking for the wonderfully named ...
1-8 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-Ku
03-3357-985703-3357-9857
Eagle is really the prototypical jazz cafe. It opened in 1967 in Yotsuya, right down the street...
3-9 Yoshida-cho, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi
045-251-2131045-251-2131
Little John is a well known jazz bar/tiny club in the Yokohama scene, yet its erratic opening hou...
155-0032 東京都世田谷区代沢5-31-14
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...
Toshima-Ku, Higashi-Ikebukuro 1-28-1 Takuto T.O. Bldg 2F
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...
〒210 - 0006 川崎市川崎区砂子 2-11-21 深沢ビル3F
044 (223) 8131044 (223) 8131
Sugar Shack Soul Brothers Bar in Kawasaki is the real deal, a place where soul music fans can sit...
2-14-8 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-Ku
03-3200-439603-3200-4396
Jazz SPOT Intro in Takadanobaba is a tiny basement bar about 2 minutes walk from the station. I...
Mori Bldg. 5F, 3-35-5, Shinjuku-Ku
03-3341-038303-3341-0383
Samurai is located in the building that used to house the Shinjuku Pit-Inn before they moved to t...
3F, 7-61-8 Nishi-Kamata, Ota-Ku
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...
1-17-10 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-Ku
There’s a beautiful simplicity about JBS (Jazz,Blues,Soul). Owner Kobayashi-san has more th...
Ebisu Kaikan Bldg, 4F Kabukicho 1-10-5. Shinjuku, Tokyo
03-6273-843503-6273-8435
In 2013 Black Sun moved from it’s long time home in Nishi-Shinjuku to the heart of Kabukich...
Matsubara 1-37-14, Setagaya-Ku
03-3321-943103-3321-9431
Miles is a treasure. It opened in 1960 and is one of the few remaining neighborhood jazz bars fro...
1 Chome−1−10, Kabukicho, Shinjuku
How can I describe this place? It’s small, dark and old; owner Otsuka-san was surly and u...
〒150-0002 東京都渋谷区渋谷２丁目３−４
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
03-3401-626203-3401-6262
Bar Spice is a classic little Soul music bar overlooking Roppongi-Dori, right across from the Rop...
Chiyo Bldg, B1, 5-9-22 Dai 2, Roppongi
Electrik Jinja opened in April 2012 and quickly became the hippest spot in Roppongi. It’s ...
5-1-2 Akasaka Engel Bldg 2F, Minato-Ku, Tokyo
Volontaire moved to its current location in Akasaka a few years ago after more than three decades...
東京都千代田区有楽町2-3-6 マスヤビルB1F
03-3575-031503-3575-0315
Kiri is a wonderful little basement spot in between Hibiya, Ginza and Yurakucho stations. It̵...
102 Dai-Ichi Mitomi Bldg 102, 1-30-6 Arai, Nakano-Ku
03-6454-028303-6454-0283
Rompercicci is a fairly new jazz cafe/bar just a short ten-minute walk from Nakano Station. It...
Tokyo-to, Meguro-Ku, Yutenji 1-22-6
Ohio is great, an intimate, friendly bar with a huge collection of soul music. Owner Kin-chan has...
3-11 Yoshidamachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken 231-0041, Japan
045-262-8111045-262-8111
Ad-Lib is an old club in Yoshida-cho, a block of dingy streets between Kannai and Noge in Yokoham...
Shinjuku-Ku, 3-chome 8-5
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...
2 Chome-17 Kanda Tsukasamachi Chiyoda-ku
Jazz Bar Gugan is a small bar in the east side of Tokyo, near both the Ochanomizu and Jimbocho ...
New Gold Bldg, 2F, 3-6-10 Shinjuku-Ku
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,...
6-6-4, Sakae Bldg B1, Akasaka, Minato-ku
The B Flat in Akasaka is a great straight-ahead jazz club in an area without many other options f...
416 Imai Minami-Cho, Nakahara-Ku, Kawasaki-Shi
044-711-0760044-711-0760
Gi is a tiny dining bar located just about 10 minutes walk from Musashi Kosugi station in Kawasak...
4-Chome 6-2 Koenji Minami
03-3312-768403-3312-7684
Maze is a very hip soul music bar located right in the middle of the Koenji Pal Arcade ‘s...
Dai 2 Okumura Bldg, B1, 1-47-13 Ikebukuro, Toshima-Ku
03-6914-349903-6914-3499
Montgomery Land opened up a couple of years ago just a short walk from Ikebukuro Station. It̵...
1-19-11 B1F Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku
03-3351-485603-3351-4856
Jazz Tweeter was opened a couple of years ago by long-time hotel restaurant chef Ishizuka-san. He...
1−28−9, Shibuya, Yoyogi
03-6300-523103-6300-5231
Music Bar is part of the new development Yoyogi Village (read more about it here. It’s no...
5-56-15 Nakano, Nakano-Ku
03-3389-798003-3389-7980
Jikan Ryokou (the sign is in Japanese 時間旅行, it means “Time Travel”) is simply won...
2-12-5-2F Kita-Koenji, Suginami-Ku
03-03339-621103-03339-6211
Nadja is a great little cafe in Koenji that stands out for its tasty lunch menu, especially the M...
Minami Bldg B1 Asagaya-Kita 2-13-5
03-3337-132503-3337-1325
Masuda-san sadly passed away in 2012. Stardust is an old bar, first opened in Asagaya in 1971 ...
Ogawamachi 3-24, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku
03-3259-005503-3259-0055
Jazz Olympus was opened by the very friendly Komatsu-san in 2009. It’s a sleek cafe/bar t...
Wako Bldg 1F 1-62-4 Kanda Jimbocho Chiyoda-Ku
03-5283-711703-5283-7117
Closed 2015 Small Hours is a new cafe/bar located in the back streets between Ochanomizu, Jimbo...
2F 3-20-13 2F, Ogawamachi, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku
03-5577-482603-5577-4826
Grauers is a new cafe/bar opened August, 2011. Owner Furusho Shinjiro is a long time jazz journal...
Hanasaki-cho 1-16-1, Naka-ku, Yokohama-Shi
045-231-0773045-231-0773
Jazz House Five Star Records is a unique little place in the Noge neighborhood, next to Sakurag...
Nishi-shinjuku 1-4-20, Shinjuku-Ku
03-3348-910903-3348-9109
The Vagabond is a classic joint right next to the West Exit of Shinjuku station. I think the revi...
B2F 8-6-18 Ginza, Chuo
Cygnus is the sister club to Aries in Ueno but a bit more upscale. Live shows three times a night...
Watanabe Bldg B2 Ginza 8-6-19
The Ribbon is what most people would think of when hearing the words “Ginza Jazz”. It...
Palace Garden Milano Bldg, 1F, Ikebukuro 2-63-6
Kenny’s Bar is by far the hippest place in not-so-hip Ikebukuro. It’s a small, dark j...
Tsuji Bldg B1, 3-14-12 Ueno, Taito-Ku
Every Swing is a small friendly club in the barren back streets east of Ueno Station. This is n...
Makita Bldg B1, 2-4-8 Ueno, Taito-Ku
Aries is a very local jazz live-house in the back streets of Ueno. By “local” I mea...
Higashi Shin Bldg , 4F, 3-21-7, Shinjuku, Shunjuku-Ku
03-3354-757703-3354-7577
Pearl Bar is a real sleek “grown up” jazz bar in the center of Shinjuku. Lots of cock...
B-113 Lions Mansion Nakano Dai-5 B-113, Arai 1-14-16, Nakano-Ku
I found this small-even-by-Tokyo-standards “piano bar” while lost in Nakano one nig...
1-7-3 Honcho, Kichijoji
Funky is the upstairs “Bar” part of the Bar & Kitchen Funky. It’s a sleek...
FS Bldg 4F, 3-20-6 Shinjuku
03-3354-477403-3354-4774
This is a quiet piano bar with live music nightly though more BGM style, not really a live club. ...
4 Chome−3−1, Higashinakano, Nakano
03-3365-057203-3365-0572
Neighborhood cafe/bar/small live club. This is the kind of place you really only find in Japan; i...
2 Chome−2−7, Asagayakita, Suginami
03-3336-796103-3336-7961
Tiny club in jazz rich Asagaya, Manhattan is always worth stopping by. All-night jam sessions thr...
Shin-Yuri Green Plaza B1, Hakusan 4-1-3 Aso-Ku, Kawasaki-Shi
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...
Watanabe Bldg B2 Ginza 8-6-19 0 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 0 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 0 km
03-3220-127503-3220-1275
吐夢 (Pronounced “To-mu” or just “Tom”) is unique in a couple of ways. ...
Asagaya 3-37 0 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 0 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 0 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 0 km
03-5951-680703-5951-6807
Jazz, Funk & Soul are on tap at Miles’ Cafe. The Ikebukuro area is not known for having...
Kashiwagi Mura2 7-20-12, Nishi-Shinjuku 0.63 km
Swanky live club, heavy on the vocalists. Enjoyable but a bit soft for my tastes. It’s the ...
Nishi-shinjuku 1-4-20, Shinjuku-Ku 0.75 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...
Daikan Plaza B-306, 7-10-17 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku 0.84 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...
3-26-2 Shinjuku Shinjuku Tokyo 0.96 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...
Mori Bldg. 5F, 3-35-5, Shinjuku-Ku 0.97 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...
3 Chome−22, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 0.98 km
Jazz Room Stick is a great old jazz joint in the heart of Shinjuku, located almost directly beh...
B1, 3-35-12 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku 0.98 km
Jazz Pepe is as old school as it gets. Opened in 1969 by the now 77 year old Okuma-san, Pepe is a...
Higashi Shin Bldg , 4F, 3-21-7, Shinjuku, Shunjuku-Ku 1.04 km
03-3354-757703-3354-7577
Pearl Bar is a real sleek “grown up” jazz bar in the center of Shinjuku. Lots of cock...
FS Bldg 4F, 3-20-6 Shinjuku 1.09 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. ...
2F, 1 Chome−13−6, Kabukicho, Shinjuku 1.13 km
I found this tiny gem of a jazz cafe amidst the chaos that is Kabukicho in Shinjuku. It is a smal...
Ebisu Kaikan Bldg, 4F Kabukicho 1-10-5. Shinjuku, Tokyo 1.17 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 1.17 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 1.17 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 1.21 km
03-6300-523103-6300-5231
Music Bar is part of the new development Yoyogi Village (read more about it here. It’s no...