Umimoto Bldg (梅本) , 4F, 3-29-2 Nishi-Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro 3 Chome 67-10
Toshima-ku
Tōkyō-to
JP
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 Yamamoto-san since 1982..and except for the cds scattered around the place the decor or furniture doesn’t seem to have changed since ’82. And that’s a good thing, I like my jazz bars to have soul and to feel lived in.
Yamamoto-san plays a wide range of music here, from free to Latin to local Japanese musicians. The beer was cold and you can bottle-keep if you want to be a regular. The window was open and the lights were kept fairly low, just a perfect spot for night-time drinking and jazz listening. Paper Moon is classic, one of my favorite places in town, and no table charge makes it just about perfect. Warning: not for people who are put off by a bit of dust.
Photos of Paper Moon over at Tokyo Jazz Joints.
Size
11-20
Food
Yes
Directions
Station: Ikebukuro-JR (many),Marunouchi, Yurakucho & Fukutoshin Lines
Exit: 1A
Distance from station: 1 minutes
Take exit 1A at Ikebukuro station, walk straight out and Paper Moon is less than a minute away on the right side. Keep a lookout for the sign (and be sure not to go round the corner to the “Paper Moon Cosplay” bar..fun joint but not that jazzy.
Date published
08/02/2009 UPDATED Jan 2016
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...
Tsugurudai 3-3, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo
Donato has the look, feel and sound of a classic old Japanese jazz kissaten, yet is a relatively ...
2-4 Nishiasakusa, Taito-Ku, Tokyo
03-3845-107803-3845-1078
Located in the back streets on the west side of Asakusa, the most popular tourist neighborhood in...
Choujamachi 8-136-8 Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi
Even by Japanese bar standards, Shelter People is an intimate drinking experience. Located in the...
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...
3-7-15 Akasaka, Minato-Ku
Hashi no Shita (橋 の下 means “Under The Bridge” in Japanese) is in Akasaka-Mitsuke...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ste...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Toshima-Ku, Nishi-Ikebukuro, 1-15-6, Toshima Kaikan B2F
Absolute Blue is a new club opened in Feb 2015 by Ayumi Hoshikawa, previously a club owner in New...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
1−28−9, 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...
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 ...
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...
Parkside Fuki B1, 3-22-8 Nishi-Ikebukuro
03-5960-225203-5960-2252
Jazz Live Bar Independence is another great joint located in the surprisingly hip neighborhood ...
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...
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...
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...
Ikebukuro Roudou Kijun Kyoukai Bldg B2, Ikebukuro 1-8-8
03-5951-680703-5951-6807
Jazz, Funk & Soul are on tap at Miles’ Cafe. The Ikebukuro area is not known for having...
Maruha Bldg. B1, 1-1-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku
03-3204-202803-3204-2028
200 types of Bourbon, cool jazz playing on the system. That about sums it up. Small place, go alo...
Toyo Bldg. B1, 2-20-19 Yoyogi, Shibuya-Ku
03-3370-180103-3370-1801
Haikara-Tei is another Shinjuku jazz bar that somehow never popped up on my jazz radar after all ...
3-11-12 2F, Shinjuku
CLOSED Fall 2013. Music fans know that Japan is a country filled with dedicated, serious, almost ...
No entries were found.
