3F, 7-61-8 Nishi-Kamata, Ota-Ku
Kamata 5 Chome 18-4
Ōta-ku
Tōkyō-to
144-0052
JP
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 Enjin = Pithecanthropus Erectus) opened in 1976 and certainly shows its age. Old concert posters, dusty album covers, tattered seats. The master recently retired due to poor health and turned the joint over to a new manager who maintains the steady flow of old vinyl on the turntable. Jaki Byard, Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan on the night I was there. There’s about 2500 records in the cabinets that line the back wall of the bar.
There are faded, torn food menus on the wall but don’t try ordering anything, they stopped serving food years ago. Amazingly, the bartender told me that they still sometimes cram in 2 or 3 musicians for live music; as you can see from the photos on the web page those must be very intimate performances.
Chokuritsu Enjin is the kind of jazz bar that simply doesn’t exist anymore anywhere in the world, EXCEPT for Japan. I recommend the trek out to distant, gritty Kamata for a few drinks here, followed by some yakitori at one of the numerous izakaya on ‘Bourbon Road’ along the tracks. Photos here at tokyojazzjoints.com
Size
1-10
Directions link
Directions
Station: JR Kamata
Exit: West Exit
Distance from station: 6-9
Date published
06/03/2014 UPDATED June 2015
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Jazz Pepe is as old school as it gets. Opened in 1969 by the now 77 year old Okuma-san, Pepe is a...
Shinjuku 2-12-4, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-0022 14.27 km
The Pit Inn remains near, or at the top, of any list of live jazz venues in the Tokyo area. 2015 ...
Shinjuku-Ku, 3-chome 8-5 14.3 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...
Watanabe Bldg B2 Ginza 8-6-19 14.31 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 14.31 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 14.31 km
03-3220-127503-3220-1275
吐夢 (Pronounced “To-mu” or just “Tom”) is unique in a couple of ways. ...
Asagaya 3-37 14.31 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 14.31 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 14.31 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 14.31 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 14.31 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...
Chome 34-8, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 14.32 km
03-3359-677703-3359-6777
Someday is a nice, spacious club in Shinjuku, well known for their various big band and Latin jaz...
1-19-11 B1F Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku 14.33 km
03-3351-485603-3351-4856
Jazz Tweeter was opened a couple of years ago by long-time hotel restaurant chef Ishizuka-san. He...
3-26-2 Shinjuku Shinjuku Tokyo 14.4 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...
FS Bldg 4F, 3-20-6 Shinjuku 14.56 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. ...
3 Chome−22, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 14.61 km
Jazz Room Stick is a great old jazz joint in the heart of Shinjuku, located almost directly beh...
Nishi-shinjuku 1-4-20, Shinjuku-Ku 14.61 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...
1 Chome−1−10, Kabukicho, Shinjuku 14.64 km
How can I describe this place? It’s small, dark and old; owner Otsuka-san was surly and u...
Ebisu Kaikan Bldg, 4F Kabukicho 1-10-5. Shinjuku, Tokyo 14.65 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 14.65 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 14.65 km
03-3354-033503-3354-0335
Old basement club, lots of vocalists on the schedule. Mellow vibe and not too expensive.
Maruha Bldg. B1, 1-1-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku 14.68 km
03-3204-202803-3204-2028
NOTE: Now Bar Clarisse’s, still with a lot of bourbon! 200 types of Bourbon, cool jazz play...
Kashiwagi Mura2 7-20-12, Nishi-Shinjuku 14.69 km
Swanky live club, heavy on the vocalists. Enjoyable but a bit soft for my tastes. It’s the ...
2F, 1 Chome−13−6, Kabukicho, Shinjuku 14.75 km
I found this tiny gem of a jazz cafe amidst the chaos that is Kabukicho in Shinjuku. It is a smal...
Daikan Plaza B-306, 7-10-17 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku 14.79 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...
Sumiyoshi-cho 6-7-6, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi 14.8 km
Kamome means “seagull” in Japanese; it’s an apt name for a venue in the port ...
5-60 Sumiyoshicho, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0013 14.81 km
045-641-9191045-641-9191
Located in the in historic Bashamichi area of downtown Yokohama, Airegin is one of the best live ...
Yokohama-shi, Naka-ku, Yamashita-cho 276, Hamada-Bldg 1F 14.86 km
JULY 2022: Minton House has been under threat of closure the last two years, and the owner is sti...
Miyamoto Bldg, 2F 1-43 Hanasakicho, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi 14.9 km
Downbeat in Yokohama is one of the classic jazz spots in the entire Kanto (Tokyo Metropolitan) ...
Japan, 〒231-0023 Kanagawa-ken, Yokohama-shi, Naka-ku, Yamashitachō, 巴里堂ビル 14.93 km
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...
1-11 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda 14.96 km
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...
Fujimi Yoshida Bldg. B1, Fujimi 2-2-11, Chiyoda 14.96 km
Cafe Ragtime has live music every Thursday and Friday nights, usually piano and sax or vocalist d...
2-24 Jimbocho Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku 14.96 km
Kissa Ko is one of the older cafes in town but had a facelift in 2012 so now has an all new decor...
2F 1-52-1 Jimbocho, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku 14.96 km
03-3294-362103-3294-3621
All used records (and a few CDs) here with vocals & swing jazz being the specialty. Lots of o...
Hanasaki-cho 1-16-1, Naka-ku, Yokohama-Shi 14.96 km
045-231-0773045-231-0773
Jazz House Five Star Records is a unique little place in the Noge neighborhood, next to Sakurag...
2-94 Noge-cho Naka-ku, Yokohama,Kanagawa 231-0064 14.97 km
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...
スズノビル1F, 3 Chome-2-10 Honchō, Nakano-ku 15.02 km
03-3372-347103-3372-3471
Genius was one of Shibuya’s more famous jazz cafes for more than 20 years before increasing...
3-9 Yoshida-cho, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi 15.08 km
045-251-2131045-251-2131
Little John is a well known jazz bar/tiny club in the Yokohama scene, yet its erratic opening hou...
3-11 Yoshidamachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken 231-0041, Japan 15.1 km
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...
Ogawamachi 3-24, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku 15.13 km
03-3259-005503-3259-0055
Jazz Olympus was opened by the very friendly Komatsu-san in 2009. It’s a sleek cafe/bar t...
1 Chome-6-21 Higashiikuta, Tama-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa-ken 214-0031, Japan 15.14 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...
2F 3-20-13 2F, Ogawamachi, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku 15.2 km
03-5577-482603-5577-4826
Grauers is a new cafe/bar opened August, 2011. Owner Furusho Shinjiro is a long time jazz journal...
2 Chome-17 Kanda Tsukasamachi Chiyoda-ku 15.22 km
Jazz Bar Gugan is a small bar in the east side of Tokyo, near both the Ochanomizu and Jimbocho ...
30 Konya-Cho, Kanda, Chiyoda-Ku 15.25 km
03-3252-498203-3252-4982
Root Down moved down the street just 30 meters from it’s original spot, it’s now Tō...
Suehiro-Cho 2-5, Naka-Ku, Yokohama-Shi 15.28 km
Yoidore Hakushaku (よいどれ伯爵-the name translates as “The Drunken Earl or The Drunken C...
Japan, 〒101-0051 Tōkyō-to, Chiyoda-ku, Kanda Jinbōchō, 1 Chome−2−9 ウェルスビル 15.36 km
The Adirondack Cafe is a unique jazz cafe and bar just off the main road through the Jinbocho are...
231-0033 横浜市中区長者町 9-140 15.48 km
First is an old-school Yokohama jazz bar with a vibe and sound all its own. It’s more spaci...
1-14 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku 15.54 km
03-3267-842303-3267-8423
UPDATE: Found out just yesterday that the lovely Matsuura-san passed away just about two years ag...
2 Chome−1−10, Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku 15.72 km
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...
New Gold Bldg, 2F, 3-6-10 Shinjuku-Ku 15.74 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,...
4 Chome−3−1, Higashinakano, Nakano 16.28 km
03-3365-057203-3365-0572
Neighborhood cafe/bar/small live club. This is the kind of place you really only find in Japan; i...