Tokyo Jazz Map (東京ジャズ地図)

This is a fantastic new book published by Kotsu Shimbun-sha. As opposed to some other Japanese -language guide books, this one is full of glossy, color photos printed on high-quality paper. It’s divided into four parts: “In Cafe and Bar”, “Pilot of Jazz Street”, “In Live Spot” and “In Record Shop” (those are the actual awkward section titles though all the text is in Japanese).

Although it’s not a fully comprehensive guide it covers many of the best jazz spots in Tokyo as well as several in Yokohama, and it lives up to its name with clear maps in the back pages. Even if you can’t read Japanese this is a guide worth having for the pics and maps alone. At ￥1600 it’s a bargain.