Figure 1: Toritoritori trio with Kana Fuefuki (flute, piano), Hitomi Aikawa (melodica, percussion), and Megumi Hattori (vibraphone, piano) at In F in March 2025 Niigata sake, oden, and modern jazz: Congratulations to In F (*) for celebrating 30 years open this year (est. July 17, 1995)! The name In F refers to the key of F of music. Playing a blues in F, or certain other standard tunes in F, is common in jazz. ...

Figure 1: Mamoru Ishida (piano), Kenji Yoshitake (bass), and Minori Yagino (drums) at Thelonious in March 2025 “The World’s Smallest Jazz Club” was a commonly mentioned nickname for the jazz club Hot House in Takadanobaba, Tokyo. But now that that classic spot has closed, this honorable title could be given to the spot named Thelonious, another classic Tokyo haven that is a revered yet extremely down-to-earth jazz bar in Higashi-Nakano. ...

Figure 1: Naoko Akimoto (vocals), Daisei Mii (violin), and Yuichiro Hiraoka (guitar) at Oto-ya Hiroo in January 2025 A markedly different destination in the collection of interesting jazz spots in Tokyo, Oto-ya Hiroo is an open performance space in the Hiroo Plaza shopping mall. The light-filled atrium on the second floor holds daytime jazz events, where a wide stage and folding chairs are set up right next to the mall’s central escalators. ...

Figure 1: JAZZ BAR Nardis CAFÉ Nardis is an excellent jazz spot in Kashiwa in the northwestern part of Chiba Prefecture. Kashiwa is a bit far flung from the core Tokyo neighborhoods and stations but is still considered part of the greater Tokyo area. While this live spot is a bit far compared to other centrally-located options, it is definitely worth the approximately hour-long train trip from Tokyo’s main hubs, and many jazz fans from the Tokyo area gladly make the journey to catch their favorite acts live here. ...

Figure 1: Otonai (訪ヒ) Quartet with Mitsuru Tanaka (trumpet), Fumie Chiba (piano), Yujiro Shimine (bass), and Kaoru Suzuki (drums) at Sunny Side in January 2025 Sunny Side is a neighborhood jazz joint in Takadanobaba, Tokyo, and is a place that feels comfortably familiar whether it’s your first time, tenth time, or returning to visit after a years-long absence. At Sunny Side, jazz performances are delivered in a friendly atmosphere with home-cooked food that includes pasta dishes, fried foods, salads, and Japanese taco rice. ...

Figure 1: Maiko (violin), Yuki Ito (bass), and Shikou Ito (piano) at Strings in February 2025 Strings is a friendly jazz bar in Kichijoji, a popular neighborhood just east of Tokyo’s main center known for its beautiful park, shopping, dining, and rich cultural lifestyle. Kichijoji, besides being an attractive neighborhood in its own right, also hosts the popular and well-known jazz club Sometime, a frequent destination for new and old jazz fans alike. Yet Strings, located a bit off the beaten path, offers its own style and charm for jazz lovers. ...

Figure 1: Stage area at Velvet Sun Velvet Sun is a music spot in the Ogikubo neighborhood off the Chuo train line in Tokyo. This is a train route that has been called the “Jazz Line” for a number of live spots and jazz stops along its stations, such as Kichijoji’s Sometime, Asagaya’s Manhattan, Koenji’s After Hours, Nakano’s Sweet Rain, and Shinjuku’s many great spots like Pit Inn and Polka Dots. ...

Figure 1: Speakers guard the entrance at Jazz Nutty Calling all jazz nuts! Jazz Nutty is a small coffee shop near Waseda University in Tokyo where the jazz records are cranked and the coffee flows hot. The shop name is undoubtedly a tribute to the Thelonious Monk tune “Nutty”, similar to other jazz spots which honor famous musicians, albums, or tunes from jazz history, like the bar Salt Peanuts for example. Also in the legume/nut theme is of course the general jazz vibe of “Peanuts jazz” with Charlie Brown and Snoopy that is ever popular and present this time of year. ...

Figure 1: Fumio Karashima (piano) and Ryu Kawamura (bass) at Naru in May 2007 # shows NARU sign Naru is a classic Tokyo jazz bar that opened in 1969 and has been operating for more than 50 years in the Ochanomizu district. Also going by Ochanomizu Naru or Ocha Naru, this is the sister location to the original Yoyogi Naru location established in 1966. With its renowned history, reputation, and level of excellence, Naru is a mainstay, a magnet for jazz in Japan’s capital city. ...

Figure 1: Ryuichiro Tonozuka (flugelhorn) and Osamu Kawakami (bass) at Someday in December 2008 The jazz bar Someday in the Shinjuku Sanchome (now in Asakusa) nightlife area offers a big stage, a wide-open seating area, and an audiophile’s setup with special custom speakers hanging from the ceiling. You get the sense that the planning for Someday has all been thought out and carefully arranged to provide a satisfying and authentic live jazz experience in an American-style spacious jazz bar setting among the typically cozier Tokyo options. In the same spirit, the kitchen at Someday provides a variety of reasonably-priced snacks and dishes featured in the English-friendly menus, including some specialty rice and meat plates that are pleasant discoveries at this type of jazz bar. ...