Harajuku & Aoyama
Like sister clubs in New York and Milan, Blue Note Tokyo books the biggest international names in jazz, as well as local talent. This is a well-heeled…
Must-see entertainment in Japan
Tokyo
This is an attractive, intimate venue, sunk deep so the ceiling feels refreshingly high for a Tokyo basement venue. The line-up is jazz, but that's a wide…
Asakusa & Sumida River
Asakusa was once full of theatres like this one, where traditional rakugo (comedic monologues) and other forms of comedy are performed. There are also…
Kōbe
Sone is Kōbe's go-to spot for jazz (since 1969) and gathers four acts, of mostly Kansai-area artists, each night. The look is a bit old-timey Viennese…
Central Honshū
Although it's a touristy 30-minute show, this is a unique opportunity to see yumomi, in which local women stir the waters to cool them while singing folk…
Ebisu, Meguro & Around
When this storied concert hall moved to Ebisu from seedy Kabukichō, it cleaned up its act – but not its line-up. Liquid Room is still a great place to…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
We love Three's mission to make live music more accessible in Tokyo: it hosts 10 free events a month (otherwise they average around ¥2000). The line-up is…
Ginza & Tsukiji
This venerable group specialising in nō dramas relocated to the bowels of the Ginza Six shopping complex in 2017. The theatre seats 48; if you haven't…
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
This beautiful, oak-panelled, A-frame concert hall, with legendary acoustics, hosts the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra among other well-regarded ensembles…
Tokyo University of the Arts Performing Arts Center
Ueno & Yanesen
With its stage dominated by a French Garnier Organ and a ceiling that can be moved to create optimum acoustics, the university's intimate hall is a superb…
Imperial Palace & Around
This is Kyoto’s main classical-music venue, along with ROHM Theatre. It’s a lovely hall with excellent acoustics and it never fails to draw an…
Osaka
Also known as Osaka Dome, this futuristic stadium is home to the Orix Buffaloes baseball team. While the Buffaloes may not have the following of the…
Yokohama
Jazz kissa, which fall somewhere between cafes and bars, boast extensive jazz-record collections. This is one of the oldest (1956) in Yokohama, with more…
Tokyo
You’re more likely to hear contemporary international jazz stars here than musicians harking back to the 1920s New York club it honours. Also on the…
Tokyo
This practice and performance space is run by one of Japan's most active butō (a contemporary dance style) troupes, Dairakudakan ('Big Camel Ship'). It's…
Osaka
This much-loved live house is an Osaka institution and favours Japanese punk rock and experimental noise bands; check the website for the gig schedule…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
In the basement of a building with a guitar shop and recording studios, this small venue (capacity 230) is a long-running favourite with Tokyo's indie…
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
As well as live performances and a variety of Japanese and international acts, this 920-seat capacity theatre is also used for drama, musicals and as a…
Osaka
Looking like an office with the inner walls ripped out (which is entirely likely), Hokage seems to be made for its rock, punk and noise bands. It's a…
Northern Higashiyama
Housed in a striking modernist building, ROHM Theatre hosts everything from international ballet and opera performances to comedy shows, classical music…
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
This glitzy amphitheatre-like space plays host to major foreign talent as well as Japanese jazz, soul and rock groups who all come in to shake the rafters…
Nagoya
An intimate live venue showcasing the underground music scene in a cool, post-industrial setting. Nationally known bands play the 1st-floor hall, while up…
Nagoya
One of six annual sumo championship tournaments, Nagoya Basho is held over two weeks in July at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. Arrive early in the afternoon…
Yokohama
Up a flight of stairs, this atmospheric little live-music venue has been swinging since 1969. Run by a jazz-loving couple, the cluttered space draws a…
Imperial Palace & Around
Jittoku is located in an atmospheric old sakagura (sake brewery). It plays host to a variety of shows – check Kansai Scene to see what’s on. It also…
Yokohama
Intimate British-themed rock cafe-bar, run by Japanese rockers, with live bands or DJs most evenings (check website for schedule) and English ales and…
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
This hip jazz club often features local and European talent, as well as healthy doses of Latin jazz. Shows start at 7.30pm and 9.15pm.
Nagoya
If you're into jazz, big band or blues, you're likely to find your fancy at this long-standing Nagoyan institution.
Hokkaidō
There are several shows daily of traditional singing and dancing at this theatre inside the Ainu kotan.
Ishikawa Prefectural Nō Theatre
Kanazawa
Nō theatre is alive and well in Kanazawa. Weekly performances take place here in summer.
Downtown Kyoto
Geisha dances from 1 to 24 May at Ponto-chō Kaburen-jō Theatre in Ponto-chō.
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
This is one of the very few remaining yose (vaudeville) theatres in Tokyo. Shows feature over a dozen acts, many of which are rakugo (comedic monologue)…
Southern Higashiyama
Gion Corner presents one-hour shows that include a bit of tea ceremony, koto (Japanese zither) music, ikebana (art of flower arranging), gagaku (court…
Southern Higashiyama
This is a new spot hosting maiko shows for small groups in a modern building. It includes a bit of tea ceremony, two short dances, conversation time and…
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
Next to a cemetery off Roppongi’s main drag, cheeky Kingyo puts on a glitzy, colourful and sexually tame cabaret of pretty boys, glammed-up nyū hāfu …
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
This little club – which gives away a quarter of its floor space to a grand piano – is a gathering spot for local musicians who come for the nearly…
Hiroshima
Performers in Mōri-clan samurai costumes give small shows of song and swordplay inside the south entrance of Hiroshima-jo every Sunday at 1.30pm and 3pm…
Tokyo
Meiji-za got its start as an open-air kabuki theatre in the late 19th century. Today it's a modern theatre hosting comedic performances, old-school…
Ginza & Tsukiji
As well as operating Tokyo's premier kabuki theatre Kabukiza, Shōchiku stages traditional theatre here. This venue dates from 1982 and is also used for…
Osaka
A five-minute walk east of Hankyū Umeda Station, this theatre stages nō (stylised dance-drama) performances a few times each month. Look for the relief of…
