The tourist boom in Japan shows no sign of ending, with the number of visitors only set to increase in the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Whether for bulk shopping, temple visiting or sushi-counter hopping, Tokyo and surrounding neighborhoods have endless adventures just waiting to be discovered. This goes doubly for serious music fans, especially those looking to dive into the local jazz scene.
While central Tokyo has world-famous live clubs like the Blue Note Tokyo, Cotton Club and Body & Soul, a few short train rides outside the center can bring you to a number of spectacularly authentic and swinging jazz cafes, bars and live spaces. Although spoken English is limited at these spots, the owners are all extremely welcoming and appreciative of foreign customers making the effort to come by. Here are five locations a little off the beaten path, but ones that any music fan should make time for.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.