The best music spots in Tokyo

As a music city, Tokyo might not have the star power of London or New York, but what it does have is amazing diversity. No matter if it's '60s rock, noise, grime or something even more obscure you're into, somewhere in Tokyo there's a community of people just like you, who might even run shops or gig spots dedicated entirely to their favourite genre. And that's in addition to a thriving indie scene, some of the world's best clubs and scores of record stores stocking everything from vintage vinyl to cassette tapes.

To help you discover Tokyo's musical delights, we've put together this list of the city's very best music spots and divided it into bars and cafés, clubs and gig spots, and record stores. Whether you've just arrived or have lived here all your life, this list should be useful for expanding your musical vistas in Tokyo – a quest that requires neither connections nor (much) money, only an open mind and a passion for sound.

And when you're ready to go out and catch a show, start with our weekly roundup of Tokyo's best club gigs.