Best live music venues and DJ bars in Tokyo

What is it? Just the go-to venue for Tokyo’s rising indie acts since 2009, founded by Hitoshi Nishimura, former manager of the legendary Shelter in Shimokitazawa.

Why we love it: Fever feels more like a cultural commons than a conventional club. The space opens into a roomy entrance hall that connects to Pootle, a Vietnamese-inspired fried chicken joint which doubles as a café and gallery. The venue itself is a 300-capacity black box – maybe 350 if you really pack it in. With a low stage and a slightly sloped floor, the room offers a solid view of the performance from just about anywhere. Though it’s a cornerstone of Tokyo’s indie music scene, Fever has also hosted bigger names like MJ Lenderman, toe, Galileo Galilei, Foxing and many more. They keep things eclectic with a no-genre booking policy, so there’s truly something for everyone.

Time Out tip: Don’t skip the bar in the main room – it’s stocked with dangerously cheap drinks and American chips like Lays and Fritos.

What is it? A 150-capacity club that’s quickly become a crucial node in the city’s nightlife circuit since opening its doors in 2022. Enter is produced by Global Hearts, the team behind the much-missed Contact and Sound Museum Vision.

Why we love it: Besides its airtight sound system, lifted straight from Contact’s storied Studio X? The layout. The DJ booth is planted right in the middle of the dance floor, dissolving the usual distance between performer and crowd and creating a truly immersive, all-around-you experience. Each corner of the room is fitted with high-end speakers and a Meyer Sound subwoofer, making the space feel less like a club and more like a finely tuned instrument. It’s built for those who really want to listen, not just be seen.

Time Out tip: If you’ve already been to DJ Bar Bridge or DJ Bar Wrep, showing your wristband from either of those venues gets you into Enter for free (for that night, that is).

What is it? Two of Shimokitazawa’s most stalwart indie clubs, set below a liquor store and a doctor’s clinic in a nondescript building on Chazawa Dori and featuring a variety of up-and-coming domestic and international artists.

Why we love it: Shimokita is home to countless small, underground venues, but few have been as significant to the district’s music scene as these two local institutions. Basement Bar has an unassuming charm that ensures nothing pulls focus from the artists performing. With cheap drinks, upbeat staff and a packed schedule of indie, punk and rock music, you can pretty much wander in on any night of the week and discover your new favourite local band. Three is more segmented, often hosting events that feature DJs in the lounge and live acts on stage. It serves as a more multi-purpose, multi-genre venue where you can expect to catch experimental jazz, rockabilly and hip hop as much as indie and punk.

Time Out tip: Three has limited sight lines, so be sure to pack into the small stagefront area to get a good view of the bands.

What is it? A fever dream come to life, built by club heads and car enthusiasts, tucked away in a creaky three-storey walk-up in Asagaya.

Why we love it: With a capacity of just 80, Drift is small enough to feel like a secret, but its personality roars louder than venues twice its size. At the centre of it all is a DJ booth styled like the front of a street racer, headlights and all, with turntables where the dashboard would be. Behind it, a massive projector splashes light and visuals across the space, lending cinematic energy to a tightly packed dance floor. Oil drums double as bar tables, adding to the garage-meets-club spirit that makes Drift feel like a DIY shrine to movement, mischief and music.

Time Out tip: If you’re after a place that embodies Tokyo’s underground in its most joyfully chaotic form, this is a safe choice.

What is it? A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it basement club located in a quiet corner of Shinjuku that’s earned a near-mythical reputation among Tokyo’s most dedicated heads.

Why we love it: Though small and dimly lit, it’s one of the city’s most vital incubators for cutting-edge sound – a place where forward-thinking DJs and experimental live acts come to test boundaries. The venue itself is intimate but surprisingly roomy. With moving lights, moody candlelight and a finely tuned sound system, the floor has a dark, enveloping presence – perfect for losing yourself to techno, house, hip hop or whatever genre is on the menu that night. Programming is sporadic but strong: if someone in Tokyo’s underground wants to try something bold, weird or sonically intense, chances are they’re doing it at Space.

Time Out tip: Check their Instagram or Google Maps page before visiting since hours vary by the event. And bring earplugs: the volume leans heavy.

What is it? Near Koiwa Station in Tokyo’s easternmost Edogawa ward, Bushbash has been keeping the area’s music scene alive since 2009. It’s since built a name for itself as a go-to venue for hardcore, metal, punk, hip hop and experimental artists.

Why we love it: Blast beats, pig squeals and spontaneous circle pits, Bushbash’s live room couldn’t contrast more with the tranquil Showa-era shopping street just outside its doors. The wood cabin-like space sits to the right of a lounge area, which also serves as a dancefloor, merch stand and place to rest your eardrums and grab a drink between bands. The live room fits around 100 and is serviced by speakers that can only be described as unconscionably large for a space of this size. In contrast, the lighting is decidedly modest, with four hanging bulbs and two tiny spots aimed at the stage. Just enough to make sure you can see the band – and any stray limbs that come your way when the pit suddenly opens up.

Time Out tip: Drinks are reasonably priced, averaging around ¥600 to ¥700, and the selection generally includes a range of craft beers, sake, shochu, sours and cocktails. Bring earplugs.

What is it? A brushed-metal hideaway beneath the train tracks in Nakameguro, Hven isn’t just a music bar; it’s a platform for crossover culture.

Why we love it: The entrance alone, a long corridor running alongside the railway, sets the tone: You’re stepping out of the city and into something else entirely. Inside, things centre on a compact dance floor and a powerful sound system pumping out house, techno or the occasional hip hop set. But most people end up flowing between the rooms – chilling in the lounge where the music still plays but at a less intense volume, or drifting out to the smoking patio under the night sky. Besides great music, expect contemporary art, eclectic live performances and experimental showcases. At a time when Tokyo’s creative scene feels like it’s on the cusp of change, Hven offers something rare – a shelter, a bridge, a pulse.

Time Out tip: The terrace in front of the venue is open from 11am to 7pm daily, serving up a selection of drinks plus bar-shaped rare cheesecakes made with seasonal fruit.

What is it? A cornerstone of Shibuya’s genre-fluid nightlife since its launch in 2010, founded by the creative team behind the Tokyo-based label and event collective of the same name.

Why we love it: This venue is noted for its high-quality sound systems, including Funktion One speakers in the basement lounge, WWW B, which caters to techno and alternative electronic music enthusiasts. The programming reflects a commitment to diversity and innovation, with events ranging from local and international gigs to DJ sets and multimedia art installations. The original ground-floor venue offers an intimate setting with a capacity of approximately 250, while WWW X on the second floor of the same building accommodates around 500.

Time Out tip: The tiered floor and high ceiling at the original WWW hint at its previous incarnation – an arthouse cinema – while ensuring that even the shortest audience members can see what’s happening on the stage.

What is it? A two-level space with a small live room downstairs and a relatively roomy bar area upstairs, Moonstep is just about as synonymous with Nakano’s live music scene as you can get.

Why we love it: Like the neighbourhood itself, the venue boasts a laid-back, unpretentious vibe that has a way of making you feel at home, and its wooden floors and low ceilings feel strangely familiar. The Moonstep team regularly collaborates with independent labels and promoters, and more often than not, you’ll see supportive locals make it out early for the opening artists. The downstairs room fits around 100 and has a surprisingly punchy sound system. With most of the crowd moving to the front of the room for the bands, the modest height of the stage adds an extra layer of intimacy to the homey live house. Up the creaky stairwell, the multi-purpose pub area has a long bar counter, a DJ booth, merch tables and affordable drinks.

Time Out tip: As the bands wrap up downstairs, Moonstep will usually have DJs and producers performing upstairs into the night. So grab a drink, stick around and make some new friends.

What is it? A plush rock n’ roll lounge bar in Roppongi with a menu of over 200 classic rock and pop tracks that the staff – the stars of the show – know like the back of their respective dexterous hands.

Why we love it: For nearly 45 years, Bauhaus has answered the age-old question, ‘What if a bar was run by musicians who all shred really, really hard?’ As you walk in, you’ll pay for your ticket, be shown to your seat, buy a drink from the bar, and before you know it, everyone you just interacted with will be absolutely crushing it on stage. All guests are provided a copy of the track list and a piece of paper to write requests on. Each night features five 30-minute sets, with just the right amount of banter and crowd engagement in English and Japanese. Despite the ostensibly corny nature of the whole premise, Bauhaus manages to pull it off without coming off as cheesy. It knows exactly what it’s doing and manages to do it with all the earnest flair of a 10-minute extended ‘Free Bird’ solo.

Time Out tip: On top of everything else, they’ve got a pretty good food and drinks menu, with pizza, buffalo wings, nachos and signature cocktails.