{"id":2065,"date":"2026-10-19T13:58:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T13:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/?p=2065"},"modified":"2026-10-19T13:58:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T13:58:33","slug":"live-music-in-tokyo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/fr\/live-music-in-tokyo\/","title":{"rendered":"Live Music Tokyo Guide 2026\u201327: 13 Live Houses, Halls and Concerts in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"

The best live music in Tokyo is in its live houses: small clubs such as Shimokitazawa Shelter and Shibuya WWW, where most tickets cost about \u00a53,500 to \u00a55,500 plus a drink charge of around \u00a5600. Big concerts at Tokyo Dome or the Budokan sell mostly by lottery, so plan weeks ahead and bring the photo ID that matches the name on your ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This hub covers how concert tickets work in Japan, live-house rules, 13 venues in Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka and Kyoto with checked prices and stations, jazz kissa, festival dates and a calendar of big shows from November 2026 to March 2027. Everything here was checked on 19 October 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u00a53,500\u2013\u00a55,500<\/p>

Typical live-house ticket (plus drink)<\/p><\/div>

\u00a5600<\/p>

Drink charge at WWW and Zepp (WWW \u00a5700 from 8 Jan 2027)<\/p><\/div>

From \u00a59,800<\/p>

Tokyo Dome standard seat, 2027 tours<\/p><\/div>

Apr 2027<\/p>

Saitama Super Arena reopens<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n

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\"Live
A live show in Tokyo. Photo: Heshan Perera<\/a> \/ Unsplash, Unsplash License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

How does live music in Tokyo work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Japan has four tiers of live music, and each sells tickets differently. For a visitor, the smaller the room, the easier it is to get in: live music in Tokyo is easiest to see on a weeknight at a live house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type<\/th>Examples<\/th>Typical ticket (2026)<\/th>How you book<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Live house<\/td>Shelter, WWW, Liquidroom, Big Cat<\/td>\u00a53,000\u2013\u00a59,500 plus a drink<\/td>e+, Pia, Lawson Ticket or the venue; often first come, first served<\/td><\/tr>
Jazz club or supper club<\/td>Pit Inn, Blue Note Tokyo, Billboard Live<\/td>\u00a53,300 (Pit Inn, drink included) to about \u00a519,000<\/td>Venue website or phone<\/td><\/tr>
Arena or dome<\/td>Budokan, K-Arena Yokohama, Tokyo Dome<\/td>\u00a59,800\u2013\u00a529,800 for standard seats; VIP up to \u00a5149,800<\/td>Fan-club and lottery presales, then general sale<\/td><\/tr>
Festival<\/td>Fuji Rock, Summer Sonic, Countdown Japan<\/td>Varies by day and ticket type<\/td>Lottery presales on the festival site or app<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Prices in the table come from the venues’ and promoters’ own October 2026 listings, quoted further down. Live houses also charge a drink fee at the door, so add \u00a5500 to \u00a5700 to every small-venue ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you get tickets for concerts in Japan?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For big J-pop, K-pop and international tours, tickets go in waves: fan-club lottery first, then presale lotteries on ticket sites, then a general sale for whatever is left. We explain lotteries, konbini payment and the 2019 resale law in our guide to sumo and event tickets in Japan<\/a>, so this section sticks to what is specific to music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four ticket sites you will meet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Site<\/th>What to know as a visitor<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
e+ (eplus)<\/a><\/td>Has a separate English site for concerts, festivals and stage shows. On the Japanese site, some listings now ask for face-photo pre-registration and companion pre-registration before you apply, and many use the “Smart Ticket” phone e-ticket.<\/td><\/tr>
Ticket Pia<\/a><\/td>Multilingual menus. Since 1 October 2025, a purchase or lottery entry can fail if the name on your card does not match your Pia account, because of stricter 3D Secure checks.<\/td><\/tr>
Lawson Ticket<\/a><\/td>From overseas you can only buy general-sale tickets, you cannot register a membership, and foreign cards may be refused.<\/td><\/tr>
Rakuten Ticket<\/a><\/td>Sells concerts, stage shows and sport, and takes Rakuten Points. The site is in Japanese. Some live-house shows sell only here: one October 2026 show at WWW listed Rakuten Ticket as its only outlet.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Small venues often sell directly too. Shimokitazawa Club Que sells advance tickets at its own counter from 16:00 to 22:00, Kyoto’s Taku Taku takes email reservations, and Shinjuku Pit Inn takes bookings by phone, in person or through a form on each show page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you buy concert tickets from overseas?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes. The clearest route is an English page from the promoter: Live Nation H.I.P., which promotes Maroon 5 and Bruno Mars in Japan, publishes English event pages<\/a> alongside the Japanese ones. Fuji Rock has an English site<\/a>. For K-pop and J-pop tours, check the artist’s official Japanese site for an overseas sales notice and use only the link it gives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If no overseas route exists, a general sale on e+ or Lawson Ticket’s English pages is your best chance. Be ready on the release day: the general sale for Maroon 5 at Tokyo Dome opened on 31 October at 10:00 JST, and the first night was already sold out when we checked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ID checks and resale rules for big shows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Expect your name on the ticket and a photo-ID check. Live Nation H.I.P.’s 2027 tour pages say staff may check ID at the gate or at your seat, copies of ID are not accepted, and the name must match the person attending. For visitors, that means your passport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tickets bought on viagogo, StubHub or social media may be refused at the door, according to the same pages, and official resale for both tours was still “undecided”. Smaller venues are just as strict: Shelter’s 35th-anniversary tickets were valid only for the buyer, and companions had to enter with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the rules inside a Japanese live house?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A live house (raibu hausu) is a small standing venue with a bar and a proper PA system. The rules are consistent across the city, and nobody will explain them in English at the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drink charge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You pay a drink fee in cash at the door and get a token to swap at the bar. It is \u00a5600 at Zepp halls<\/a>, and WWW in Shibuya<\/a> raises its fee from \u00a5600 to \u00a5700 for shows from 8 January 2027. Osaka’s Big Cat collects its drink fee in cash only, and outside food and drink are banned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entry order by ticket number<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Standing tickets usually carry an entry number (seiri bang\u014d, \u6574\u7406\u756a\u53f7), and you queue and enter in that order. Zepp warns that your number may no longer count if you turn up after doors open. Some shows sell priority tickets: one October 2026 show at WWW charged \u00a510,000 for priority entry against \u00a53,500 for general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doors, lockers and late shows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

“Open” is doors and “start” is the first band, usually 30 to 45 minutes later; Shelter’s weekday shows open at 19:00 and start at 19:30. Lockers are hit and miss: Big Cat has about 200 in its lobby, usable after doors open, while a 2020 venue guide lists Shelter with none. Late-night events have age limits, and WWW admits only over-20s with photo ID after 22:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos and phones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Assume no photos or recording during the set unless the artist or venue says otherwise. Blue Note Tokyo, for example, allows photos before and after shows but bans unauthorised photos, audio and video during them.<\/p>\n\n\n

Informez-vous avant de partir<\/p>

Carry cash<\/p>

Drink charges are cash-only at many venues. Have coins ready so you do not hold up the queue.<\/p><\/div>

Bring your passport<\/p>

Big tours check photo ID against the name on the ticket. Copies are not accepted.<\/p><\/div>

Arrive before doors<\/p>

Your entry number may not count if you arrive after doors open.<\/p><\/div>

Travel light<\/p>

Lockers are limited or missing at small venues. Leave big bags at your hotel.<\/p><\/div>

Watch the opener<\/p>

Multi-band bills start on time, and the first act is often the one you will remember.<\/p><\/div>

Check the last train<\/p>

Weeknight gigs often start at 19:00 or 19:30. Look up your last train home before the encore.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Live music Tokyo venues: the 13 best in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These 13 venues cover every budget, from a \u00a51,430 morning jazz session to a dome show. Prices are the range we found on each venue’s or promoter’s listings for 2026 shows; the drink charge is extra unless we say so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venue<\/th>Zone<\/th>Nearest station<\/th>Typical ticket<\/th>Official site<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Shimokitazawa Shelter<\/td>Shimokitazawa, Tokyo<\/td>Shimokitazawa, east side, about 3 min<\/td>\u00a54,000\u2013\u00a55,500 + drink<\/td>loft-prj.co.jp<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
WWW \/ WWW X<\/td>Udagawacho, Shibuya<\/td>Shibuya (Hachiko Exit), 7 min<\/td>\u00a53,500\u2013\u00a512,000 + drink<\/td>www-shibuya.jp<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Club Quattro Shibuya<\/td>Udagawacho, Shibuya<\/td>Shibuya<\/td>\u00a55,500\u2013\u00a57,500 + drink<\/td>club-quattro.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Liquidroom<\/td>Higashi, Ebisu<\/td>Ebisu (JR West Exit or Hibiya Line Exit 2), 3 min<\/td>\u00a53,500\u2013\u00a59,500 + drink<\/td>liquidroom.net<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Shinjuku Pit Inn<\/td>Shinjuku 2-chome<\/td>Shinjuku-sanchome, a short walk<\/td>\u00a51,430 (morning) to \u00a53,300+ (evening), drink included<\/td>pit-inn.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Blue Note Tokyo<\/td>Minami-Aoyama<\/td>Omotesando, about 8 min<\/td>\u00a511,000\u2013\u00a516,500 (Kenny Barron, Nov 2026); food extra<\/td>bluenote.co.jp<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Billboard Live Tokyo<\/td>Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi<\/td>Roppongi (Oedo Line Exit 8, direct)<\/td>\u00a56,400\u2013\u00a518,900<\/td>billboard-live.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Big Cat<\/td>Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Osaka<\/td>Shinsaibashi (Exit 7), about 3 min<\/td>\u00a53,000\u2013\u00a59,500 + drink<\/td>bigcat-live.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Billboard Live Osaka<\/td>Nishi-Umeda, Osaka<\/td>Nishi-Umeda area (Harbis Plaza ENT)<\/td>\u00a56,400\u2013\u00a518,900<\/td>billboard-live.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Taku Taku<\/td>Shimogyo, Kyoto<\/td>Kawaramachi (Hankyu, Exit 11), 3 min<\/td>\u00a53,000\u2013\u00a53,500<\/td>takutaku.jp<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Nippon Budokan<\/td>Kitanomaru Park, Tokyo<\/td>Kudanshita (Exit 2), 5 min<\/td>\u00a510,500\u2013\u00a512,500 (2026 tours)<\/td>nipponbudokan.or.jp<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Tokyo Dome<\/td>Suidobashi, Tokyo<\/td>Suidobashi (JR) or Korakuen (Metro)<\/td>\u00a59,800\u2013\u00a529,800; VIP to \u00a5149,800<\/td>tokyo-dome.co.jp<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
K-Arena Yokohama<\/td>Minatomirai, Yokohama<\/td>Shin-Takashima (Exit 4), 5 min; Yokohama (East Exit), 9 min<\/td>\u00a59,900 (Kenshi Yonezu, Nov 2026)<\/td>k-arena.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n

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\"Nippon
Nippon Budokan, Kitanomaru Park. Photo: Morio<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

Shimokitazawa and Shibuya live houses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shelter turned 35 in 2026 and spent October celebrating with a month of anniversary shows. It holds around 250 people, so popular nights sell out; Club Que, a basement venue about three minutes from the same station, runs a similar indie and punk calendar. Pair either with our Shimokitazawa guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shibuya has the densest cluster of live music in Tokyo. WWW is the basement room and WWW X the second-floor room of the same building, with a club space (WWW\u03b2) for late events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Club Quattro is on the 4th floor in Udagawacho and books overseas indie acts: its June 2026 Holy Tongue show was \u00a56,900 advance. Liquidroom in Ebisu ran almost nightly in October 2026, with most tickets between \u00a54,000 and \u00a57,900.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jazz and supper clubs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shinjuku Pit Inn opened on 24 December 1965 and is Tokyo’s straight-ahead jazz institution. It runs up to three sessions a day: mornings for \u00a51,430, afternoons for \u00a52,200 (\u00a52,750 at weekends), and evenings from \u00a53,300, each with one drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Note Tokyo seats you by booking order, not arrival time, and food and drink are paid separately. Billboard Live, in Roppongi, Osaka and Yokohama, splits its rooms into reserved seats and cheaper “casual” seats; in October 2026, Kamasi Washington was \u00a518,000 (S seat) in Tokyo and JAY’ED \u00a56,400 (casual).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Osaka and Kyoto<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Big Cat is on the 4th floor of the BIGSTEP building in Amerikamura, a short walk from our Namba guide<\/a> area. In Kyoto, Taku Taku has been running since 1974 in a converted sake storehouse; it is about 10 minutes’ walk from the area in our Gion-Shijo station guide<\/a>, and its bar sells drinks from \u00a5500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arenas and domes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Nippon Budokan seats 14,471 and has no visitor parking, so take the train. Tokyo Dome is fully cashless inside, which matters if your card is foreign: bring a contactless card or a Suica-type IC card. K-Arena Yokohama, opened in 2023, holds 20,000 with every seat facing the stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One big gap: Saitama Super Arena has been closed for renovation since 13 January 2026. It is due to reopen in April 2027, and it has used the naming-rights name GMO Arena Saitama since April 2026, so look for that name on 2027 tickets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where can you find jazz kissa and listening bars in Tokyo?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For quieter live music in Tokyo, or no live band at all, try a jazz kissa. It is a caf\u00e9 built around a record collection and a serious sound system, where you order a drink and listen. Talk quietly, and do not ask for requests unless the shop says it takes them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Place<\/th>Zone<\/th>Since<\/th>Good to know<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Eagle (\u3044\u30fc\u3050\u308b)<\/td>Yotsuya, 3 min from Yotsuya Station<\/td>1967<\/td>Caf\u00e9 by day, bar after 18:00; closed Sundays and holidays<\/td><\/tr>
Jazz Inn Uncle Tom<\/td>Sangenjaya, about 5 min from the station<\/td>1977<\/td>Opens 19:00, closed Sundays; no song requests<\/td><\/tr>
Meikyoku Kissa Lion<\/td>Dogenzaka, Shibuya, about 10 min from Shibuya Station<\/td>1926<\/td>Classical, not jazz; 13:00\u201320:00, record concerts at 15:00 and 19:00<\/td><\/tr>
JBS (Jazz Blues Soul)<\/td>Dogenzaka, Shibuya<\/td>\u2014<\/td>Tiny listening bar with over 11,000 records<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Two famous names are gone. Shinjuku DUG closed in June 2026 when its building was demolished, and Yokohama’s Chigusa, open since 1933, closed in its original form in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hours at small kissa change often, so check the shop’s social media on the day. For record bars with cocktails, see the listening bars in our best bars in Tokyo<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Entrance
Blue Note Tokyo, Minami-Aoyama. Photo: 663highland<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

Which music festivals are on in Japan in 2026 and 2027?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Japan’s big four festivals are run by different organisers, and each announces next year’s dates on its own schedule. As of 19 October 2026, only Countdown Japan 26\/27 and Japan Jam 2027 have confirmed dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Festival<\/th>Most recent dates<\/th>Where<\/th>2027 status<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Fuji Rock<\/a><\/td>24\u201326 Jul 2026<\/td>Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata<\/td>2027 dates not announced<\/td><\/tr>
Summer Sonic<\/a><\/td>14\u201316 Aug 2026<\/td>ZOZO Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe (Chiba); Expo ’70 Commemorative Park (Osaka)<\/td>2027 dates not announced<\/td><\/tr>
Rock in Japan<\/a><\/td>12\u201313 and 19\u201320 Sep 2026 (21 Sep cancelled)<\/td>Soga Sports Park, Chiba<\/td>2027 dates not announced; sister event Japan Jam runs 1\u20134 May 2027<\/td><\/tr>
Countdown Japan 26\/27<\/a><\/td>26, 27, 29, 30 and 31 Dec 2026<\/td>Makuhari Messe, Chiba<\/td>On sale now<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Countdown Japan 26\/27 has 179 acts on four stages, with ENHYPEN and Maximum the Hormone in the first wave. Presale lotteries run through the J-FES app in several rounds, so check the app for the current round. The New Year’s Eve day starts at 15:40 and runs until 05:00; for other ways to see in 2027, see New Year in Tokyo 2027<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Crowd
Fuji Rock Festival at Naeba (2015). Photo: Kevin Utting<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

Concerts in Japan: November 2026 to March 2027<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond live music in Tokyo, this list includes big shows in Yokohama, Chiba and Osaka. Every show is listed on the venue’s or promoter’s official site. Big dome dates sell out fast, so treat this as a list of what is happening, not what is still available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dates<\/th>Artist or event<\/th>Venue<\/th>Official listing<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
6\u20138 Nov 2026<\/td>Stray Kids World Tour<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
11\u201312 Nov 2026<\/td>Kenshi Yonezu 2026 Tour \/ GHOST<\/td>K-Arena Yokohama<\/td>K-Arena<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
20\u201321 Nov 2026<\/td>Fujii Kaze Piano Recital<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
23\u201325 Nov 2026<\/td>Kenny Barron Trio<\/td>Blue Note Tokyo<\/td>Blue Note<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
1\u20132 Dec 2026<\/td>ENHYPEN World Tour ‘Blood Saga’<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
5\u20136 Dec 2026<\/td>YOASOBI Asia dome and stadium tour<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
6\u20138 Dec 2026<\/td>Lee Ritenour<\/td>Blue Note Tokyo<\/td>Blue Note<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
13\u201315 Dec 2026<\/td>BIGBANG 2026 World Tour<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
19\u201320 Dec 2026<\/td>Fujii Kaze “Prema World Tour”<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
26\u201331 Dec 2026 (not 28th)<\/td>Countdown Japan 26\/27<\/td>Makuhari Messe, Chiba<\/td>Countdown Japan<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
7\u20138 Jan 2027<\/td>TOMORROW X TOGETHER<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
15\u201320 Jan 2027<\/td>Incognito<\/td>Blue Note Tokyo<\/td>Blue Note<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
19\u201320 Jan 2027<\/td>Bruno Mars, The Romantic Tour<\/td>Kyocera Dome Osaka<\/td>Live Nation H.I.P.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
27\u201328 Jan 2027<\/td>Bruno Mars, The Romantic Tour<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/td>Live Nation H.I.P.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
30\u201331 Jan and 2 Feb 2027<\/td>Maroon 5 Asia 2027<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/td>Live Nation H.I.P.<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
6\u20137 Feb 2027<\/td>BUMP OF CHICKEN<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
10\u201311 Feb 2027<\/td>XG World Tour: The Core Final<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
17\u201318 Feb 2027<\/td>King Gnu 10th anniversary “KICKOFF”<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/td>Tokyo Dome<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bruno Mars was listed as sold out for both Tokyo nights, and Maroon 5 for 30 January, on 19 October. Tokyo Dome had not posted any March 2027 events yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is concert etiquette in Japan?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n