Kohaku Jazz Bar
Great jazz, funk, and more in the middle of Shibuya
Shibuya Brother Building 6F, 17-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo-to, 150-0042
〒150-0042東京都渋谷区宇田川町17-1ブラザービル6F
Sunday to Thursday 19:00 to 2:00
Friday and Saturday 19:00 to 5:00
http://www.udagawacafe.com/kohaku
https://www.instagram.com/kohaku.jazz/
kohaku-booking@ldandk.com
03-6455-0505
A short walk from Shibuya Station. Head to Inokashira-Dori off of Koen-Dori. It’s close to the Loft Building, but the entrance is on Inokashira-Dori. Look for an entrance surrounded by signs of all kinds, slathered over the walls and Loft around the corner up a slope. Stay on the big street and look for some brickwork and the Shibuya Brother Building over an arch. The sign for Kohaku is white with the name written in elegant characters. Take the elevator up to the sixth floor.
Kohaku is an amazing jazz bar smack in the middle of the buzzing, lively tangle of Shibuya. It’s a bit hard to find, even though it’s centrally located, a short walk from Shibuya Station. Once you exit the elevator into the sleek space, you’ll unwind immediately. It’s that kind of place—a bar’s bar. It’s one of the newer live jazz spots in Tokyo, opened in 2019, but it’s already become a mainstay.
The sound is excellent, though you don’t need miking to hear the instruments. Seats are very comfortable, though seats and tables are fairly packed in, like many places in Tokyo. That’s as it should be, though, because everyone is there to hear the live music together. Food options are good, though not extensive. It’s probably easier to eat in the million-or-so choices in Shibuya, either before or after, if you want a full meal.
Drinks, though, are outstanding. Cocktails are creatively and expertly made, with an extensive list of all kinds of top-shelf alcohol. They know their drinks.
Live music is on offer almost every night, with only occasional nights off. There are typically two sets: the first starting around 7:30 or 8:00, and the second starting at a flexible time afterward. It’s a looser place than most, in all the best ways. The starting time varies, so it’s good to check ahead. The music charge ranges from Y1,000 to Y3,500 for established musicians. That’s still rather inexpensive for Shibuya, even including the price of the required additional one or two orders, depending on the night. Be sure to check the pricing and ordering systems, as they vary by artist.
The music is exceptionally good, ranging from intimate duos to seven-piece bands. The musicians are the cream of Tokyo’s jazz world. Straight-ahead groups dominate, but on other nights the music might be free jazz, vocals, funk, blues, or Afrobeat. That’s as it should be in Shibuya, with its eclectic (to say the least) approach to nightlife. Kohaku has become a place that draws some of Japan's hardest-working and most impressive jazz musicians.
Make a reservation if you can and get there a little early for a good seat, but it’s also a loose enough place to roll up anytime and still get a decent seat for splendid music and a delicious drink.
