01Choose recorded music or a live show
For recorded rock and metal in Shinjuku, start with GODZ, BAR PSY or Rock Bar Gravity. Grandfather's in Shibuya selects mainly 1970s rock, pop and soul on vinyl. BAUHAUS in Roppongi offers a different format: a house band playing rock covers.
For a concert, choose a dated show at Moonstep in Nakano, Shinjuku LOFT, or SHELTER and LIVEHOLIC in Shimokitazawa. Programmes vary by night, and some rooms host more than one event in a day.
This guide was checked on 15 September 2026. Dedicated rock bars come first, followed by broader music and food options. Former venues are listed separately as history.
Check the building and floor
02Shinjuku rock and metal bars
GODZ
B1, 1-10-5 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Shinjuku hard-rock and metal bar with recorded music and requests. Its adjacent GODZ Satellite floor hosts live events; check which floor your event uses and whether it has an admission charge.
Venue or source information · GODZ listing
BAR PSY
Tokyo Building No. 19, 2F, 1-13-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Kabukicho bar playing western rock. Choose it for drinks and recorded music, and check its own announcements for special nights.
Venue or source information · BAR PSY listing
Rock Bar Gravity
Seiwa Building 2F, 7-4-9 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Nishishinjuku hard-rock bar with CD requests. Check directly for any live events rather than assuming a band plays every night.
Venue or source information · Rock Bar Gravity listing
Rock Bar Crawdaddy Club
K Building B1, 2-28-15 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Kabukicho rock bar focused on classic rock, especially British acts, with music requests, live shows and sessions. Check the schedule to distinguish a regular bar evening from a performance or playing session.
Venue or source information · Rock Bar Crawdaddy Club listing
From Dusk Till Dawn Shinjuku
Dai 7 Kanashima Building 3F, 2-27-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Kabukicho rock bar with DJ parties and occasional live performances. Check the calendar for the music and entry conditions on your chosen night.
Venue or source information · From Dusk Till Dawn Shinjuku listing
Music Bar ROCKAHOLIC (Shinjuku)
stella.k B1, 2-38-3 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Kabukicho branch of the DJ rock-bar group, with loud rock, metal and artist-related parties. Check this branch’s programme for the specific event and admission arrangements.
Venue or source information · Music Bar ROCKAHOLIC (Shinjuku) listing
Rock Bar MOTHER
Nakano Building B1, 1-11-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Small Kabukicho rock bar associated with music requests. The business register and recent visitor reports support the address; check current opening arrangements with the bar.
Venue or source information · Rock Bar MOTHER listing
Guinea Pig (Shin Guinea Pig)
LEO Kotobuki Building 3F, 2-41-3 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Kabukicho horror-themed rock bar, also called Shin Guinea Pig. Opening arrangements can vary, so confirm directly before visiting.
Venue or source information · Guinea Pig (Shin Guinea Pig) listing
03Golden Gai punk and metal bars
Deathmatch in Hell
1-1-8 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Golden Gai metal bar with a horror-film theme. Check the venue’s current announcements for opening arrangements; the listing uses the name Deathmatch in Hell.
Venue or source information · Deathmatch in Hell listing
Hair of the Dogs
1-1-8 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Golden Gai punk bar, also listed as Punk Bar H.O.D. Recent visitor reports and the municipal business register support this listing; confirm opening arrangements directly before making a special trip.
04Shibuya listening bars and Roppongi live covers
Grandfather's
Shibuya Flat Building B1, 1-24-7 Shibuya, Shibuya, Tokyo
Shibuya listening bar selecting vinyl records one song at a time, mainly 1970s rock, pop and soul. Use the Shibuya Flat Building address near the station's Miyamasuzaka side.
Venue or source information · Grandfather's listing
Music Bar ROCKAHOLIC (Shibuya)
Ryuko Building Annex B1, 11-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo
Shibuya DJ rock bar playing Japanese and international rock, punk and metal. Check the branch calendar for themed nights and event entry conditions.
Venue or source information · Music Bar ROCKAHOLIC (Shibuya) listing
B.Y.G
2-19-14 Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo
Dogenzaka rock-record bar and restaurant with a basement live room. Choose between a record-listening visit and a scheduled show, and check the event address because B.Y.G also advertises concerts at other venues.
Venue or source information · B.Y.G listing
Rock Bar BAUHAUS
Urban Building B1, 7-13-2 Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo
Roppongi live-music bar with a house band playing classic rock, hard rock and metal covers. Check the current performance schedule and admission details before visiting.
05Live houses: choose a specific show
Moonstep
5-39-16 Chuo, Nakano, Tokyo
Nakano live venue with punk, hardcore and other music. Choose a dated show from the current programme; ask the venue about bar access when you are not attending a gig.
Venue or source information · Moonstep listing
Shinjuku LOFT
Tatehana Building B2, 1-12-9 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Kabukicho concert venue with punk, rock and other acts. Check the main-room and bar-floor listings separately, along with the event’s ticket and age conditions.
Venue or source information · Shinjuku LOFT listing
Shimokitazawa SHELTER
Senda Building B1, 2-6-10 Kitazawa, Setagaya, Tokyo
Shimokitazawa basement live venue with rock, punk and heavier shows. Afternoon and evening programmes can be separate events; check the bill and ticket you intend to attend.
Venue or source information · Shimokitazawa SHELTER listing
LIVEHOLIC
Rui Building 5F, 2-6-5 Kitazawa, Setagaya, Tokyo
Shimokitazawa live venue with rock and independent bands in a varied programme. The main concert room is on the fifth floor; fourth-floor bar events have their own listings.
06Shimokitazawa, Nakano and Koenji
Poor Cow
4F, 2-9-24 Kitazawa, Setagaya, Tokyo
Shimokitazawa punk and garage-rock bar run by musician Fifi. Recent DJ testimony supports its continuing activity; check the owner’s announcements before visiting.
Venue or source information · Poor Cow listing
Jet Bar
2F, 5-54-5 Nakano, Nakano, Tokyo
Nakano music bar with acoustic performances, DJ events and open-mic nights among its activities. Check the programme for the genre and format; it is not exclusively a metal bar.
Venue or source information · Jet Bar listing
Punk Cats
3-6-1 Koenjiminami, Suginami, Tokyo
Koenji punk-rock bar. Use the venue’s current booking information and check any special event arrangements before visiting.
Venue or source information · Punk Cats listing
COMRADE
Ota Building B1, 4-26-7 Koenjiminami, Suginami, Tokyo
Koenji basement dining bar with connections to the local punk scene. Its current community listing describes a social bar; check directly for any specific music event.
07Broader listening, food and bar options
These places remain in the directory, but their verified music policy is broader than rock or no dedicated rock programme was established. Choose them for the specific music, food or bar setting described below.
Little Soul Cafe
Taisei Building 2F, 3-20-2 Kitazawa, Setagaya, Tokyo
Shimokitazawa vinyl listening bar focused on soul, funk, jazz and dance music. A broader listening option if those styles appeal to you.
Venue or source information · Little Soul Cafe listing
J-Juke80's
Nakajima Building B1, 5-59-12 Nakano, Nakano, Tokyo
Nakano request bar focused on late-1970s and 1980s Japanese pop and popular songs. Choose it for that music rather than expecting a metal playlist.
Venue or source information · J-Juke80's listing
Never Never Land
2F, 3-19-3 Kitazawa, Setagaya, Tokyo
Shimokitazawa Okinawan restaurant and bar with live-music events. Check the programme for the artist and genre; it is a broader food-and-music option.
Venue or source information · Never Never Land listing
Locohead
2-37-8 Koenjikita, Suginami, Tokyo
Koenji bar and izakaya welcoming music fans. Its current booking page does not establish a dedicated punk programme, so treat it as a food-and-drinks option.
Venue or source information · Locohead listing
Orange Room
Shimizu Building 1F, 1-41-7 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo
Asakusa dining and cocktail bar. Its current site does not establish a rock programme, so this is a nearby food-and-drinks option rather than a music recommendation.
Venue or source information · Orange Room listing
Albatross G
1-1-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Golden Gai gallery bar on Fifth Street. It is distinct from the Albatross in Omoide Yokocho; no dedicated rock programme was verified for this branch.
Venue or source information · Albatross G listing
Kenzo's Bar
1-1-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Golden Gai bar known for its leopard-pattern interior. Current staff announcements and the business register support its continued activity; no fixed rock music policy was verified.
08Historical venues
These entries document former venues and are not current places to visit for a show. Similar names, later businesses and a building's present use are separate from the history of the original room.
Shibuya Yaneura
Former Shibuya live venue associated with Japanese rock and punk. Its history is distinct from the similarly named Shimokitazawa venue. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Shibuya Yaneura listing
Shinjuku JAM
Former Shinjuku live venue associated with punk, garage rock and Tokyo’s mods scene. It closed at the end of 2017; this entry concerns the former Shinjuku room. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
Historical source · Shinjuku JAM listing
Kichijoji Minor
Former Kichijoji venue associated with experimental music and Japan’s no-wave scene. It closed in 1980. Historical listing; not a current venue recommendation.
09Before you go
Use the venue's current programme for door times, admission, reservations and any drink requirement. A regular bar evening, a DJ party and a live show may have different entry arrangements. Check age conditions and bring any identification requested by the organiser.
Confirm opening arrangements before making a special trip to a small bar. Social accounts and calendars can be easier to update than a venue's homepage. For B.Y.G events, check the address on the ticket because some concerts take place at other venues.
Choose one area or a specific show first, then check current transport times. Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi, Nakano, Koenji and Shimokitazawa do not form a single walking route.
Basement and upper-floor addresses do not establish step-free access. Ask the venue about lifts, stairs, seating and any other access needs before buying a ticket. Check payment arrangements directly rather than assuming every bar accepts cards.