BAR MEIJIU
Iidabashi, Tokyo
Tucked a short walk from the bustle of Iidabashi station, BAR MEIJIU feels like a small, secretive listening room amid Tokyo’s patchwork of office towers and old shops — the kind of place locals duck into for a measured escape. The interior leans warm and wood-lined, with a long counter where the regulars trade quiet recommendations and the bartender cues up records with a ceremonious care; the sound system favors analog warmth, so even familiar jazz or city pop takes on new depth. Nights here are intimate rather than raucous: a rotating roster of vinyl-focused DJs and occasional solo performances means you might hear a delicate folk set one evening and a crisp, late-night jazz trio the next. What makes it special is that it treats music as shared ritual rather than background — the lighting, the crowd mix of students, commuters and furtive music obsessives, and a modest but thoughtful drink list all steer you toward listening. If you’re in Tokyo for authentic kissa culture with a contemporary bar sensibility, BAR MEIJIU is a quietly addictive stop in Iidabashi for anyone who values sound as much as atmosphere.
Tucked a short walk from the bustle of Iidabashi station, BAR MEIJIU feels like a small, secretive listening room amid Tokyo’s patchwork of office towers and old shops — the kind of place locals duck into for a measured escape. The interior leans warm and wood-lined, with a long counter where the regulars trade quiet recommendations and the bartender cues up records with a ceremonious care; the sound system favors analog warmth, so even familiar jazz or city pop takes on new depth. Nights here are intimate rather than raucous: a rotating roster of vinyl-focused DJs and occasional solo performances means you might hear a delicate folk set one evening and a crisp, late-night jazz trio the next. What makes it special is that it treats music as shared ritual rather than background — the lighting, the crowd mix of students, commuters and furtive music obsessives, and a modest but thoughtful drink list all steer you toward listening. If you’re in Tokyo for authentic kissa culture with a contemporary bar sensibility, BAR MEIJIU is a quietly addictive stop in Iidabashi for anyone who values sound as much as atmosphere.