chiba house
Hokkaido - Sapporo, Hokkaido & Tohoku
Chiba House is a small, owner-run kissa tucked into a quiet side street of central Sapporo, a short stroll from the city's bustling entertainment area yet feeling like a world apart; step inside and you get the familiar hush of a music-focused kissaten where golden-hour light, wood-paneled walls and carefully placed speakers command attention more than flashy décor. The room is arranged for listening rather than lingering over loud conversation—low tables, a counter facing a shelf of vinyl and CDs, and an impeccably maintained vintage amp that the proprietor treats like a sacred instrument. Expect a curated rotation that leans on warm jazz, city pop, mellow soul and atmospheric Japanese psychedelia, with occasional live acoustic sets or record-listening sessions announced by word of mouth; the staff are happy to recommend a rare LP or pour a precisely brewed coffee or a simple cocktail to suit the soundscape. What makes Chiba House special is its deliberate intimacy: it’s less a bar and more a communal listening room where locals come to discover hidden tracks, share stories about records, and step out into Sapporo’s neon streets feeling like they’ve spent an evening inside someone’s attentive, musical living room.
Chiba House is a small, owner-run kissa tucked into a quiet side street of central Sapporo, a short stroll from the city's bustling entertainment area yet feeling like a world apart; step inside and you get the familiar hush of a music-focused kissaten where golden-hour light, wood-paneled walls and carefully placed speakers command attention more than flashy décor. The room is arranged for listening rather than lingering over loud conversation—low tables, a counter facing a shelf of vinyl and CDs, and an impeccably maintained vintage amp that the proprietor treats like a sacred instrument. Expect a curated rotation that leans on warm jazz, city pop, mellow soul and atmospheric Japanese psychedelia, with occasional live acoustic sets or record-listening sessions announced by word of mouth; the staff are happy to recommend a rare LP or pour a precisely brewed coffee or a simple cocktail to suit the soundscape. What makes Chiba House special is its deliberate intimacy: it’s less a bar and more a communal listening room where locals come to discover hidden tracks, share stories about records, and step out into Sapporo’s neon streets feeling like they’ve spent an evening inside someone’s attentive, musical living room.