PALETOWN
Hatanogaya, Tokyo
Tucked down a quiet backstreet of Hatagaya (幡ヶ谷) in Tokyo, PALETOWN feels like a secret chapter of the city's music history folded into a cosy kissa-style bar; think warm wood panelling, a modest stage, and a wall of carefully shelved vinyl that the owner will happily guide you through. Locals drift in after dinner for serious listening sessions or low-key live sets — jazz standards, smoky soul, City Pop deep cuts and the occasional experimental DJ set — all played on an analogue rig that puts detail and warmth first. The crowd is a mix of regulars and curious travelers who come for the sound as much as the atmosphere: subdued lighting, bar stools facing the turntable, and conversations that pause whenever a particularly rare pressing spins. It’s the kind of place where the staff curates evenings around mood rather than trend, where you can ask about a forgotten Japanese jazz label and leave with a recommendation and a sense of having discovered a private cultural corner of Tokyo.
Tucked down a quiet backstreet of Hatagaya (幡ヶ谷) in Tokyo, PALETOWN feels like a secret chapter of the city's music history folded into a cosy kissa-style bar; think warm wood panelling, a modest stage, and a wall of carefully shelved vinyl that the owner will happily guide you through. Locals drift in after dinner for serious listening sessions or low-key live sets — jazz standards, smoky soul, City Pop deep cuts and the occasional experimental DJ set — all played on an analogue rig that puts detail and warmth first. The crowd is a mix of regulars and curious travelers who come for the sound as much as the atmosphere: subdued lighting, bar stools facing the turntable, and conversations that pause whenever a particularly rare pressing spins. It’s the kind of place where the staff curates evenings around mood rather than trend, where you can ask about a forgotten Japanese jazz label and leave with a recommendation and a sense of having discovered a private cultural corner of Tokyo.