Roji
Asagaya, Tokyo
Roji Roji is a tucked-away kissa in the mellow neighborhood of Asagaya (阿佐ヶ谷), where the narrow lanes and old wooden houses set the stage for a very particular kind of listening experience; step inside and the air changes to a warm wash of lamplight, polished wood, and the soft crackle of vinyl as the proprietor spins carefully chosen jazz, soul, and Japanese city pop on analog equipment. The space feels like a living record sleeve—compact, intimate, and insistently attentive, with a small corner for live sessions that draw generous applause rather than chatter, and a bar that serves espresso and a thoughtful selection of whiskies to sip between tracks. Locals come for the owner’s encyclopedic knowledge and the bar’s rotating selection of rare pressings; visitors come away feeling they've discovered a private music room where tempo, taste, and conversation are balanced with a curator’s care—perfect for travelers who want to hear Tokyo’s musical past and present in a single, unforgettable evening.
Roji Roji is a tucked-away kissa in the mellow neighborhood of Asagaya (阿佐ヶ谷), where the narrow lanes and old wooden houses set the stage for a very particular kind of listening experience; step inside and the air changes to a warm wash of lamplight, polished wood, and the soft crackle of vinyl as the proprietor spins carefully chosen jazz, soul, and Japanese city pop on analog equipment. The space feels like a living record sleeve—compact, intimate, and insistently attentive, with a small corner for live sessions that draw generous applause rather than chatter, and a bar that serves espresso and a thoughtful selection of whiskies to sip between tracks. Locals come for the owner’s encyclopedic knowledge and the bar’s rotating selection of rare pressings; visitors come away feeling they've discovered a private music room where tempo, taste, and conversation are balanced with a curator’s care—perfect for travelers who want to hear Tokyo’s musical past and present in a single, unforgettable evening.