rompercicci
Nakano, Tokyo
Tucked down a quiet side street a few minutes' walk from Nakano Station, rompercicci is the kind of intimate kissaten that makes this Tokyo neighborhood feel like a small town for music lovers: wooden counter, low amber lighting, and a carefully curated stash of vinyl and cassette tapes stacked behind the bar. Part café, part listening bar, it attracts a steady mix of locals and curious visitors who come to hear everything from mellow city pop and jazz to post-punk and ambient sets spun by the owner or guest DJs; on certain nights the space shifts into a snug live spot for solo acoustic or experimental duos. What sets rompercicci apart is its focus on listening as a shared ritual rather than background noise — staff will often lower the chatter and dim the lights when a particularly choice record plays, encouraging you to lean in and discover details you’d miss elsewhere. If you want an authentic Nakano music experience away from the brighter crowds of Nakano Broadway, this is a friendly, soulful stop where conversation and great records are given equal respect.
Tucked down a quiet side street a few minutes' walk from Nakano Station, rompercicci is the kind of intimate kissaten that makes this Tokyo neighborhood feel like a small town for music lovers: wooden counter, low amber lighting, and a carefully curated stash of vinyl and cassette tapes stacked behind the bar. Part café, part listening bar, it attracts a steady mix of locals and curious visitors who come to hear everything from mellow city pop and jazz to post-punk and ambient sets spun by the owner or guest DJs; on certain nights the space shifts into a snug live spot for solo acoustic or experimental duos. What sets rompercicci apart is its focus on listening as a shared ritual rather than background noise — staff will often lower the chatter and dim the lights when a particularly choice record plays, encouraging you to lean in and discover details you’d miss elsewhere. If you want an authentic Nakano music experience away from the brighter crowds of Nakano Broadway, this is a friendly, soulful stop where conversation and great records are given equal respect.