Daytime gigs in Tokyo: shows you can see before dinner
Yes, some live house shows start in the afternoon. In JGIG's Tokyo and Osaka listings, 75 shows start before 5 pm (17:00), while most start in the evening. Check the Start time on each show page, then confirm the times and any age limit on the official event page.
By JGIG editorial · Updated Oct 15, 2026
At a glance
The short version
| Are there daytime shows? | Yes, but most listed shows start in the evening |
|---|---|
| How many start before 5 pm | 75 listed shows (Tokyo and Osaka) |
| How to spot one | The Start time on the JGIG show page |
| When to arrive | By Doors. Doors open a median of 30 min minutes before the start |
| When it ends | Not shown by the start time. Check the official page |
| Before you go | Age limit, ticket type and any changes |
Why choose a daytime show?
A daytime show can fit around a travel day. You can see live music in the afternoon and still have the evening for dinner, or for another show. If it ends early, you can head home well before the last trains.
How do you find one?
- Read the Start time. JGIG show pages give Doors and Start when the event lists them. Look for a start before 17:00.
- Use the calendar. The JGIG calendar shows every night. Open the shows on your dates and compare the start times.
- Sort by time. The JGIG calendar lists each day's shows in start-time order, so daytime shows come first.
- Which venues and days. The tables below show which venues and days have shows that start before 5pm.
| Venue | Area | Shows starting before 17:00 |
|---|---|---|
| Shinjuku ANTIKNOCK | Shinjuku | 19 |
| Live House ANIMA | Shinsaibashi | 8 |
| Shimokitazawa THREE | Shimokitazawa | 8 |
| LIVE SQUARE 2nd LINE | Fukushima | 6 |
| Shimokitazawa SHELTER | Shimokitazawa | 6 |
| Shimokitazawa ERA | Shimokitazawa | 5 |
| LIVE HOUSE FEVER | Shindaita / Shimokitazawa | 4 |
| Live House Pangea | Shinsaibashi | 4 |
| Shinjuku MARZ | Shinjuku | 4 |
| Shibuya WWW | Shibuya | 3 |
| Shimokitazawa BASEMENTBAR | Shimokitazawa | 3 |
| SOCORE FACTORY | Minami-Horie | 3 |
| Music Bar & Live Space CHIKAMICHI | Shimokitazawa | 1 |
| SHIMOKITAZAWA MOSAiC &Chikamatsu&DaisyBar&Laguna | 下北沢 | 1 |
| Day | Shows starting before 17:00 |
|---|---|
| Monday | 4 |
| Tuesday | 6 |
| Wednesday | 0 |
| Thursday | 3 |
| Friday | 1 |
| Saturday | 33 |
| Sunday | 28 |
What should you watch out for?
- The end time. The start time doesn't tell you when a show ends, especially with several acts on the bill. See How a live house night works.
- Age limits. Some shows are all-ages, but many have age limits. This matters if you plan to bring children. Check the official event information.
- Different rules. A daytime event can have its own ticket types or entry order. Read the event post.
- Changes. Promoters sometimes change times, prices or lineups at short notice. Check the official page on the day.
How do you plan a daytime gig?
- Open upcoming shows for your dates.
- On each show page, look for a Start time before 17:00. Note Doors and the nearest station.
- Open the official event page. Check the times, any end time, the age limit and the tickets.
- Plan to arrive by Doors, especially with a numbered ticket. See Doors or start: what time should you arrive?.
- Book your dinner or your next show for after the end time, with some time to spare.
What if you are alone, have no Japanese or cash, or buy at the door?
- Going alone: If the show ends early, you can get back to your hotel before it gets late. Save the route as a screenshot before you go in.
- No Japanese: JGIG show pages give Doors and Start in English. On official pages, 開場 is doors and 開演 is start.
- No cash: You still pay the drink fee at the door, usually ¥600. Bring yen.
- Door ticket: Door tickets are sold only if there is space, and they are often settled shortly before doors. For an afternoon show, that can mean early afternoon.
JGIG data
What the listed shows say
| Start hour | Shows | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | 4 | 0.8% |
| 10:00 | 5 | 1% |
| 11:00 | 8 | 1.6% |
| 12:00 | 26 | 5.3% |
| 13:00 | 5 | 1% |
| 14:00 | 6 | 1.2% |
| 15:00 | 3 | 0.6% |
| 16:00 | 18 | 3.7% |
| 17:00 | 56 | 11.4% |
| 18:00 | 114 | 23.1% |
| 19:00 | 232 | 47.1% |
| 20:00 | 8 | 1.6% |
| 22:00 | 1 | 0.2% |
| 23:00 | 7 | 1.4% |
This table shows the start hour of shows listed on JGIG in Tokyo and Osaka (Oct 15, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026). The rows before 17:00 are the daytime shows. It covers JGIG's listings only, so it describes the venues JGIG lists, not all of Tokyo.
Tokyo shows that start before 5pm: 54.
Shinjuku, Tokyo
Highway Star vol.18
Shinjuku ANTIKNOCK
Adv ¥2,500 / Door ¥3,000 + ¥600 Drink
Ticket + drink: ¥3,100
TonightDoors 16:30 · Start 16:50DetailsShinjuku, Tokyo
SPICE GIRLS vol.62
Shinjuku ANTIKNOCK
Adv ¥2,500 / Door ¥3,000 + ¥600 Drink
Ticket + drink: ¥3,100
Sat, Oct 17Doors 09:15 · Start 09:30DetailsShinjuku, Tokyo
ALLYOUNEEDS inc. Free Monthly Show 「AYNs」vol.03
Shinjuku MARZ
¥1,000 + ¥1,200 Drink
Sat, Oct 17Doors 11:00 · Start 11:30DetailsShimokitazawa, Tokyo
A DAY IN THE LIFE VOL.291
Shimokitazawa ERA
Adv ¥2,500 / Door ¥3,000 + ¥700 Drink
Ticket + drink: ¥3,200
Sat, Oct 17Doors 11:45 · Start 12:00DetailsShinjuku, Tokyo
ANCHORS’EVE
Shinjuku ANTIKNOCK
Adv ¥2,700 / Door ¥3,200 + ¥600 Drink
Ticket + drink: ¥3,300
Sat, Oct 17Doors 14:15 · Start 14:45Details
Prices and door tickets can change. Check the official information on each show page before you go.
Based on 521 upcoming shows listed on JGIG in Tokyo and Osaka (Oct 15, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026), updated Oct 15, 2026. These numbers describe JGIG's listings, not every live house, and are not a promise of any price. Check the official event page before you go.
What to do next
What to do next
Browse upcoming shows and check the start timeFAQ
Questions people ask
- Are there daytime gigs at live houses?
- Yes. In JGIG's Tokyo and Osaka listings, some shows start before 17:00, but most start in the evening. Check the Start time on each show page.
- How do I find a show that starts early?
- Open the shows on your dates and compare the Start times. Look for a start before 17:00.
- Can I bring children to a daytime show?
- Some shows are all-ages, but many have age limits. Check the official event information.
- Will a daytime show end before dinner?
- The start time doesn't tell you. Check the official page for an end time.
Sources
Sources and last checked
- JGIG listings (aggregated) · checked Oct 15, 2026
- JGIG guide Q&A: Are livehouses all-ages? / Can event details change suddenly? · checked Oct 15, 2026
- JGIG guide: First time at a Japanese livehouse? · checked Oct 15, 2026
By JGIG editorial · Updated Oct 15, 2026. Show details can change, so check the official information before you go.
This column was drafted with AI and checked by a person against official sources. How we make JGIG