How to find indie gigs in Japan before your trip
JGIG lists upcoming shows at small live houses in Tokyo and Osaka in English, so start by searching your travel dates there. Each show page gives the total price, doors and start times, and the nearest station. Shortlist a show and a backup for each night, then check tickets on the official event page, as shows can sell out or change.
By JGIG editorial · Updated Oct 15, 2026
At a glance
The short version
| When | What to do | Where on JGIG |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing your city and area | See which venues suit your music | Venue pages |
| Dates are fixed | List the shows on each of your nights | Upcoming shows and the calendar |
| Shortlist made | Check ticket types on the official event page | Link on each show page |
| A few days before | Check for changes. Save screenshots | Show page and official page |
| On the day | See what is on tonight | Tonight in Tokyo, This week in Osaka |
Why plan before you fly?
Some tickets take time to arrange. Advance tickets can sell out, and a torioki reservation means messaging the organizer before the night. Planning at home gives you time to read the details in English on JGIG, then check the official page, which may be in Japanese.
What does JGIG cover?
- Small live houses in Tokyo and Osaka. JGIG lists 521 shows at 15 venues (Oct 15, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026). It lists selected venues, not every live house in Japan.
- Areas. Listed venues are in Shimokitazawa, Shindaita, Shinjuku and Shibuya in Tokyo, and in Shinsaibashi, Minami-Horie and Fukushima in Osaka.
- The details you need. Each show page gives the total (ticket and drink fee), Doors, Start and the nearest station. Some details appear only if the event lists them.
- The kind of music. Each venue page describes the music the venue usually hosts, such as rock, punk, indie, hardcore or DJ nights.
- Your own plan. Add shows to a plan on JGIG, then share it or add it to your calendar.
When won't JGIG's list be enough?
- Your dates are far away. JGIG's list currently covers Oct 15, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026. For later dates, use the venue's own website, linked from each JGIG venue page.
- You want a venue JGIG doesn't list. Use that venue's official schedule.
- A venue's usual music isn't the whole story. One night can be a different style from the venue's usual bill. Read the acts on the show page.
- Plans change. Promoters sometimes change times, prices or lineups at short notice. Check the official page again before the night.
How do you build your gig plan?
- Fix your city and your free nights.
- Open the JGIG calendar and note the shows on each night.
- On each show page, note the total, Doors, Start and the nearest station.
- Open the venue page to see the kind of music it hosts. JGIG's guide also suggests the venue hashtag on Instagram to see the vibe.
- Open the official event page from the show page. Check which tickets are on sale: 前売 (advance), 当日 (door) or 取り置き (torioki). See How to buy live house tickets in Japan.
- Pick a first choice and a backup for each night, ideally near each other.
- A few days before, check the official pages again, and save screenshots of tickets and maps.
What if you are alone, have no Japanese or cash, or buy at the door?
- Going alone: Choose shows near your hotel or on your train line. Each show page gives the nearest station.
- No Japanese: JGIG show pages are in English. On official pages, look for 開場 (doors), 開演 (start), 前売, 当日 and 取り置き. See How to read a Japanese gig flyer.
- No cash: If you buy advance tickets online before you fly, only the drink fee is left to pay at the door. It is usually ¥600.
- Door ticket: If you plan to buy at the door, keep a backup show for the same night. Door tickets are sold only if there is space.
JGIG data
What the listed shows say
| City | Shows | Venues | Median ticket + drink |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 365 | 11 | ¥4,100 |
| Osaka | 156 | 4 | ¥4,100 |
Medians from fewer than 30 counted shows are not compared (—).
This table shows how many shows JGIG lists in Tokyo and Osaka (Oct 15, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026), with the median total (ticket and drink fee) in each city. It covers the venues JGIG lists, not every live house.
| Area | City | Shows | Venues | Median ticket + drink |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimokitazawa | Tokyo | 151 | 5 | ¥3,800 |
| Shibuya | Tokyo | 84 | 1 | — |
| Shinsaibashi | Osaka | 82 | 2 | ¥4,300 |
| Shinjuku | Tokyo | 67 | 2 | ¥3,500 |
| Shindaita / Shimokitazawa | Tokyo | 61 | 1 | ¥5,100 |
| Fukushima | Osaka | 42 | 1 | ¥3,600 |
| Minami-Horie | Osaka | 32 | 1 | — |
| 下北沢 | Tokyo | 2 | 2 | — |
Medians need at least 5 counted shows (—).
Fukushima, Osaka
LIVE SQUARE 2nd LINE
About a 3-minute walk from JR Fukushima Station.
Capacity: 250 people (standing)
6 shows listed on JGIG in the next 7 days
Access and upcoming showsMinami-Horie, Osaka
SOCORE FACTORY
About an 8–10 minute walk from Nishinagahori Station or Sakuragawa Station on the Osaka Metro.
Capacity: 150 people (standing)
3 shows listed on JGIG in the next 7 days
Access and upcoming showsShibuya, Tokyo
Shibuya WWW
About a 7–10 minute walk from JR Shibuya Station (Hachiko Exit).
Capacity: 400 people (standing)
10 shows listed on JGIG in the next 7 days
Access and upcoming showsShimokitazawa, Tokyo
Music Bar & Live Space CHIKAMICHI
A few minutes’ walk from Shimokitazawa Station.
Capacity: 100 people (standing)
4 shows listed on JGIG in the next 7 days
Access and upcoming showsShimokitazawa, Tokyo
Shimokitazawa BASEMENTBAR
About a 6–8 minute walk from the South Exit of Shimokitazawa Station.
Capacity: 150 people (standing)
Access and upcoming showsShimokitazawa, Tokyo
Shimokitazawa ERA
About a 3-minute walk from the North Exit of Shimokitazawa Station.
Capacity: 200 people (standing)
7 shows listed on JGIG in the next 7 days
Access and upcoming showsShimokitazawa, Tokyo
Shimokitazawa SHELTER
About a 3–4 minute walk from Shimokitazawa Station.
Capacity: 250 people (standing)
7 shows listed on JGIG in the next 7 days
Access and upcoming showsShimokitazawa, Tokyo
Shimokitazawa THREE
About a 6–8 minute walk from the South Exit of Shimokitazawa Station.
Capacity: 150 people (standing)
5 shows listed on JGIG in the next 7 days
Access and upcoming showsShindaita / Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
LIVE HOUSE FEVER
30 seconds from Shindaita Station (Keio Inokashira Line).
Capacity: 300 people (standing)
6 shows listed on JGIG in the next 7 days
Access and upcoming showsShinjuku, Tokyo
Shinjuku ANTIKNOCK
A few minutes’ walk from JR Shinjuku Station (Shin-Minami or South-East Exit).
Capacity: 300 people (standing)
8 shows listed on JGIG in the next 7 days
Access and upcoming showsShinjuku, Tokyo
Shinjuku MARZ
About a 1-minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station, or 5 minutes from JR Shinjuku Station (East Exit).
Capacity: 300 people (standing)
6 shows listed on JGIG in the next 7 days
Access and upcoming showsShinsaibashi, Osaka
Live House ANIMA
About a 5–8 minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station or Namba Station (Osaka Metro).
Capacity: 350 people (standing)
3 shows listed on JGIG in the next 7 days
Access and upcoming showsShinsaibashi, Osaka
Live House Pangea
About a 3-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station or Yotsubashi Station on the Osaka Metro.
Capacity: 200 people (standing)
7 shows listed on JGIG in the next 7 days
Access and upcoming shows
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
Search upcoming shows by your travel datesFAQ
Questions people ask
- Where can I find indie gigs in Tokyo and Osaka in English?
- JGIG lists upcoming shows at small live houses in both cities, in English, with the total price, times and the nearest station.
- How far ahead can I see shows?
- JGIG's list covers Oct 15, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026. For later dates, check the venues' own schedules through the JGIG venue pages.
- How do I know what kind of music a venue plays?
- Each JGIG venue page describes the music it usually hosts. Read the acts on the show page too, because one night can differ.
- Should I book before I travel?
- Small shows can sell out, so check the official event page early. Keep a backup show for each night.
Sources
Sources and last checked
- JGIG listings (aggregated) · checked Oct 15, 2026
- JGIG venue pages · checked Oct 15, 2026
- JGIG guide: First time at a Japanese livehouse? (venue hashtag tip) · checked Oct 15, 2026
- JGIG guide Q&A: Can event details change suddenly? · 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