Etiquette by genre: idol, visual kei, punk, jazz and indie
Key findings
- Rules for photos and the crowd come from the event, not the genre: JGIG's manners guide says rules vary by venue and event.
- At TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2026, phone photos were allowed only at stages marked with a camera icon, and moshing, diving and lifts were banned.
- At two of the three Tokyo jazz clubs checked (Shinjuku PIT INN and Cotton Club), photos and video during the performance are not allowed without permission.
- Shinjuku ANTIKNOCK, which JGIG's venue page describes as primarily hardcore, metal and punk, has a median total of ¥3,600 (41 shows, 20 Oct – 31 Dec 2026).
- WHO's 2022 safe listening standard recommends a maximum average sound level of 100 decibels and hearing protection for audiences.
By JGIG editorial · Updated Oct 20, 2026
At a glance
The short version
| Idol | Visual kei | Punk and hardcore | Jazz (seated clubs) | Indie and rock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Getting in | Ticket plus a drink fee | Ticket plus a drink fee | Ticket plus a drink fee | A music charge or a set price. Some include one drink, some have a one-order rule | Ticket plus a drink fee |
| Seats | Mostly standing | Mostly standing | Mostly standing | Cotton Club reserves every seat by area | Mostly standing |
| Photos | Depend on the act and event. Flash is generally banned | Check the event post. Flash is generally banned | Depend on the band. Flash is generally banned | Not during the performance without permission, at two of the three clubs checked | Depend on the band. Flash is generally banned |
| The crowd | Light moshing may happen but is generally discouraged or restricted | Moves differ by band and song. You don't have to join in | Moshing can happen at some hardcore shows. Enforcement varies by event | Seated audience at Cotton Club | Depends on the band and the event |
| Merch | Goods. Cheki are sold as merch, with rules set by each group | Goods | Goods | — | Goods, often after each act |
| Read first | The event post and the group's notes | The event post and the band's notes | The event post: look for モッシュ, ダイブ, 禁止 | The club's reservation and FAQ pages | The event post |
| JGIG column | Underground idol shows in Japan: cheki, rules and how to go | Visual kei shows: etiquette for first-timers | Moshing and diving at Japanese punk and hardcore shows | — | How a live house night works: taiban, set times, end times |
Table 1. Five kinds of show compared, for first-time visitors
Note: Live house rows follow JGIG's guides and columns. The jazz column follows the official pages of Shinjuku PIT INN, Blue Note Tokyo and Cotton Club, checked 20 Oct 2026. Rules for your night are on its event post.
Why compare genres in one table?
Each genre already has its own JGIG column, but first-time visitors often want to see the differences side by side. The short answer is that the event sets the rules. JGIG's manners guide says rules vary by venue and event, and its Q&A says enforcement varies by event and genre. So use this table to know what to look for, then read the post for your night.
What is the same at every live house?
Some basics hold across idol, visual kei, punk and indie nights:
- A ticket plus a drink fee. You pay the drink fee at the entrance, and get one drink. At listed shows, 88.5% of drink fees are ¥600 (279 shows).
- No flash. JGIG's guide says flash is generally banned, because it distracts performers.
- Staff instructions come first. The guide asks you to follow staff and put safety first.
- Earplugs. The guide encourages earplugs for louder shows. WHO's safe listening standard asks venues to make hearing protection available to audiences.
- Clothes. The guide suggests casual clothes, comfortable shoes and layers you can take off.
How do idol and visual kei shows differ?
Both take place at live houses, and both put the event post first. JGIG's venue page for Shinjuku MARZ lists rock, pop, idol and DJ events.
Idol shows. Photo rules depend on the act and the event. As one organizer's example, TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2026 allowed phone photos only at stages marked with a camera icon. It banned flash, video, audio recording, moshing, diving and lifts. Groups also set their own rules for merch, including cheki. See Underground idol shows in Japan.
Visual kei shows. Fans may join in with moves such as headbanging, which differ by band and song. You don't have to join in. Watch from the side or the back first, and check the band's notes on clothes. See Visual kei shows: etiquette for first-timers.
What about punk, hardcore and indie nights?
Punk and hardcore. JGIG's guide says light moshing or crowd surfing may sometimes happen at hardcore shows. It is generally discouraged or restricted, and enforcement varies by event. JGIG's venue page describes Shinjuku ANTIKNOCK as primarily hardcore, metal and punk. Stand at the side or the back to stay out of the pit. See Moshing and diving at Japanese punk and hardcore shows.
Indie and rock. A night can be a multi-act bill, called taiban, and merch tables often open after each act. JGIG's venue pages describe Live House ANIMA as hosting touring rock, punk and indie bands. They describe Shimokitazawa BASEMENTBAR as known for rock, punk, indie and DJ parties. See How a live house night works.
How are jazz clubs different?
Each jazz club sets its own charge system. The three Tokyo clubs checked describe theirs differently:
- Shinjuku PIT INN. One price per session, including one drink. It takes reservations, and reserved guests enter first, in booking order. Photos and video during performances are not allowed.
- Blue Note Tokyo. A music charge, plus a seat charge for some seats. Food and drink are paid separately, under a one-order rule.
- Cotton Club. A music charge and a seat charge, paid by card when booking online. Phone bookings pay at the counter after the show. It has a one-order rule and reserved seating by area. Shows run about 70 to 80 minutes.
Cotton Club says there is no dress code.
JGIG data
What the listed shows say
Table 2. Listed venues whose JGIG pages describe a genre
| Venue (city) | Genres on its JGIG page | Median total | Shows with a total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinjuku ANTIKNOCK (Tokyo) | Primarily hardcore, metal and punk | ¥3,600 | 41 |
| Live House ANIMA (Osaka) | Touring rock, punk and indie bands | ¥4,600 | 25 |
| Shimokitazawa BASEMENTBAR (Tokyo) | Rock, punk, indie and DJ parties | ¥4,600 | 8 (fewer than 10 shows) |
| Shinjuku MARZ (Tokyo) | Rock, pop, idol and DJ events | ¥2,900 | 6 (fewer than 10 shows) |
Note: Shows listed on JGIG, 20 Oct – 31 Dec 2026 (computed 20 Oct 2026). The median total (ticket plus drink fee) counts only shows that list both prices. Each figure covers every listed show at the venue, not only one genre. These figures describe JGIG's listings, not every live house in Japan.
What to do next
What to do next
Browse upcoming shows on JGIGFAQ
Questions people ask
- Which genre has the strictest photo rules?
- It depends on the event, not the genre. Read the event post for your night, and don't use flash.
- Is there moshing at idol shows?
- JGIG's guide says light moshing may sometimes happen, but it is generally discouraged or restricted. Some organizers ban it outright.
- Do Tokyo jazz clubs have a dress code?
- Cotton Club says it has none. Check other clubs' own pages.
- Should I bring earplugs?
- JGIG's guide encourages them for louder shows. WHO's standard asks venues to make hearing protection available.
Method and scope
- Live house rows. Based on JGIG's guides, venue pages and columns, read on 20 Oct 2026. They describe tendencies, not rules for any show.
- Jazz column. Based on the official pages of three Tokyo jazz clubs, read on 20 Oct 2026. Other clubs may work differently.
- Idol example. TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2026 is one organizer's published rules, used as an example. It is a festival, not a live house.
- JGIG figures. From the JGIG Live House Index CSV, computed on 20 Oct 2026. It covers 465 upcoming shows at 16 venues listed on JGIG in Tokyo and Osaka, dated 20 Oct to 31 Dec 2026.
- Not a national statistic. JGIG's figures describe its listings, not all live houses in Japan.
How to cite
- Title: Etiquette by genre: idol, visual kei, punk, jazz and indie
- URL: https://www.j-gig.com/columns/genre-etiquette-idol-visual-kei-punk-jazz-indie
- Updated: 20 October 2026
- Data: JGIG listings computed 20 Oct 2026
- Suggested citation: JGIG, "Etiquette by genre: idol, visual kei, punk, jazz and indie," updated 20 October 2026, https://www.j-gig.com/columns/genre-etiquette-idol-visual-kei-punk-jazz-indie
Sources
Sources and last checked
- JGIG Live House Index (CSV, computed 2026-10-20; shows listed for 2026-10-20 to 2026-12-31) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- JGIG guide: Livehouse manners and rules (rules vary by venue and event; flash usually banned; earplugs encouraged) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- JGIG guide Q&A: moshing or stage diving / photography / flash / what to wear · checked Oct 20, 2026
- JGIG venue pages: Shinjuku ANTIKNOCK, Shinjuku MARZ, Live House ANIMA, Shimokitazawa BASEMENTBAR (genres as described) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL 2026: notes (photos only at camera-marked stages; no flash or video; mosh, dive and lift banned) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Shinjuku PIT INN: admission includes one drink; reservations and entry order · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Shinjuku PIT INN: notice on morning and afternoon sessions (no photos or video during performances, phones included) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Blue Note Tokyo: reservation flow (music charge; one-order rule) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Blue Note Tokyo: show page example (seat charge for seats other than Side Area L/R and the counter) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Cotton Club: reservation (music charge and seat charge; one-order rule; all seats reserved) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Cotton Club: FAQ (show about 70–80 min; photos during performance need permission; no dress code) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- WHO: new standard for safe listening venues and events (2 Mar 2022; 100 dB average limit; hearing protection for audiences) · checked Oct 20, 2026
By JGIG editorial · Updated Oct 20, 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