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Daytime Live Music in Shimokitazawa: Curry, a Show and Record Shopping
A weekend day of live music in Shimokitazawa: spice curry before an afternoon show, craft beer, record shops, vintage clothes and an izakaya dinner or a night show, with a map.
Shimokitazawa is one of the best neighborhoods in Tokyo to see live music, and it is also a place that is fun to walk around. Better still, on weekends many live houses here run daytime shows: doors open around noon or in the afternoon, and the music is over by evening. That leaves you free for lunch before the show and for shopping, drinks or dinner afterwards.
This guide is a simple plan for that kind of day, built around a daytime show.
Shop information was checked against each shop's official pages and listings in autumn 2026. Hours and closing days change, so please check the links before you go.
Why a daytime show works well for visitors
- You can fit it between other plans. An afternoon show leaves your evening free, and you do not have to worry about the last train.
- The whole neighborhood is part of the trip. Shimokitazawa is known for curry shops, vintage clothing and record stores, and all of them are a short walk from the live houses.
- It is a relaxed way to try a live house. Daytime and multi-act events are a good introduction. We reported on one in 大ニューモアニッポン at BASEMENT BAR & THREE, where doors opened at 14:30.
To find daytime shows, look at the Open / Start times on our show list and use the "This weekend" button. Daytime shows are often listed with doors at around noon to mid-afternoon. If you are new to Japanese live houses, read our first-timer's guide first. It explains tickets and the drink fee.
A sample day
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Late morning | Spice curry. If you have time, a craft beer nearby before or after |
| Noon to afternoon | The live show |
| After the show | Record shops, vintage clothes, or both |
| Evening | An izakaya dinner, or a second show at night, then head home |
1. Start with curry
Shimokitazawa is known for its curry shops. A good first stop is 旧ヤム邸 シモキタ荘 (Kyū Yamutei Shimokita-sō), a spice curry restaurant that opened in 2017 as the Tokyo branch of an Osaka original. Its menu changes monthly, and the "all-in" plates let you try several curries together. It is in a converted house a short walk from the station, about 5 to 8 minutes on foot.
- Address: 5-29-9 Daizawa, Setagaya-ku (東京都世田谷区代沢5-29-9 ナイスビル1F)
- Hours: Lunch from about 11:00 to 11:30. Hours and closing days vary by source, and it may be closed or limited on Tuesdays.
- Tips: It is popular, so there is often a line. Many daytime shows start around noon, so arrive close to opening to leave time before the show.
- Official info: Instagram
It is a little far from venues like ERA and Chikamichi, roughly a 10-minute walk, so give yourself time if your show is in that direction. On the other hand, it is only a few minutes' walk from BASEMENT BAR and THREE, which makes it an easy lunch stop before a show there.
If you have time: craft beer across the street
Directly opposite, 北沢小西 (Kitazawa Konishi, nicknamed "Kitakoni") is a liquor store that specializes in craft beer and hard cider, with a very large selection of Japanese and overseas bottles and cans. You can buy a bottle or can and drink it inside the shop (kakuuchi).
- Address: 5-28-16 Daizawa, Setagaya-ku (東京都世田谷区代沢5-28-16)
- Hours: On weekends it opens around 11:00. On weekdays it opens in the afternoon. It is closed on Tuesdays.
- Drinking in the shop: A local article says there is no opening fee before 16:00, and a small fee of ¥110 per bottle after that. Check the shop for the current rule.
- Official info: Website
If you have some time before or after your curry, it makes a nice stop. If a show is coming up, keep the start time in mind.
2. The live show
Pick your show on our list, then check the venue's guide for directions, capacity and tickets. A few Shimokitazawa guides to start with:
Arrive around doors time. If the event has many bands, you do not have to stay for the entire day. Check the timetable if you want to catch one act.
3. After the show: records and vintage clothes
Record shops
Three stores that fit a post-show walk:
| Shop | What it is | Details |
|---|---|---|
| DISK UNION Shimokitazawa | An all-genre record store with a strong used section, especially rock, jazz, soul and J-pop, plus Japanese indie releases | 1-40-6 Kitazawa, in front of Kitazawa Town Hall. Usually 12:00 to 20:00 on weekdays and 11:00 to 20:00 on weekends. Shop blog |
| JET SET Tokyo | A record shop that mainly sells new vinyl, with indie pop, electronic and other genres, plus Japanese indie self-released records | 2F, 2-33-12 Kitazawa. Usually 12:00 to 20:00. Shop page |
| Flash Disc Ranch | A used-record shop that has been open since 1982, mostly imported LPs | 2F, 2-12-16 Kitazawa. Usually closed on Wednesdays, and weekend hours may start later. Instagram |
Mind the closing time. Many record shops close at about 20:00. If the show ends in the evening, you may only have time for one shop, so pick the one you care about most.
Vintage clothes
Shimokitazawa is also famous for vintage clothes. A Time Out Tokyo guide calls it a place whose vintage shops rival Harajuku and Koenji, and a travel agency guide says there are at least 50 of them. The shops are spread along the small lanes around the station, so wandering is part of the fun. For ideas, see Time Out Tokyo's guide to Shimokitazawa vintage shops.
On weekends and holidays there is also an outdoor flea market held in the afternoon at the 下北線路街 vacant lot, about a 4-minute walk from the station. Whether it is held depends on the day, so check before you go.
4. Evening: an izakaya, or another show
When you are ready to eat, Shimokitazawa has plenty of independent izakaya (Japanese pubs) as well as chains. Two to try:
- 都夏 (Tsuge): a long-running izakaya that has been open since 1991, serving seafood and yakitori, close to the curry shop at 5-29-16 Daizawa. It opens every day, from about 15:00 on weekends. Operator's page
- こがみ (Kogami): a casual izakaya on the second floor at 2-9-2 Kitazawa, run by the indie label KOGA RECORDS (formerly KOGA MILK BAR). It serves Kumamoto dishes at low prices. It opens in the evening and may close on irregular days.
A tip for izakaya: many izakaya charge a small seating fee (otōshi) that comes with a starter dish. This is normal.
Or go to another show
If you are not ready to call it a day, you can also go to a second show at night. On weekends in Shimokitazawa, there is always a live show on somewhere, so you will not run out of options. Look for evening shows on our show list (try the "This weekend" button), and check the Open / Start times to see which ones fit.
Map
The map shows live houses (pink), places to eat and drink (yellow, orange and purple) and record shops (cyan). Select a pin for details. Pin locations are approximate.
● Live houses ● Curry ● Craft beer ● Record shops ● Izakaya
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Practical tips
- Check the day of the week. Closing days differ: for example, the craft beer shop is closed on Tuesdays, and the record shop Flash Disc Ranch is usually closed on Wednesdays.
- Check hours before you go. Many small shops post updates on Instagram or X, and hours can change at short notice.
- Carry some cash. Small shops and izakaya may not take cards.
- Plan your last train. If you stay for dinner, check your last train home.