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Shimokitazawa Chikamatsu Guide: A 150-Capacity Room for Rising Bands
What first-time visitors need to know about Chikamatsu (近松) in Shimokitazawa: how to get there, capacity, what the shows are like, tickets and practical tips.
Chikamatsu (近松, pronounced "chi-ka-ma-tsu") is a small basement live house in Shimokitazawa that opened in June 2017 on the site of the former CAVE-BE. It describes itself as a new kind of space centered on music, with stage, film and other culture mixed in. With room for about 150 people, it's an intimate place to see up-and-coming bands, and it's only a few minutes from the station.
Info checked against the venue's official website and venue listings on October 18, 2026. Details can change, so confirm on the official page for your show.
Quick facts
| Opened | June 2017 (on the former site of CAVE-BE) |
| Address | Kitazawa Plaza B1F, 2-14-16 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo (東京都世田谷区北沢2-14-16 北沢プラザB1F) |
| Nearest station | Shimokitazawa (Keio Inokashira Line / Odakyu Line). About a 3-minute walk from the Southwest Exit, according to the venue. |
| Capacity | About 150 (the venue's own description) |
| Landmark | A building with a Design Tshirts Store graniph on the ground floor. The venue is in the basement. |
| Tickets | Each show's page on the venue's website, plus LivePocket, e+ (eplus) and reservations through the bands |
| Official links | Website · X |
Our own Chikamatsu page lists upcoming shows here.
What it's like
Chikamatsu is a compact standing room, and the venue says it likes to keep trying new things. The bill is a mix of young and mid-career bands, and in the shows we list you'll find everything from indie rock and pop to emo, punk and acoustic acts. Many events are organized by the bands themselves, so the atmosphere is often warm and close-knit. When it took over the space from CAVE-BE, the venue kept the speakers and amps but swapped the old tile floor for wood and repainted the walls in its green-and-white theme colors. Listings also mention that it occasionally runs a tsukemen noodle shop at night.
Because it's small, popular shows can get crowded. Arriving near the Open time helps if you want a spot near the front.
How to get there
Chikamatsu is a 3-minute walk from the station. The venue's official directions:
- Leave through the Southwest Exit of Shimokitazawa Station (Keio Inokashira Line / Odakyu Line).
- Walk straight down the gentle slope between McDonald's and Sutadon.
- At the crossing where there's an abura-soba shop on the right and a curry shop on the left, turn right.
- Walk about two more minutes. On the right you'll see a building with a Design Tshirts Store graniph shop. Chikamatsu is in the basement (B1F).
Shops change over time, so keep your map app handy and search for "Shimokitazawa Chikamatsu" in case a landmark has moved.
Tickets and the door
Ticket details are listed on each show's page on the venue's website. Many shows use LivePocket or e+, and many bands also take reservations directly (called torioki, where you give your name and pay at the door). Each show page on this site links to the official page when one is available. If you're new to the system, our first-timer's guide explains Adv/Door prices and reservations.
- Drink fee: A separate one-drink fee is usually collected at the entrance. Our live house guide explains how it works.
- Bags: Locker availability isn't clearly listed, so it's safest to travel light or ask the venue.
- Last train: Check your last train home before you go. Most trains in Tokyo stop around midnight.