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Shimokitazawa Chikamichi Guide: A Rock Venue on the Former GARAGE Site
What first-time visitors need to know about Chikamichi (近道) in Shimokitazawa: how to get there, how the entrance works, capacity, tickets and practical tips.
Chikamichi (近道, "shortcut") is a live house in Shimokitazawa that opened on January 28, 2023, in the space of the former live house GARAGE, which closed in December 2021. It's the sister venue of Chikamatsu. The basement is the live house, and the ground floor is an acoustic bar called Otemae. The venue describes its programming as various genres, mainly rock bands.
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 | January 28, 2023 (the 1F bar Otemae opened on February 4, 2023) |
| Address | NH Shimokitazawa Building, 3-31-15 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo (東京都世田谷区北沢3-31-15 NH下北沢ビル) |
| Layout | Chikamichi (live house) on B1F, Otemae (acoustic bar) on 1F |
| Nearest station | Shimokitazawa (Keio Inokashira Line / Odakyu Line). About 6 minutes on foot. |
| Capacity | About 200 according to listings. The venue doesn't state it officially. |
| Lockers | Reported as no coin lockers, but a cloakroom is available. Confirm with the venue. |
| Tickets | Each show's page on the venue's website, plus LivePocket, e+ (eplus) and reservations through the bands |
| Official links | Website · X · Instagram |
Our own Chikamichi page lists upcoming shows here.
What it's like
Chikamichi is a basement standing room that holds roughly 200 people. The shows we list here cover indie rock, emo, pop and singer-songwriter acts, and many are organized by the bands themselves. The venue calls itself a place for "Shimokitazawa culture," welcoming all kinds of music and visitors. Upstairs, the 1F acoustic bar Otemae hosts its own smaller shows, so check which room your ticket is for.
How to get there
The venue is about 6 minutes from Shimokitazawa Station, on the northern side of the neighborhood. The directions below come from the venue's rental listing, so use a map app alongside them:
- Leave through the East Exit of Shimokitazawa Station (Keio Inokashira Line / Odakyu Line).
- Go straight along the street lined with shops such as 3COINS and KALDI.
- When you see FamilyMart on your left, turn left, then turn right almost immediately.
- When you reach the Ichibangai shopping street, turn left and keep going straight.
- Turn right at the Ogiya Yakuhin drugstore. The venue is on your left.
Shops change over time, so search for "Shimokitazawa Chikamichi" in your map app too. The venue also links a Google Map from its website.
The entrance works a little differently
According to a 2025 visitor guide, the reception is on the 1st floor. You show your ticket and pay the drink fee there, then leave through a separate door, go down the stairs outside, and enter the basement live room through a black door. Ask the staff if you're unsure which door to use.
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 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 collected at the entrance. Our live house guide explains how it works.
- Bags: A cloakroom is reported, but confirm before you go.
- Last train: Check your last train home before you go. Most trains in Tokyo stop around midnight.