A local side of Tokyo where you can enjoy both leisure and everyday life.
Shimokitazawa
A subculture hub known for vintage shops, small theaters, and live music.
Around the station, you will find record shops, galleries, and unique cafés. Just walking around is a fun experience. If you want to explore Setagaya’s cultural side, this is a must-visit area.
Todoroki Valley
One of Setagaya’s most soothing destinations.
Even in summer, the air here feels cool and refreshing. With a Japanese garden, ancient burial mounds, and an Inari shrine, the scenery reveals a different side of itself the farther you walk.
Sangenjaya
Setagaya’s gateway, where local charm meets modern trends.
The area around the station is filled with shopping streets and back-alley eateries. By day, enjoy cafés and bakeries. By night, stop by an izakaya or bar and experience a different side of the neighborhood.
Shimokitazawa, where backstreet culture comes alive
Shimokitazawa is a compact neighborhood where the Odakyu and Keio Inokashira lines intersect, and a vibrant cultural hub packed with small theaters, live music venues, vintage shops, and cafés. In the redeveloped areas built along the former rail tracks and beneath the railway, independent shops and galleries line the streets, and simply wandering the back alleys can lead you to a favorite spot that feels like your own discovery. From exploring cafés and small lifestyle shops by day to enjoying theater and live music at night, the neighborhood takes on different faces throughout the day. Known as Setagaya’s subculture district, Shimokitazawa is a strolling destination where walking itself becomes part of the experience.
Special Feature: Shimokitazawa
Exclusive Interview with a Live Music Venue
A live music venue and bar located about a three-minute walk from Shimokitazawa Station’s West Exit.
Set in a laid-back space with a tropical resort feel, it hosts participatory jam sessions every weekday that welcome everyone from beginners to professionals. The genre changes daily, ranging from R&B and soul to jazz and rock, and guests can either join the performance or simply enjoy the live music as listeners with a drink in hand.
The venue is also fully equipped for hall rental and recording, making it suitable not only for live events, but also for streaming recordings and use as a lesson studio. Its compact size creates an intimate, immersive sound, and its warm, homey atmosphere naturally draws music lovers together. It is a spot full of the unique character of Shimokitazawa.
Manager：Ito Yuki
Profile
Before becoming a live house owner, he was first and foremost a drummer himself.
His career has always been rooted in life as a musician. He experienced two major-label debuts as a band member, and as his musical career expanded, so did his work into music teaching, commercial music production, and eventually live house management.
In 2015, he opened the live music venue Music Island O, which is now in its 12th year.
The venue hosts live events and jam sessions every day. Weekdays focus on participatory sessions, while weekends are mainly used for private live shows and events. As one of the connecting points in Shimokitazawa’s music scene, he continues to create spaces for music every day.
In my twenties, while working at a bistro in Shimokitazawa,
I rented a corner of the place and ran jam sessions
and live shows on my own.
That experience eventually led to the venue I have today.
When the opportunity came, I decided to open it
without overthinking too much.
To be honest, I was anxious, but my desire
to run a live music venue in Shimokitazawa
was even stronger.
At first, it was just my wife and me.
Organizing 30 live shows a month simply was not realistic.
So we made a clear decision: weekdays would be entirely
for jam sessions, and live shows would be held only on weekends.
That style has not changed to this day.
Someone performing here today might become tomorrow’s customer,
and sometimes today’s customer ends up on stage the next day.
I want this to be a place where people can connect with music
naturally, beyond fixed roles or labels.
In my twenties, while working at a bistro in Shimokitazawa,
I rented a corner of the place and ran jam sessions
and live shows on my own.
That experience eventually led to the venue I have today.
When the opportunity came, I decided to open it
without overthinking too much.
To be honest, I was anxious, but my desire
to run a live music venue in Shimokitazawa
was even stronger.
At first, it was just my wife and me.
Organizing 30 live shows a month simply was not realistic.
So we made a clear decision: weekdays would be entirely
for jam sessions, and live shows would be held only on weekends.
That style has not changed to this day.
Someone performing here today might become tomorrow’s customer,
and sometimes today’s customer ends up on stage the next day.
I want this to be a place where people can connect with music
naturally, beyond fixed roles or labels.
“The warmth of our wonderfully unique staff is one of our greatest strengths”
A welcoming, homey space where each staff member connects with performers and listeners in their own way.
“We want to keep our doors open wide and expand the circle of music”
We hope more people will discover our venue, from those who are new to instruments or jam sessions to a much broader audience.
Connected through music in Shimokitazawa
Mr. Ito, the manager, has been running his venue in Shimokitazawa for over 10 years.
He says the connection between the neighborhood and music is truly deep.
As you walk through the streets, you are almost certain to pass someone carrying an instrument.
He told us that what makes the area so interesting is how music connects people,
while at the same time giving rise to many different communities, each with its own character.
That, he says, is part of what makes this neighborhood so special.
Weekday jam sessions are generally held daily from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
(Genres vary by day, including rock, jazz, and sessions dedicated to Red Hot Chili Peppers.)
Events are held on weekends, and event proposals and hall rentals are also welcome.
(For details, please contact the venue via the website link below.)
Weekday jam sessions are generally held daily from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
(Genres vary by day, including rock, jazz, and sessions dedicated to Red Hot Chili Peppers.)
Events are held on weekends, and event proposals and hall rentals are also welcome.
(For details, please contact the venue via the website link below.)
Store Information
Music Island O
Address:
NS Building 3F, 2-8-8 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0031, Japan
Business Hours:
Weekdays: 7:00 PM–12:00 AM
Hours on weekends may vary depending on the event. Please check the official website for details.
Website
https://o.organiq.biz/o/
Official X (Twitter)
https://x.com/musicislando
Official Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/music.island.o/
Official Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/music_island_O/
Official YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ2Got78PZ_Xs5V9cB-Z-vQ
Special thanks to Music Island O, Shimokitazawa, for their cooperation.
・Jam Session Info・
Held regularly on the third Thursday of every month at Music Island O.
“Japan’s Friendliest Jam Session” — Motechoro! JAM
Organizer: Motechoro Inc.
Time: 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Venue: Shimokitazawa Music Island O
Address: NS Building 3F, 2-8-8 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0031, Japan
Admission: 2,000 yen + 1 drink
Join empty-handed!
Song requests are welcome!
No preparation needed!
Our friendly host members will explain the songs,
so even beginners can join the jam session with confidence!
For inquiries, please visit the official Motechoro Co., Ltd. website.
Motechoro JAM is also streamed on YouTube!
Check out the archives to get a feel for the event.
Organizer Information
Motechoro Inc. Official Website
https://motechoro.jp/
Motechoro Inc. Official X (Twitter)
https://x.com/motechoro
Motechoro Inc. Official YouTube
https://youtube.com/@motechoro_inc
