There’s a nice choice of small jazz bars in the bustling Asagaya neighborhood mere steps from the train station, including Manhattan, Staccato, and the recently renewed Klavier.

Just west of Tokyo and right along the Chuo line train station, Klavier is a great choice to listen to jazz in a cozy environment with a dark wood den-like atmosphere. In business since 1982, Klavier exudes a palpable sense of local jazz history and classic elegant touches in its comfortable environment, one that combines classy service levels with the friendly tone of a neighborhood hangout.

Inside Klavier, an impressive scotch and whiskey bottle collection are on display behind a beautiful wooden bar that extends toward the performance area. A nice selection of cocktails and mixed drinks is available, as well as a limited but dependably delicious selection of otoshi and small dishes - grilled chicken, pizzas, and other reasonably priced options (the menu changed with the 2026 reopening, and not all options are available). The dapper and friendly husband and wife team running the club (now retired from Klavier) makes the bar area very personal and quickly serviced.

2026 update: The original owners closed jazz bar Klavier last year with a final event on January 25, 2025. Fortunately, the location was quickly reopened again a few months later under new management connected to the annual Asagaya Jazz Street event. The venue’s name, location, signs, and layout remain mostly the same since the reopening.

New owner Chika Toyota is steeped in jazz, with both parents coming from the jazz music world, and with considerable musical experience herself in Japan and internationally. Toyota is a jazz vocalist and may sometimes sit in with the scheduled band for an impromptu performance when requested. Occasionally, she may even headline a night on piano and vocals, taking over the stage for her own scheduled events. Not limited to music and business talent, Toyota is also the artist who painted the portrait of Ron Carter seen at the end of the bar, and may have a story or two to tell about her jazz hero if the time is right.

On certain nights, new menu dishes are available (there was a much-ordered quesadilla option the last time I visited that seems popular). Since reopening, the food options and system may still be settling in, and any available options may be daily specials that are not reflected in the bar’s menu and current information. Until more detailed information is available, it may be safest to assume that food options at Klavier, if available, will be limited.

Klavier is right outside the southern exit of Asagaya station. As part of the chain of Chou-line jazz joints, it’s possible to hop on and off the line at different stations to visit other bars along Chuo, but this may be easiest done on successive nights rather than trying to bar hop to multiple jazz spots in one night. Bar-hopping that is dependent on short train rides is possible and fun, and is an exciting plan for those who are in the city for a few days and want to visit as many venues as possible during their limited time. It’s also not uncommon that local listeners want to attend more than one specific performance on the same night, truly fortunate conditions for music fans in the jazz abundant areas of Japan. But, this bar hopping does involve missing chunks of each set, or even entire sets, at the different venues, and sometimes it’s hard to pull yourself away from a good time spent at one venue where you can catch all the music from beginning to end.

The new Klavier celebrated its first anniversary last month in March 2026, and their current events calendar shows Friday and Saturday night live concerts set for at least several months out.

Best of luck to the new Klavier and long live Asagaya jazz!

For more information:

• Klavier’s website
• Located near Asagaya station in Tokyo, Japan

Jazz of Japan #361 (Premium) • Apr 19, 2026 • Brian McCrory