The newish and attractive jazz bar Kohaku (opened in 2019) is hidden away on the sixth floor of a nondescript building near the center of bustling Shibuya, a district known for its youthful vibe and vibrant attractions.
The name Kokahu (琥珀, amber), aka Jazz Bar Amber, may bring to mind an atmospheric warmth with gold and glowing colors. Or it may summon the image of hardened resin suspending an ancient organism, unchanged and captured in time.
None of that applies to the bar Kohaku of course. Except perhaps the design of Kohaku, with its custom-lettered flowing logo design to the stylish furnishings in the room. It all works together to convey an artistic warmth that spreads through the room where you are surrounded by hanging paper umbrellas and golden art-graffiti walls.
Tenuously continuing the amber metaphor, the bar itself could be said to be suspended within the busy and youthful Shibuya district, a hidden jazz gem within the surrounding neighborhood. Like the nearby streets, and perhaps also influenced by the bar’s late hours, the place can be packed on certain nights. Reservations can be easily made through an email address found on the club’s website.
Battling the party atmosphere that may carry in from the environment, a good reminder of its jazz roots can be found in the live performers at Kohaku. Another impressive but less obvious symbol is the special drumset and “J” mark that were saved from Jazzspot J, a legendary Tokyo jazz club that is now closed but not forgotten. The history, teaching, and artifacts of jazz are passed down through generations, and sometimes through locations as well.
Kohaku’s menu lists beers, whisky, custom sangria drinks, and original blend coffee that is a nod to the space’s former cafe business using Udagawa coffee beans. For those split between caffeine and alcohol, there is a tempting homemade coffee shochu on the menu. There are also some food offerings, including a special year-round oden set.
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Located near Shibuya station in Tokyo