Thelonious

Thelonious jazz club, located near Higashi-nakano and Ochiai stations in Tokyo, Japan (website, map)

Mamoru Ishida (piano), Kenji Yoshitake (bass), and Minori Yagino (drums) at Thelonious in March 2025

“The World’s Smallest Jazz Club” was a commonly mentioned nickname for the jazz club Hot House in Takadanobaba, Tokyo. But now that that classic spot has closed, this honorable title could be given to the spot named Thelonious, another classic Tokyo haven that is a revered yet extremely down-to-earth jazz bar in Higashi-Nakano.

With its plain setting and simple furnishings, Thelonious is a soulful and humble listening room. It’s tiny, but not cramped, a perfectly minimalistic place for focused audiences who are there for hot jazz in a friendly and uncomplicated setting.

Ayu Yoneda (sax), Mamoru Ishida (piano), Kenji Yoshitake (bass), and Minori Yagino (drums) at Thelonious in March 2025

Otohito Fuse (piano), Ko Omura (drums), and Kosuke Ochiai (bass) at Thelonious in March 2025

Stage area at Thelonious showing owner Toshiko-san’s Japanese calligraphy of 鳳鳴朝陽 (“the phoenix sings at the morning sun” describing great fortune and auspicious beginnings)

Stage area at Thelonious

Shinpei Ruike (trumpet) and George Nakajima (piano) at Thelonious in April 2024

The bar has changed locations twice in the same Higashi-Nakano neighborhood and close to Higashi-Nakano station. The photos above (and further below) were taken at Thelonious’s current location, and notes and photos from the two previous locations are also included below.

Thelonious’s Current Location