Gigs in Tokyo FAQ

Thank you for checking out Gigs in Tokyo!

This city's incredible independent live music scene offers some of the most fun and rewarding experiences you can find. In the numerous small venues known as 'livehouses', you will find countless unbelievably talented acts putting on amazing shows night after night.

Some of your best Tokyo memories can be made here, but working out where to start or how to get in can be a challenge, so we created Gigs in Tokyo to make finding and getting to shows as simple as possible.

See you in the livehouse!

How does ticket reservation work?

On the ticket reservation page, you will find links to email templates that let you reserve tickets.

Upon clicking/tapping a link, the template will open, and you can fill it with your details.

Typically, the required details are your name (a nickname is fine) and how many tickets you want to reserve. Some events also ask that you specify which of the featured artists you are most interested in seeing.

Send that email, and your reservation is complete.

No payment is required when making the reservation. You will pay for your ticket at the venue entrance. (Please note that the majority of venues only accept cash as payment for tickets.)

What do I do when I arrive at the venue?

At the front desk, you will be asked your name and, if applicable, which artist you said you are most interested in seeing.

The Japanese words for this are o-na-ma-e (name) and o-me-a-te (chosen artist).

Together with the ticket for the show, in almost all cases you will be required to buy a drink ticket (typically between ¥500-700). This is mandatory, and standard practice at music venues across Japan.

Your ticket can be used to buy alcoholic or soft drinks.

Why make a reservation?

It is always worth reserving tickets in advance, as typically you will a discount of ¥500 for doing so, and it will guarantee you can enter even if the show sells out.

What is the latest I can reserve tickets?

The typical deadline for ticket reservations is midnight the day before the show. However, depending on the event organiser, reservations may be kept open throughout the day of, too.

If you're planning on going to a show, it's always worth sending a reservation email, even if you decide to go last-minute.

Can I arrive late?

Yes, you will be able to enter at any time, as long as the show is still running.

Event timetables are sometimes not announced, or are only announced very close to the start date informally on the artists' social media pages (Twitter, Instagram Stories etc.), so it can be difficult to work out which act you will miss should you arrive late.

I reserved a ticket, but I'm no longer able to go. What should I do?

Please cancel your reservation so that someone else can have your ticket in the event that the show sells out.

You can do this by returning to the ticket page and sending another email through the relevant show link. Delete the existing template and state your name and that you want to cancel. Please do not delete the reference number at the bottom.

I have an gig I want listed on the page.

We always need more gigs! Only events with tickets reservable by email are eligible. If yours is, please get in touch at gigsintokyo.info@gmail.com.

Who runs Gigs in Tokyo?

The page is run by the same people (well, mainly one person) behind the YouTube channel ANGURA, which introduces bands and venues from Japan's indie music scene that you should know about. Subscribe to the channel to dive even deeper into the Japanese underground.