Initially built for the 1964 Summer Olympics, this martial arts hall was inspired by the Yumedono, or Hall of Dreams, part of a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. A circular building with an octagonal roof, the Budokan features rows of skylights that let natural light filter into the arena. The 14,000-seat venue has hosted some of the biggest names in music (The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Taylor Swift). In 1978, Cheap Trick’s live LP At Budokan catapulted the Illinois rock band to global fame.

Hear crickets chirp between sets during shows at these partner amphitheaters in Hibiya Park, which are surrounded by gardens, fountains, and trees. The larger, 3000-capacity venue—which was built in 1923 and is known as Yaon among locals—hosts most of the major concerts. Expect a range of musical offerings from classical and jazz ensembles to kei rockers or renowned guitarists. Shows are often seasonal and weather-permitting, so check the calendars before heading over.

Located in the heart of Shibuya near Yoyogi Park, this sleek, cube-shaped auditorium—formerly known as Shibuya Kokaido or Shibuya Public Hall before it was renamed in 2019—is yet another relic of the 1964 Olympic Games. In the years since, it has been a haven for Tokyo’s rock and alternative scene (Sunny Day Service, H ZETTRIO, and MUCC performed here recently) and hosted next-gen pop projects like Liella! and Perfume. Of note: It’s about a 10-minute walk uphill from Shibuya Station.

This modern Roppongi hall takes full advantage of Tokyo’s tower-filled skyline by positioning the stage near floor-to-ceiling windows that make the city feel like part of the show. Performances here are relatively low-key; guests often stay seated during the concert and, when the setup allows, can be served dinner during the program. The calendar leans on jazz and funk instrumentalists (one star-studded 2022 showcase featured Sam Gendel, Blake Mills, Pino Palladino, and Abe Rounds).

This breathtaking Shibuya theater, part of a complex called the Bunkamura, takes cues from the world’s finest concert halls: Vienna's Musikverein, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, and the Boston Symphony Hall. The common thread? They’re all shoebox-style halls—tall and narrow, you get the idea—that position the audience in front of the orchestra and make for remarkable acoustics. The programming is largely classical, opera, and ballet, but not entirely; Jackson Browne and Yes recently performed.

This gorgeous venue in stylish Aoyama wins the award for best visuals: Musicians perform in front of a strikingly realistic video projection of a moon that makes any set feel dreamlike and magical. The club was founded in 2004 by the folks behind Big Romantic Records, who have since opened a sister venue in Taiwan. Snap a picture from the balcony before heading downstairs to watch top-tier jazz, blues, and acoustic musicians perform on the city’s prettiest stage.

When this midsize venue opened in 1994, it was renowned for hosting wild club nights that featured a who’s who of house and techno. A decade later, it moved to Ebisu and broadened its offerings, expanding to a café and gallery and booking more live bands. Still, recordings from electronic music’s golden era keep the club’s heady reputation alive: In 1996, Detroit techno pioneer Jeff Mills released the LP Live at the Liquid Room, which many consider the best DJ mix ever put to tape.

Housed inside an old cinema near Shibuya Station, WWW has tiered floors and high ceilings that make each show feel like a dramatic production. The entrance is on the basement level down the building’s front staircase, and the lineup—a mix of indie rock, alternative music, hip-hop, and R&B—draws a young, hip crowd. If you’re in the mood for an adventure, climb the building’s narrow side stairwell up to its sister venue, a box-style live house called WWW X that doubles as a dance club.

Pay no mind to the luxury stores that pepper this commercial district in Shibuya—these buildings offer so much more. Hidden inside are art galleries, a movie theater, and Club Quattro, a pillar of Tokyo’s music scene since 1988. The storied venue has welcomed acts from across the musical spectrum but tends to focus on gritty guitar-rock bands, which are a thrill to see on its up-close stage. (Note: There’s a pesky front-left pillar that blocks the view from certain angles.)

Zepp Shinjuku opened in the spring of 2023 across four basement floors of the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, a glitzy new skyscraper in the heart of Shinjuku’s nightlife strip. It’s slightly more intimate than its sister venues, Zepp DiverCity and Zepp Haneda, but has state-of-the-art design elements (LED floors!) that make concerts feel electric. The venue hosts all flavors of music—from rock and pop heavyweights to idol and anime songs—and, at night, transforms into the megaclub ZEROTOKYO.