日本 / Field Guide Basics
The terms and etiquette that come up at nearly every live house and bar on this site — what you'll be charged, how seating works, and a few things worth knowing before you go.
ライブハウス — Raibu Hausu
Japan's own term (wasei-eigo, a Japanese coinage from English words) for a small-to-mid-size live music venue — something between a bar and a concert hall. Most operate nightly or near-nightly, and most require some form of cover charge on top of food and drink.
チャージ / ミュージックチャージ — Chāji
The entry fee for a show or a night at a rock bar, separate from anything you eat or drink. Ranges widely — from around ¥2,000 at a small Koenji live house to ¥4,000–5,000+ at a Roppongi tribute-band club. Usually paid at the door.
ワンドリンク制 — Wan Dorinku Sei
A common rule requiring at least one drink order per person, on top of any cover charge. Sometimes the first drink is bundled into the cover charge price; sometimes it's billed separately. Ask if you're not sure — it's not optional either way.
お通し — Otōshi
More common at izakaya-style bars than live houses, but worth knowing: a small dish brought to your table automatically, unrequested, and billed regardless — functionally a seating charge dressed as a snack. Not a scam, just standard practice.
サービス料 — Sābisu Ryō
Some venues (Abbey Road among them) add a flat percentage — commonly around 10–15% — to your total bill. It's disclosed upfront, not a surprise tip request; Japan doesn't have a tipping culture beyond this.
オールスタンディング — Ōru Sutandingu
Most rock- and punk-leaning live houses (Shelter, Antiknock, Niman Denatsu) are entirely standing, general-admission floors. Arrive early for a spot near the stage; there's rarely assigned space.
オールシッティング — Ōru Shittingu
Tribute clubs and jazz clubs (Abbey Road, Kento's, Shinjuku Pit Inn, Body & Soul) tend to run seated, dinner-and-a-show style — you're shown to a table, order food and drinks, and stay put for the sets.
前売り／当日 — Maeuri / Tōjitsu
Many shows offer a cheaper advance-ticket price (maeuri) versus a higher walk-up price on the day (tōjitsu). For the resident-band clubs on this site you generally don't need advance tickets — for one-off gigs and touring acts, it's worth checking ahead.
ノルマ — Noruma
Behind the scenes, many live houses require performing bands to sell a set number of tickets, with any shortfall covered by the band itself. It doesn't affect you as a visitor, but it explains why openers sometimes seem to be playing to friends and family — they largely are.
対バン — Taiban
Several bands rotating through one night, back to back — the standard format at Tokyo's smaller live houses. Worth sticking around for the openers or the bands after the one you came for; some of the best surprises turn up there.
大箱・小箱 — Ōbako / Kobako
Informal shorthand for venue capacity, not an official measurement. A room holding more than roughly 300 tends to get called ōbako ("big box"); anything closer to 100 or under is kobako ("small box"). Most venues featured on this site lean small-to-mid.
終電 — Shūden
Tokyo's trains stop running around midnight to 1am depending on the line. Shows and sets are often timed around this — plan your exit, or budget for a taxi if you're staying until close, since many venues (rock bars especially) run past last train on purpose.
禁煙／喫煙 — Kin'en / Kitsuen
Varies by venue — some are fully non-smoking (Abbey Road), others still allow smoking inside, particularly older, smaller live houses. Not always posted in English; ask if it matters to you.
パスポート割引 — Pasupōto Waribiki
A number of live houses (Shimokitazawa Garage among others historically) offer a discounted cover charge to foreign visitors who show a passport at the door — a genuinely nice, if unofficial, welcome gesture. Worth asking about, never guaranteed.
リクエスト — Rikuesuto
At cover-band clubs (Abbey Road, Kento's, Bauhaus, Rock Bar Heaven), writing a song request on a card and handing it to staff is normal and encouraged — house bands often build sets partly around what the room asks for.