Ochanomizu is best known for its ‘guitar street’ – a long row of guitar shops jetting off from the JR station exit, selling every make and model on the market, used and new, and every kind of accessory or equipment you could imagine. But smack right in the middle of this street is the basement jazz bar Naru.
Like a lot of the joints on this list, Naru has a long legacy. In fact, Naru is gearing up to celebrate its 55th anniversary this year, having opened its doors for the first time in 1969. The bar’s owner is a sax player himself, so you can be sure the place takes its music seriously, with either two or three 45-minute jazz sets nearly every night. The music charge starts at ¥3,500 (plus one drink minimum), placing it about mid-level in terms of costliness.