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In
an attempt to further tarnish her reputation, Ashley has decided to carry
on her tradition of reporting to the GM with her accounts
of Nagoya
and Gifu nightspots,
crossing the spectrum from hip-hop to rock. Feel free to e-mail us with your own
comments and experiences. This month we've added Diamond
Hall and Apollo Theatre.
Club: Diamond
Hall
Styles: Mixed
styles of rock and pop; DJ events
Review:
Diamond Hall,
with a capacity of about 1,000, is the biggest Nagoya venue short of the
huge public halls where pop idols play. As such, it attracts a lot of
internationally touring acts that are big but not stadium-big, as well as
touring Japanese bands of the same caliber. The space is pretty cavernous
and as such doesn't have a lot of atmosphere; take your place on the floor
in the front for a more down-and-dirty experience or in the tiered back
section to get a better view of the action on the large stage. There are
two bars, one in the lobby area and one inside the main hall. As the club
is on an upper floor, expect people jams on the way in and the way out for
popular events. This is a good place to see touring bands and occasionally
DJs, but it isn't the kind of club where people go on a regular basis to
hang out.
Access: Take the subway to Shin-Sakae
Machi station. Exit through exit #2. Make an immediate right, heading
south for one block. Cross Hirokoji-dori and turn right, heading west.
Diamond Hall is in the middle of the block on the left, in the Flex
Building, 5th floor. Look for the signs.
More information: http://www.diamond-hall.com
Club: Apollo
Theatre
Styles: Mixed
styles of rock, special DJ events, etc.
Review:
Apollo
Theatre is Diamond Hall's smaller sister club. It's darker, cozier, and
true to its name laid out like a theater, with a small floor in front of
the stage surrounded by tiers that look like they once contained tables
and seats for some sort of show. Now the theater plays host to rock events
of all sorts, encompassing all varieties thereof and occasionally
branching out to other genres. Bands that appear here range from unfamous
to indie-famous to semi-famous, mostly Japanese but occasionally foreign.
It's a popular spot for all-night events featuring several bands and DJs
around a musical theme.
Access: Take the subway to Shin- Sakae
Machi station. Exit through exit #2. Make an immediate right, heading
south for one block. Cross Hirokoji-dori and turn right, heading west.
Apollo Theater is in the middle of the block on the left, in the Flex
Building, basement floor. Look for the signs.
More information: http://www.diamond-hall.com
Club: Tightrope
Styles: Rock (local, indie, punk); indie electronica
Review: Tightrope is one of the many
small Nagoya venues playing host to local and touring rock, indie and punk
bands. It's run by members of the popular Nagoya band Bone Idol, who also
operate the itty-bitty Club BL in Higashiyama. The space itself isn't much
to speak of; a small bar, a small floor and a small stage, and walls
decorated with the requisite stickers and posters for bands that have
formerly graced the premises. That said, it's a good place to see Japanese
talent that hasn't made it onto the charts; check out their Sunday Trash
Party, a weekly showcase for local bands; you can buy a pass for the whole
month. One also occasionally finds touring American indie bands on the
schedule.
Access: Take the subway to Sakae station. Exit through exit #13.
Head south and take your first left. On the second block you'll see a
Lawson's on the right. The building is directly across from the Lawson's.
Tightrope is on one of the upper floors.
More information: http://www.tight-rope.com
Club: Sound
Bar Jap
Styles: Soul,
funk & disco
Review: Sound Bar Jap is a small, cozy
dance club that takes its '70s theme very seriously. The walls are painted
in orange and pink swirls and vintage posters; there are even afro wigs
available for your use and the club offers dance classes for those who
haven't yet gotten their John Travolta black belt. The music, likewise,
sticks to the tried and true soul/disco formula, but if that's what you go
in for, then this could be the place.
Access: Take the subway to Sakae. Go
out exit 1 and head west (right) on Nishiki-dori. Take the third right. Jap is on the left on the second block; take
the elevator to the 5th floor.
More information: http://13b.power.ne.jp/jap/
Club: P.O.d.
Styles: All DJ styles - house/techno, hip hop/soul, pop, rock
Review: P.O.d. is a smallish DJ club
that seems to host whatever random selection of events promoters decide to
set up there. They include house/techno, rock, and '80s, but most are of
the hip-hop/R&B/soul variety (check the schedule before you go).
There's a decent amount of seating well-positioned for viewing the small
dance floor, and the vibe generally seems to be upbeat and welcoming.
You'll find mostly Nihonjin here; it's not particularly favored by the
gaijin set.
Access: Take the subway to Sakae. Go
out exit 4 and head north toward the TV Tower. Pass the TV Tower and the
Rainbow Bridge and take the first right. P.O.d. is in the Voice Building
immediately on the right corner, 4th floor.
More information: http://liveweb.jp/~pod/
Club: High
Cross (Gifu-shi)
Styles: All DJ styles - house, techno, hip hop, soul, Euro, rock
Review: Despite its physical address in
Gifu City, High Cross is actually a fair distance from the city center,
way out in Ginan-cho, housed in what looks like it used to be a car
dealership. Like a lot of clubs in Japan, it
seems to be patronized more for special events than for an average weekend
night out. However, it also seems to have a good base of regulars who take
part in its darts and dance competitions, hip-hop dance lessons and skate
ramp (!) on a regular basis. The smaller front room, with booths and
a small dance floor, opens through a hallway into a larger warehouse-like
back room that only occasionally packs out. Guest
DJs spin in various genres every Friday and Saturday for a cover that’s
usually 1000-1500 yen, much better than you’d get at clubs in Nagoya.
Access: Take Route 21 east from
Gifu
and
then go south on Route 22. High Cross is just near the Ginan interchange.
More information: http://www.ccn.aitai.ne.jp/~hi-x/crosstop.html
Club: Canolfan
Styles: rock, indie, experimental electronic, jazz, folk, avant
garde
Review: Canolfan is a café/gallery/performance
space that often plays host to low-key local and touring groups, generally
in the indie or experimental genres. The café space is bright, clean and
sparsely decorated; while you’re waiting or watching you can browse CDs
and magazines (some in English!) and chose a drink or snack from their café
menu. Shows generally start and end early; if you’re a music fan (or a
musician yourself) this a good place to check out the local talent in a
laid-back setting, and maybe connect with some like-minded friends.
Access: Take the subway to Shin-Sakae
Station. From the exit #2, walk east and immediately turn south towards
Hirokouji-dori. Cross Hirokouji and turn left (east). Take the first right
and Canolfan will be on your left (it’s rather brightly lit and hard to
miss).
More information:
http://homepage2.nifty.com/canolfan/
Club: The
Plastic Factory
Styles: house, trance, techno, special events
Review: The
Plastic Factory is a club run by English ex-pats (no easy
venture in
Japan, I
bet). It’s housed in a former plastic factory, hence the name, and the
space has been renovated into a cool industrial-modern bar-club that on
different nights can be low-key and loungey or wild and crazy (the second
floor is a free space available for exhibitions, studio space, etc.) Every
Friday is a DJ night; Saturday and occasionally other nights play host to
special events that include wine tastings, Bhangra nights, movies and
theme parties. The crowd is predictably gaijin-heavy, but a lot of
foreign-friendly Japanese frequent the place as well. The owners have put
a lot of work into making this place happen, and it seems to have paid off
with parties that are said to be a lot of fun.
Access: Take the subway to Imaike
Station. From exit 2 walk north. Take the third right (if you pass a
Mini-Stop you’ve gone too far). Turn left at Don-taku Ramen and go up a
short alley to find the entrance to the club (it’s best to take a map
along, it’s tough to find).
More information: http://www.mangafrog.com
Club:
Club
Buddha Styles: hip-hop, reggae, other misc.
events Review: Club Buddha is a
small but cool space catering to reggae lovers, and occasionally to
hip-hop, rock, jazz, electronica and bossa nova fans. It's certainly not
the kind of place you'd stumble across accidentally, located behind a
windowless door on the 6th floor of a quiet, back-street building. Once
inside, you'll find a small dance floor and a smattering of seating. The
lighting is nice, the walls are decorated with artful graffiti and the
drinks are strong. The varied schedule is mostly comprised of events
hosted by independent promoters, so check first before you head out. And
in a venue this size, you're guaranteed to make some new friends.
Entrance is always 2,000 with two drinks included. Non-smokers
beware -- this is one of the smokiest clubs I've ever been in (bad
ventilation, I guess) and burning incense only adds to the
problem. Access: Take the
subway to Shin-Sakae Station. From the exit #2, walk west. At the first
intersection, turn south towards Hirokouji-dori. Cross Hirokouji and turn
right (west). You should pass a convenience store (Family Mart?) on the
left. Take the next left and then the next right. The building which
houses Club Buddha is past a parking lot on the right; look for a small
sign. It's on the sixth floor. More
information: http://www5.plala.or.jp/cmyk/buddha/
Club:
Ozon
Styles: electronic (dance, trance,
house, etc.) Review: Ozon is probably the
most spacious dance club Nagoya has to offer, although it doesn't have quite the
variety of ID. The huge, ware-house style main room is almost always
devoted to electronic music, and it gets pretty crowded on weekends.
Occasional touring DJs and dance-oriented acts like Rip Slyme make stops here too. A much smaller side room spins
hip-hop and hosts the occasional random live act. There's plenty of
intimate seating around the floor (in case you're not actually there to
dance). The crowd is mostly young and runs the gamut from prim-and-proper
Louis Vuitton girls to be-goggled techno devotees. I even spotted a few
people wearing animal suits. It's not as crazy as ID, and not as sketchy
as J-Max, so if you want a big club but a more low-key experience try
Ozon. Access: Take the
subway to Sakae Station. More info to come. More information:
http://www.ozon.co.jp/
Club:
Club
Quattro Styles: all styles of
bigger-name Japanese and international touring acts Review: I'm not sure there is any country
other than Japan where you will find a live club located in the high
reaches of a department store. Considering its bizarre location (on
Parco's eighth floor), Quattro offers an excellent space to see
higher-profile Japanese acts and visitors from overseas. It's spacious but
not too big, providing an opportunity to get more intimate with big-name
acts than is usually possible at home. The sound, lighting and layout are
all carefully considered, and there's not the least bit of sketchiness to
be found here (which makes it comfortable, if a little safe for those who
like their clubs edgier -- possibly because it's part of a national club
chain). The only negative aspect is the inflated ticket prices, which are
usually around 6,000 yen for anyone you've ever heard of -- Japanese acts
often play other Nagoya venues for much less. Access: Take the subway to Yaba-cho Station.
Quattro is on the eighth floor of Parco's east building. More information:
http://www.net-flyer.com/
Club:
G-Groove
(Yanagase, Gifu-shi) Styles: pop, dance, special
events Review: G-Groove is not the
kind of club we can conscientiously recommend going to on an average
weekend night. It's located in a rather dubious section of Nishi-Yanagase,
and its decor (gold, mirrors) definitely reflects the character of the
neighborhood (which, if you're not familiar with it, boasts a lot of guys
in dark suits and girls wearing much less). It's something of a shame,
because it's a large, comfy space within walking distance of the station
that could play a bigger role in Gifu's nightlife if it wasn't so smarmy.
That said, it's safe for special events, such as local punk shows or last
year's appearance by
world-famous DJ Fantastic Plastic Machine -- which was busy, friendly and
fun. The clientele probably varies by event, but on a normal night be
warned of sketchy sararimen and clueless service-industry girls. Access: From Gifu Station, walk directly
north on the street that runs past Bierhall. Follow it into Yanagase and
take the first left past Takashimaya. Cross the next main road and
G-Groove is a short distance on the right. More information:
Club:
Radix Styles: hip-hop, reggae, other misc.
events Review: Radix is a bit off
the beaten path of Fushimi/Sakae/Shin-Sakae club-hopping, but if you’re a
hip-hop or reggae fan it’s probably worth the effort, as it’s one of only
a few that caters primarily to those genres. Located in Tsurumai, which is
quite desolate after dark, the trek to the club can be a bit taxing. After
entering you’ll head immediately upstairs before heading back downstairs
into the club space itself (might be a good idea to look out for emergency
exits). The dance floor/seating space is just the right size for a decent
crowd and the setup creates a nice vibe (good visibility for
people-watching). The schedule is mostly locally-organized hip-hop and
reggae events with Nagoya
talent, spiced up
with occasional touring performers like the Pharcyde or the Ninja Tune
family and reggae sound
systems from Jamaica, or random rock
events. Access: Take the subway to
Tsurumai Station. Exit through Exit 4 and walk southwest. Be sure you are
NOT heading straight down Route 41, but rather following the road that
cuts diagonally ACROSS Route 41. You will have to cross a large
intersection to do so. Radix is a brief walk down this diagonal road on
the left. More information:
http://www.radix.to
Club:
Heartland
Studio Styles: rock, pop Review: Heartland Studio is the cleanest,
brightest rock club you’ll probably ever set foot in. Its white walls,
checkerboard floor and high-watt lighting system make it feel decidedly
un-underground. The show I attended – which featured choreographed
interpretive rock dancing – finished promptly at 9:30, at which
time the lights got even brighter and the employees briskly began sweeping
up the floor. The club seems to cater to a slightly older, tamer crowd as
well, with bands that lean towards the poppy and/or cheesy end of the
spectrum. Most are local; the schedule occasionally features some
worthwhile local showcases, such as a John Lennon tribute held in
December. You’ll be asked to buy the obligatory drink ticket on the way
in. Access:
From
Fushimi Station, walk west on Hirokouji-dori. Pass the Hard Rock Café and
take the first left. Heartland Studio is in the same building as the Hard
Rock, but underneath it. Facing the steps that lead up to the Hard Rock
parking deck (across the street from the Hilton Hotel), look to your left
and you’ll see another set of steps heading down to the club. More information:
http://heartland.freegate.co.jp/
Club:
B’s
Café (Yanagase, Gifu
City
) Styles: house, dance, R&B, hip-hop,
bossa jazz, etc. Review: B’s is one
of the few clubs actually located in
Gifu
City
,
for those nights you just can’t make it to
Nagoya
.
Unfortunately, you’ll still have to pay Nagoya
prices to get in –
from 1,000 to 2,500 yen depending on the event. The club itself is an itty-bitty
space on the second or third story, with an intentionally cave-like
atmosphere. But the resident and visiting DJs nearly always provide a
quality soundtrack, with the exact variety of music changing from evening to evening.
The staff is friendly, the drinks start at only 300 yen and it’s open
until 5 if you’re in for a late night until the first train. B’s gets
crowded for the more popular events, and it’s a great place to meet some
youthful Gifu
natives (you’ll see
a lot of all-white outfits, braids and sunglasses on the hip-hop oriented
nights). Access: From Gifu
Station, exit to the north side and turn left, walking until you reach the
first main intersection. Turn right here and walk several blocks. You will
pass the Gifu
City
Bunka
Center
on your right. Take
the second right after you pass Takashimaya department store (located
within Yanagase) and B’s is
on the right corner, upstairs (look for a sign outside). More information: http://www.sagaaz.com/Gifu/Main/Play/club/bscafe/bscafe.html;
print schedules available at stores in Gifu-shi
Club: Club Wall, “Metro” night (2nd
Saturdays) Styles: house,
techno, gay anthem, occasional drag performance Review: Nagoya
’s
only regular gay party is the second Saturday of every month at Club Wall.
Mixed crowd, foreign and Japanese, gay and straight, men and women. A
small place with one bar and dance floor at basement level. Cover is 2,000
yen (2 drinks included), drink prices start at 500 yen after that. The
party usually picks up around midnight
and goes
until the club closes at 5
a.m. Access: Sakae Station, exit 8. Facing the entrance of
Mitsukoshi Department Store, walk right and turn down the small street
that runs parallel to the building with the UniQlo sign, toward Loft. Club
Wall is on the left about three blocks down across from a capsule
hotel. More information:
052-251-5609 (By D. Nance)
Club:
Club
Source Styles: soul, funk,
occasionally hip-hop Review:
The
cover at Club Source is a bit steep (2,500 for men and 2,000 for women,
with only one drink included) but if you want soul music, soul is what
you’ll get here. Every Friday and Saturday night features the ’70s and
’80s Flash Back, where you can get your fill of “pure soul groovin’” and
“best black history,” accompanied by the giant day-glo posters of dancing
black people that are dotted around the room. The club itself is spacious,
with a decent-sized dance floor and generous seating around it. The clientele tend to be
somewhat on the older side, more so than other clubs in Nagoya anyway, and
the floor never seems to be packed, but if you enjoy a more low-key night
of dancing Source could be your place. Access: From Fushimi Station, walk west on
Hirokouji-dori. Take the
first left, then the first right, and Club Source is on the
corner. More information: http://www.club-source.jp/
Club:
Club
JB’s Styles: electronic/dance,
hip-hop, occasional live bands Review:
Club JB’s is a mid-sized dance venue located in the same Sakae
building as Lush, Cipher, Tite Rope and Club Daughter. JB’s is on the
bottom floor, where you’ll find a dimly-lit club with a smallish dance
floor and a separate bar area. The club offers a good variety of DJ and
live events, with a little something for everyone somewhere on the
schedule. DJs include nationally-famous touring acts, as well as locals.
JB’s varied musical offerings and cool, low-key crowd make it worth
checking out as an alternative to the bigger, crazier clubs. Access: Take the subway to Sakae station.
Exit through exit #13. Head south and take your first left. On the second
block you'll see a Lawson's on the right. The building is directly across
from the Lawson's. JBs is downstairs. More
information: http://www.shscity.com/jbs/
Club:
Club
Rock’n’Roll Styles: rock of all
varieties, primarily local and lesser-known Japanese touring
bands Review: Club Rock’n’Roll is a
small-scale live venue of the best kind – intimate, friendly and
frequented by local bands and scenesters. It’s a smallish place, rather
cheerful (for a rock club at least), with walls covered by stickers from
bands that have played there in the 10 years it’s been in existence. You
won’t find any names you recognize on the schedule, but if you’re
interested in catching some native Nagoya bands or their out-of-town
friends, head to Club Rock’n’Roll. Access:
From Shin-Sakae Station, go out exit #2 and head west on
Nishiki-dori. Take the first left (on the large main road) then the first
right. Take the first left again and Rock’n’Roll is three blocks down on
the right side. More information:
print schedules available at other Nagoya
venues
Club:
ID
Cafe Styles: house/electronic,
disco/soul, hip-hop Review:
Although ID sometimes gets maligned as a cheesy pick-up joint, it’s
still the biggest, cheapest, most action-packed club in
Nagoya,
a good time almost guaranteed if you employ your four drink tickets
carefully. 3,000 yen gets the guys in, while it’s only 2,500 for the
ladies. With five floors, each offering a different vibe and a different
type of music, there’s something for everyone. The basement house/trance
floor is usually fairly deserted; one floor up, you’ll find a
boudoir-themed room with soul and disco. Just above that is a chill-out
area with no dance floor, just tables, topped by the hip-hop floor, which
is usually packed. The club is always super-busy on weekends – the
clientele is a great cross-section of university students, young
professionals, young un-professionals and gaijin, and after everyone’s had
a drink (or three or four) it’s easy to find a willing dance or
conversation partner. The club closes relatively early, at
2:30
am, but for a
carefree, drunken good time in Nagoya,
without worrying about taking over a club with a large groups of rowdy
gaijin, ID
can’t really be
beat. Access: Sakae – more
info coming soon More information:
http://www.idx-net.com/iD/
Club:
Club
Plaza, Ogaki-shi,
Gifu-ken Styles: Hip-hop Review:
Club
Plaza
seems,
somewhat laughably, to be the only thing resembling a bar or nightclub for
young people in the Seino district. The 1,000 yen/1 drink cover charge is
reasonable, the club is spacious and the music (varieties of Japanese
& American hip-hop and R&B) is pretty good. This would ordinarily
make for a great local club, but one important thing was missing on the
night we attended … people. The four of us gaijin brought the total
population of the club to 10 – that’s including two DJs, the bartender and
three resident dance instructors who all eerily resembled Alicia Keys.
This isn’t to say we didn’t have a good time; we danced, played drinking
games and made ludicrous song requests until about 3
a.m. But
we were the ONLY ONES doing so. If you Seino-ites find yourselves in the
mood to dance and you need someplace closer to home,
Club
Plaza
could
be your answer. Just consider yourselves forewarned! Access: From Ogaki Station, by car, taxi or
bicycle – begin by going due south from the front entrance of Ogaki
station. Turn left at any point and go several blocks until you reach the
intersection with route 258. Turn right here and go south for several
kilometers. Continue across a low bridge and
Club
Plaza
is further down on
the left, marked by a red and yellow sign next to the road
(near the sign with Doraemon on it). More information: ----
Club:
JMax Styles: Hip-hop, house/dance/disco Review: Upon
entering JMax, you might think that you’ve stumbled into a strip club by
mistake. You’ll find yourself in a kind of gilded, mirrored antechamber,
with the faint beats of music pumping out from behind ornate closed doors.
For the price of entry (2,000 for the ladies and 2,500 for men) you’ll get
four drink tickets, a deal matched by no other club except ID Café. The
club itself is quite large, with two party rooms: one for
disco/dance/techno and the other for hip-hop & R&B. The hip-hop
room seems to draw more of a foreign crowd, with lots of Caribbeans, South
Asians and various sorts of Westerners in attendance. The music was
enjoyable, but there was a high disparity between the skills of the three
DJs; and the patrons were friendly, although a few caused problems with
too much aggression toward the ladies.
Back in the electronic room,
you’ll find girls dressed in matching outfits doing synchronized dance
moves on platforms and Japanese boys gleefully bouncing around together
(whether this indicates that the club caters to the gay crowd or not I’ll
leave to you to decide). The music here is a little variable as well,
moving without warning from the hits of 1979 to sirens wailing and
thump-thumping techno. But in sum, the club offers a nice space with a
couple of musical options and plenty of seating secluded from the dance
floor when you need to get away. Access: From Fushimi
Station,
walk south on Fushimi-dori. Turn left at the first corner south of
Hirokouji-dori. Walk until you see a Circle K on the right, then turn
right. JMax is on your left. More information:
http://www.jmax-jmedix.co.jp/
Club:
Huck
Finn Styles: rock, punk,
indie Review: Huck
Finn is a classic punk club – downstairs, dirty and painted black. In
fact, it’s been a central fixture in Nagoya
’s
thriving punk scene since it opened in 1981. The setup is simple: stage at
the front, bar at the back and lots of sweaty rock’n’rollers in between.
Of course, there’s the requisite tiny, filthy bathroom as well. Their
schedule features Japanese punk & indie bands, whether local or
touring, and stickers from former visitors plaster the walls. There are
frequent stops from nationally famous acts such as Guitar Wolf, and the
occasional international band as well. Shows usually start and end earlier
than they do in our home countries,
so that leaves plenty of time to get home or move on to the next
destination. If you’re interested in checking out some Japanese rawk in a
club that’s Nagoya
institution,
head for Huck Finn. Access: Exit
Imaike Station via exit #8. Facing south, take the first left (only a few
meters from the exit). Turn right at the second corner. Huck Finn is on
the right further down the block. Look for a sign on the sidewalk and
steps leading downstairs. More information:
http://www.nicnet.co.jp/imaike_t/huckfinn/index.asp
Club:
Club
Daughter Styles: rock,
electronic
(experimental, trance, drum&bass), miscellaneous Review: Club
Daughter is small and sparse, essentially just a dim mid-size concrete
room with a bar at one end, a small stage at the other and a DJ booth on
one wall. But who needs atmosphere when you’re there for the music? What Club Daughter lacks in
interior design, it makes up for with innovative acts. The club
specializes in underground rock and electronic music of the experimental sort,
occasionally booking
international artists like Alex Paterson of The Orb and Kid 606. The rest of the schedule
is filled in with DJ/dance nights of varying genres and indie/post-rock
bands. If
that’s your bag, check it out!
Access: Take the subway to Sakae station.
Exit through exit #13. Head south and take your first left. On the second
block you'll see a Lawson's on the right. Turn left here and Club Daughter
is a short way up the street on the left, downstairs. More information: Print
schedules are available at other Nagoya
venues
and stores
Club:
Lush the
Underground/Cipher Styles: Lush -- disco, R&B, soul, dance, house; Cipher -- hip hop,
reggae, R&B, soul Review: Two
clubs for the price of one! Admission to either Lush the Underground or
Cipher will get you into the other club as well. Conveniently enough,
they're on different floors of the same building. Both are smallish clubs
with a good amount of bar-area seating and an S-size dance floor (Lush
also offers a pool table). At Lush you'll
find a variety of danceable music and friendly patrons, including the
occasional fellow gaijin. Upstairs at Cipher you'll get more of a thug
vibe, with hip-hop on the turntables and girls shaking their things
in booty shorts. The size of the crowd is a little unpredictable, but either
way, it's a good option for a lower-key night out (open till 5 am on
weekends). Access: Take the subway to Sakae station. Exit through exit #13.
Head south and take your first left. On the second block you'll see a
Lawson's on the right. The building is directly across from the Lawson's.
Lush is on the 3rd floor and Cipher is on the 4th. More information: http://www.underground.co.jp/
Club:
Club
Mago Styles:
Varieties of
trance, house and techno, with smatterings of salsa, disco and rock
events Review:
Nestled deep in
the bowels of a Shin-Sakae office building, Mago isn't the kind of club
you'd just stumble across. It's an intimate place with a smallish dance
floor, and the separate bar area allows you to escape for a sit-down drink
(500 yen each). I've heard that it's one of the most popular clubs for the
electronic crowd, getting pretty packed on Saturdays and for special
events. Every Saturday night, admission is 1500 yen with 1 drink until
midnight and 2500 yen with one drink thereafter. On Sunday mornings, they
host a 1000 yen after-hours party starting at 5 am, with free coffee to
boot. If an evening of house/trance music with some of Nagoya's youth is
enough this could be the place. Access: On Hirokouji-dori in Shin-Sakae. Near the
intersection with Route 19 in the basement of the Flex Building West. Walk
from Sakae on the right side of the street, or walk south from Shin-Sakae
station, cross Hirokouji-dori and turn right. Look for a small overhead
sign outside, take the elevator downstairs and follow the hallway into the
depths of the building. More information: http://www.club-mago.co.jp/
Club:
Tokuzo Styles: Live rock, folk, jazz and
avant-garde Review: Tokuzo is a comfortable, cozy venue for watching a variety of
Japanese (and occasionally international) live artists. It's the stomping ground for
acts like Acid Mother's Temple, a Japanese band
that's one of the most currently famous outside
of Japan. The upstairs club is well-decorated, with a good deal more
ambience than many rock venues. The small tables dotted throughout mean
that the show will probably be a sit-down affair. Food is served for
400-700 yen and drinks are 450-600. Shows start early and end early,
so you have plenty of time to make it home (or stay and drink all
night!). Check their schedule for lots
of kanji names and a few in English, and take a chance on a new
act. Access:
Take the subway to Imaike station. Exit through exit #10. Walk west for
approximately 2 minutes, and take the second left onto a small side
street. Tokuzo is a short distance down on the right. Look for a blue and
yellow awning. More information: http://www.tokuzo.com/
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