Body & Soul
ボディ・アンド・ソウル
One of Japan's first and most respected jazz clubs, running since 1974 and internationally known among touring musicians.
Mood photo, not the actual venue — Photo: DJ SAXXO / Pexels
Body & Soul has been a fixture of Tokyo's jazz scene since 1974, run for decades by owner Kyoko "Mama," and it's been recognized by DownBeat magazine as one of the world's top jazz venues. The club moved from its long-time Omotesando/Aoyama home to Shibuya in October 2021.
It's a genuinely small room — 50 to 60 seats — with a kitchen turning out proper food alongside the music, and a nightly blog documenting exactly who played and what they performed. Visiting international musicians touring Japan regularly stop by, on or off the bill.
Body & Soul has announced it will close at the end of September 2026, after more than fifty years as one of Japan's most respected jazz rooms — if it's on your list, don't wait.
What Visitors Are Saying
Reviewers consistently describe a cozy, photo-and-memorabilia-filled room with genuinely excellent Japanese jazz musicians — more than one reviewer compares it favorably to jazz clubs back home. The venue's warmth comes up often, including specific praise for the owner.
The most common practical note is cost: reviewers mention a music charge plus a requirement to order at least two drinks (or one drink and one food item), which more than one reviewer calls a bit pricey — factor that into your evening.