Tucked away behind a discreet sign and a narrow stairwell off Dogenzaka, JBS (short for Jazz, Blues & Soul) is less a bar and more a musical retreat. From the moment you step past the low wooden door, youâre surrounded by towering shelves of carefully alphabetised vinylâover 10,000 recordsâfrom swing to soul, from Japan to America. The barâs heart is its owner, a softly spoken Kobayashiâsan, who runs the entire showâselecting and cueing records, serving drinks, and occasionally inviting patrons into the conversation. Thereâs no hostilityâitâs just that the bar feels like home, his home extended to fellow music lovers. What sets JBS apart is its minimalist, listeningâfirst ethos. Forget flashy cocktailsâdrinks are simple, reasonably priced at 500âŻÂ„ per cup, paid in cash; expect small bottled beer, whiskey, gin, rum, or shĆchĆ« mixed on request with mixers like tonic, cola, or soda. Thereâs no menuâjust point to a bottle or ask for a recommendation. Seating is cozyâabout 3 at the counter and 9 more at small tables; found-glimmer warmth, soft lighting, and the hum of vinyl fills any quiet moment. Itâs not about loud chatter, but about soundâdigital notifications fade as the tonearm drops into the groove. JBS is open eveningsâroughly 7âŻPM to 11âŻPM daily. Located on the 2nd floor of the Daiâ2 Takara Building, at 1â17â10 Dogenzaka, itâs a short walk from Shibuya Station via various lines. More than a bar, JBS is a quiet, soulful ceremony for jazz and vinyl loversâraw, unpretentious, and unforgettable.
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