In partnership with Resident Advisor

Listening Bar Culture

We explore Japan’s rich culture of listening bars and audiophile venues. It’s a culture rooted in the joy of discovering music and listening to that music in the best possible environment - that means precision made speakers, amps, turntables and mixers.

Tucked away in basements, back-alleys and high-rise buildings, these bars come in different shapes and sizes, but they are united by their pursuit of quality, with owners endlessly fine-tuning their audio setups to create an enriching experience for anyone who visits.

These are wonderful settings for people to share their love of music, serving as a "third place"—somewhere to unwind in between their time at work and home. Though they're the result of long-standing traditions, listening bars offer a glimpse into progressive Japan, one of the world's most vibrant places for music discovery.

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SHeLTeR

Yoshio Nojima has been refining the soundsystem at SHeLTeR, an audiophile venue on the quiet outskirts of Tokyo.

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Bridge

Located high above Shibuya's world-famous pedestrian crossing and equipped with a high-quality Rey Audio speakers, Bridge offers a refuge from Tokyo's bustling streets.

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BRILLIANT CORNERS

Step inside Brilliant Corners and you might think it's a regular bar and sushi restaurant.