Osaka’s Best Live Music Venues: Underground Scene Guide

Introduction

Osaka is full of interesting places to experience live music, and although most of these places on this list are probably not hidden secrets or esoteric wisdom by any means, it might be useful to have an article that collects things to a single place that is easy to find when you are around. These places offer a variety of different kinds of music, but they also have their distinctive profiles, so I have tried to explain them here.

These also come from a personal preference, so it leans more into the experimental, more underground side of things. There are lots of good places to experience besides these too, and I might write more about them in the future. I hope you find some interesting music and experiences through these recommendations.

Probably the most legendary livehouse in Osaka, started in 1986, the worn out floors of which have seen the endless amounts of bands and legendary noise acts from Hijokaidan to Hanatarash and many more. Owned by Seiichi Yamamoto, formerly of the Boredomes and Omoide Hatoba.

This is the go to place especially for the free form and improvised, band driven sound of Kansai. The dark and almost minimalist lighting makes it nearly a religious experience to witness something intense at high volumes. Lots of noise gigs take place here, although other venues have also started to put out more and more of them, which is a welcome phenomenon.

Bears is still very much alive and kicking and a highly recommended visit to anyone who wants to experience the atmosphere of Osaka. I recommend just popping in to some random shows even when you are not familiar with any of the names, as you will definitely experience something new and unexpected, be it noise or not. Sometimes I have seen some confused faces in the crowd, maybe not fully understanding what they have witnessed, but I believe later on they will understand the value of such experiences also!

〒556-0011 Osaka, Naniwa Ward, Nanbanaka, 3 Chome−14−5 新日本難波ビル B1
URL:　https://namba-bears.main.jp
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Probably the second best known name on the list is Hokage, located in Shinsaibashi, inside Amemura. This is a go to place especially for the metalheads and punks, and many globally touring bands also play their live shows in Hokage of all places. Owned by Atsushi Sano of Weiches Loch and Birushanah, Hokage offers a great light and PA system, big and loud amplifiers and great atmosphere for all kinds of music.

Actually even some of the best acoustic performances I have seen have been in Hokage, so it is not only a place for loud guitars and heavy metal. The bar is located on the 2nd basement floor, which I think is convenient as people who want to drink and talk can do it separately from the live space. Sometimes there are also live events happening in two floors simultaneously, for example the annual new year event and some other happenings.

Also on Sano Bar-evenings there are often events that are free of charge, as they open only the bar floor, so I recommend checking out their instagram to see what’s going on. Lately there has been also more and more very interesting experimental music and noise gigs, and also they have their own events that mix up different kinds of acts into one interesting night of music.

〒542-0086 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Nishi-Shinsaibashi, KASADOMART buildings B1F/B2F, 2-9-36
URL: http://musicbarhokage.net/
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Focused on electronic music, but offers a large variety of shows from black metal and punk to ambient, jazz, free music, noise, pure sound art… at this point Environment 0g is honestly probably more familiar to me than any livingroom I have had, it is a great space with a superb sound system and Junya Hirano, the owner of the place, is openminded to many sorts of experimentation. He wants to bring together people with different kinds of starting points, who may have similar sounds and interests, and I think the results are always really interesting.

The space is blank concrete and therefore transformable to various kinds of events without much effort. I think you always see the space in new light depending of what kind of music you came to see, whether it be DJ event or some obscure noise show with screeching and banging of metal plates, or an improvised free jazz gig.. This is also a good place for witnessing butoh, for those who are interested.

One of the epicenters of current era experimental music in Osaka. A highly recommended visit for anybody with keen interest in music overall.

〒550-0015 Osaka, Nishi Ward, Minamihorie, 3 Chome−6−1 西大阪ビルB1F
URL: https://nuthings.wordpress.com/
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Nambaya is a place that offers food and drinks, music being mostly focused around jazz and improvisation. It has the izakaya-like atmosphere that makes a good surrounding for a jazz club, with the random locals of Nishinari also adding their own spice to the mix of the atmosphere. I witnessed here for example the live event of Gozo Yoshimazu, the most well known contemporary poet of Japan.

It is a nice place, little bit further away from the city center, but if you go there you might as well go take a walk around the legendary Nishinari area, which has some really good and cheap izakaya all around.

〒557-0004 Osaka, Nishinari Ward 2 Chome-5-2 Haginochaya
URL: http://tutui-221.cocolog-nifty.com/

Located in Midoribashi station, literally inside the station, near exit number 2, I think Sengoku Daitouryo is one of the most interesting punk houses in the world, at least among the ones I have spent my life in. It has a huge PA and even the acoustic live shows come with blasting volume, which is really interesting and makes you think about certain aspects of live music in a new light.

Recommended for all the fans of punk and new wave, rock, and different music of all sorts from rap to folk to the forementioned ones. It has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, nice staff, maybe a little bit grimy to some tastes, but if you have spent your life mostly in some punk squats and live clubs, you will feel right at home. It has an entertaining feeling to it all, so if you like to party, I recommend checking this one out.

〒537-0022 Osaka, Higashinari Ward, 1 Chome-11-14 Nakamoto
URL: https://sengokudaitouryou.com/
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Art bar MagaYura is located near JR Noda station, in two floors, the first one serving as a bigger bar space, the second floor’s smaller room as a live music space. It has an intimate atmosphere and can quickly get crowded if there are many people, but at best it offer great experiences, for example while listening to ambient whilst watching the trains go by and people get home after their commute. There is something really beautiful about it.

MagaYura also acts as a base for Chie Mukai’s improvisation workshop, although sometime it is held at Tone 8.0 in Tanimachi. MagaYura has really good, intimate atmosphere especially for some ambient and improvised music, and also for acoustic music. It has a very nice, quiet atmosphere when you want to relax, but they also host some events for more danceable music too.

There is no backline, or much of amplifiers either, and the noise level has to be kept on a moderate level, so it is not possible to play here with a full rock band type ensemble, but nevertheless it is a good place to see more chill music.

〒553-0006 Osaka, Fukushima Ward, Yoshino, 3 Chome−7−7 2･3F 富岡ビル 2/3F
URL: https://magayura.com/
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One important place for small and more quiet or subtle events, and especially for those with interest in dance and butoh, is MIIT House, run by the long-term Osaka resident, artist Jerry Gordon.

MIIT House is actually his house turned into event space on occasion, so the seats maybe a bit limited, but the atmosphere is very intimate and great for witnessing something interesting and beautiful unfold in front of the audiences eyes. Events are maybe a bit irregular for understandable reason, but nevertheless they are always a welcome breeze of fresh air and worth mentioning.

If you have a chance, I recommend going to see them.

〒554-0014 Osaka, Konohana Ward, 2-6-13 Shikanjima
URL https://miit-house.blogspot.com/

Tora goes a bit away from Osaka, to Amagasaki, but located quite conveniently close to the Hanshin Amagasaki station, it is a highly recommended visit for all kinds of music. Every year they host the AM station event with over 60 7 minute performances by various artists, so it is a good chance to see a lot of interesting things at once. They have good PA, full backline and lots of rock bands and more experimental things going on.

Big variety of different kinds of electronic music, but also some traditional instruments and semi-acoustic things. They also like to experiment with different kinds of events and are open to new ideas, often hosting touring performers too. I want to include it on the list, because it is probably often forgotten for being a bit further away from the center of Osaka, but actually Hanshin line makes it almost more convenient to go than many of the other venues.

Finding it the first time might be a little tricky though, but when you’ll get to the old Sanwa arcade, just go through the refrigerator door and step into the magical world of sound.

〒660-0885 Hyogo, Amagasaki, Kanda Minamidori, 2-chome−４２
URL: https://live-tora.com/
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Going even further away from Osaka, but I kind of think of this place as the extended continuum of the Osaka/Kansai experimental scene and want people to be more aware of it. Located in the third floor and operating on donation basis, Space Eauuu has a kind of similar feel and profile to it as Osaka’s Environment 0g. They put up a lot of experimental music, with emphasis on electronic but also leaning more into the sound art aspect.

The space is similarly concrete and open to transformation in that same minimalism. They host loads of experimental music all the time and also have a youtube channel with loads of interesting things on display. During covid time they did a lot of streaming shows also. Really good atmosphere, where you really feel the love for music and sound, the overall respect for the art.

〒650-0022 Hyogo, Kobe, Chuo Ward, Motomachidori, 2 Chome−6−10 ミナト元町ビル3F
URL: https://spaceeauuu.themedia.jp/
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King Cobra : A legendary punk venue in the heart of Ame-Mura.
Matsuyamachi Chikaikkai: A small but significant hardcore punk venue. Saw my first hardcore show here.
Club Stomp: Beat up venue in Higashi Shinsaibashi featuring punk, hardcore and some metal including international bands.
Sakai Fandango: Features both “name acts” and a diverse selection of punk, rock, hardcore and other genres.
Namba Mele: Known for garage rock such as King Brothers, Guitar Wolf and 5678s and overseas bands touring Japan.