From seven at night the live performances starts. There are four stages performances. Here is the second show of the night. Voice over singing by Hiroe.  (Photo: Yuta Yamazaki)

Bauhaus Roppongi Live House

A must-visit for rock music fans

From seven at night the live performances starts. There are four stages performances. Here is the second show of the night. Voice over singing by Hiroe.  (Photo: Yuta Yamazaki)
Justin Velgus   - 3 min read

Near Roppongi's Odori Avenue I went to a live house called Bauhaus which has been in operation since 1981. It is said to be a live house with a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame history. Inside the store is a stage for live performances with sofa seats lined in front for customers' convenience. There is also a counter area to sit. The atmosphere is a little more geared towards adults over youth.

There is a house band composed of members that first established the live house. They focus on popular western rock songs from the 70s and 80s and perform passionately every evening. Their repertoire includes over 300 songs with such favorites as Led Zeppelin, Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, KISS, and Queen. Originally the house band experimented with other music genres, but with more foreign customers and requests from their regulars demanding rock, the band and live house found its calling.

When visitors from overseas visit Tokyo, there must be more than a few that miss their homes during an extended stay. Bauhaus welcomes them with open arms. Customers with a tourist visa (and show it upon entry) can come listen to nostalgic music and meet people at their special tourist discount rate. It is said people from countries all around the world gather in Roppongi, so you are sure to have a fun time.

The show is not just a concert, but a performance! What may be an otherwise hard-working and serious office worker will soon be banging their head, shouting at the top of their lungs, and thrashing their hands about in the air to the hypnotic power of rock. This live house is famous as a gathering place for domestic and international musicians traveling Japan incognito and as a general meeting place for all those that love rock. You are free to make requests for songs you want to hear from the band, should it be in their repertoire.

Relax and enjoy the show on the sofa seats, or stand in front of stage and headbang the stress of the day away. If you are looking for an exciting night, look no further than Bauhaus. After a visit you'll feel refreshed and welcome tomorrow's challenges. This is a great spot for rock fans, but anyone can enjoy the fun performances.

Justin Velgus

Justin Velgus @justin.velgus

Justin Velgus (ジャスティン ベルガス) is the Miyagi Prefecture expert for Japan Travel and a long-term contributor since 2012 with a focus on the Tohoku region.  Justin has written extensively for JT, and other publications such as VisitMiyagi and Sake Today, amassing over 350 published articles...