Tokyo Jazz Club Ran in Kanda Nishikicho Until November 8: Art and Live Music on All Eight Floors of a Former Capsule Hotel

Tokyo Jazz Club, a limited-time cultural event that used all eight floors of a former capsule hotel, was held in Kanda Nishikicho, Tokyo, from Sunday, November 1 to Sunday, November 8, 2026. Inspired by Japan’s jazz kissa and listening bar culture, it brought together contemporary art exhibitions, performances and a place to socialize in a single building. The first edition was held in partnership with Art Week Tokyo, and official tickets went on sale on ArtSticker on October 19. A joint talk by Theaster Gates and Arthur Jafa was also scheduled.

The former nine hours Otemachi becomes a “social club” for eight days

The venue is a former capsule hotel owned by Yasuda Real Estate, formerly nine hours Otemachi (3-11-15 Kanda Nishikicho, Chiyoda City). The announcement describes the event as an eight-day limited engagement that turns what was once a closed lodging space into an experimental social club, performance venue and immersive exhibition.

The concept is built around the number eight. Just as an octave is made up of eight notes, the building has eight floors, and the event runs for eight days. According to Yasuda Real Estate’s announcement, it presents a range of contemporary art exhibition spaces interwoven with performances, listening spaces, a whisky bar, a game room, intimate art displays in the capsule units and other social spaces. It is described as an attempt to rethink the exhibition as “a place for listening, meeting people and connecting.” Venue design is by UM, lighting design by Matière Noire and construction by TANK.

Why now? A “nomadic” social space from Basel comes to Tokyo

According to the official website, Tokyo Jazz Club grew out of Basel Social Club, an independent platform in Switzerland. Basel Social Club was founded as a nonprofit in 2022 by a diverse group of people working in the arts. Timed to coincide with the long-established art fair held in Basel every June, it has opened art-centered social spaces for limited periods. It is known for its “nomadic format,” which deliberately avoids a fixed venue, and has used private residences, factories, farmland, a historic bank and vacant office buildings.

The first Tokyo edition takes place in a former lodging facility. Yasuda Real Estate has been pursuing community-rooted urban development in Kanda Nishikicho and surrounding areas, and is providing a building it owns as the venue for this cultural event. The event is held in partnership with Art Week Tokyo (November 4–8), which takes visitors around museums and galleries across the city.

What can visitors see? Galleries from Japan and abroad, plus invited artists

The list of exhibitors on the official website includes galleries from Tokyo as well as London, Paris, New York, Seoul and São Paulo, together with their artists. Listed are Gabriel Orozco with kurimanzutto (Mexico City, New York), Arthur Jafa with Sadie Coles HQ (London) and Maurizio Cattelan with Three Star Books (Paris). Among the Tokyo galleries, Take Ninagawa lists Shinro Ohtake, NANZUKA lists Keiichi Tanaami, KOTARO NUKAGA lists Kimiyo Mishima and Yutaka Kikutake Gallery lists Yuko Mohri.

The entry for ITEM IDEM (Paris) includes On Kawara, Yoko Ono, Barbara Kruger and Roy Lichtenstein. Invited artists include Hanayo and JODI, and presentations by partner companies are planned, including Theaster Gates, Shueisha Manga-Art Heritage and “Keiichi Tanaami × Fujio Akatsuka.”

Performances and talks: Gates and Jafa, Geinoh Yamashirogumi and more

The performance and talk program is co-curated with Cyrus Goberville. Performers include Aki Onda, Geinoh Yamashirogumi, Standing On The Corner, Esben Weile Kjær, Jim C. Nedd, OKI, Riki Hidaka, RQRQ (Yuka Ijichi, Kiyohiro Takada and Mitsuru Tabata), Sophye Soliveau and Kyoji Ohno. In addition to the joint talk by Gates and Jafa, there will be a listening session hosted by Jafa.

Gates is based on the South Side of Chicago and has worked mainly in sculpture and ceramics. According to the Mori Art Museum, he first came to Japan in 2004 to study ceramics in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, and the museum held “Theaster Gates: Afro-Mingei” from April 24 to September 1, 2024.

Tickets, prices and notes for visitors

Of the tickets on sale on ArtSticker, the CLUB PASS, which allows unlimited re-entry on every day of the event, costs ¥4,000 (tax included, with priority entry), and the GENERAL PASS, which is for a specified date and time and allows re-entry only on the day of entry, costs ¥2,500 (tax included). Both are for ages 20 and over, and visitors may be asked to show ID to verify their age on entry. Those aged 19 and under on the day of their visit can enter free with the date-and-time-specified YOUTH PASS. A physical ID is required on entry.

Opening hours are 14:00–23:00 on Sunday, November 1, Tuesday, November 3 (national holiday) and Saturday, November 7; 17:00–23:00 on Monday, November 2 and from Wednesday, November 4 to Friday, November 6; and 14:00–18:00 on the final day, Sunday, November 8. The venue holds up to 300 people at a time, so there may be a wait when it is crowded. Space is tight and there is no cloakroom, so visitors are asked not to bring large bags. The venue is not barrier-free, and alcohol is not served to anyone under 20. Cancellations are accepted until 24 hours before the start of the booked time slot. Other events in November are covered in our November exhibition and art event calendar.

Editor’s perspective

The event runs for eight days, including the five days of Art Week Tokyo. What sets it apart is that it puts viewing art, listening to music, spending time at the bar and talking with people together in a single building. The organizers have also announced that the capsule units once used for lodging will serve as spaces for intimate displays. The layout of the works and the daily program have not yet been announced; performer information and the performance schedule are to be updated on the official website as needed.

Overview

Name: Tokyo Jazz Club
Dates: Sunday, November 1 – Sunday, November 8, 2026
Hours: November 1, 3 and 7, 14:00–23:00 / November 2, 4, 5 and 6, 17:00–23:00 / November 8, 14:00–18:00
Venue: Former capsule hotel (formerly nine hours Otemachi)
Address: 3-11-15 Kanda Nishikicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Access: About a 4-minute walk from Jimbocho Station, about 9 minutes from Otemachi Station and about 3 minutes from Takebashi Station
Admission: CLUB PASS ¥4,000, GENERAL PASS ¥2,500 (both for ages 20 and over, tax included) / YOUTH PASS free (ages 19 and under)
Organizer: Tokyo Jazz Club Executive Committee
Grant: Arts Council Tokyo (Grant for Creating the Appeal of Arts and Culture)
Cooperation: Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd.
Partner: Art Week Tokyo
Official website: https://tokyojazzclub.jp/
*Information as of October 21, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: The venue of Tokyo Jazz Club (Photo: Courtesy of Tokyo Jazz Club) (from Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd.’s press release)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on announcements by The Chain Museum Inc. (October 19, 2026) and Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd. (October 1, 2026), and information on the official websites of Tokyo Jazz Club and the Mori Art Museum.

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team