渋谷 SWING - Shibuya Jazz, Coffee, & Mood Music

During my short week trip to Tokyo to visit my friends, I visited a jazz-themed cafe - 渋谷 SWING - Shibuya Jazz, Coffee, & Mood Music - in Shibuya. A little difficult to find the place for newcomers in Japan, Google Maps will do the trick. (I am not familiar with Tokyo at all!)

Once you reach LAWSON, be careful not to walk further, you should see a restaurant/bar on the ground floor and right beside it is an entrance to the building. Enter the small entrance and make your way up the stairs surrounded by brick to the 4th floor

Brown door with green sign reading “Jazz Coffee & Mood Music Swing” set against brick wall. Entrance to 渋谷 SWING and you can hear subtle Jazz playingEXIF

Framed poster of a saxophone player on teal wall above bench with brochures. EXIF

Luckily the place had only one customer (around 5pm), selected a seat over the corner of the cafe

White espresso cup on saucer atop glossy black table in dimly lit café with green walls. EXIF

Ordered a cup coffee before asking the master whether I could take photos of the place

Green-walled music lounge with vintage speakers, guitars, and a framed black-and-white photo on the back wall. EXIF

Jazz records

Worn vintage book spines with gold lettering, including titles by Duke Ellington and Louis Jordan. EXIF

This is a jazz record lovers' paradise. I am either knowledgeable in records or a collector, but I love Jazz! Time for photos! I felt like a kid holding a camera (the Leica Q) for the first time and snapped away! Shifted to macro mode on the Leica Q

Worn vinyl record spines displaying faded titles like "Count Basie Orchestra" and "Bones for the King." EXIF Stacked vinyl records beside a wooden coat rack with purple flowers. EXIF White shelving unit filled with vintage vinyl records, topped by tube amplifiers and magazines against a green wall. EXIF

Another cup

Black-and-white close-up of a glass ashtray on a dark reflective surface beside a cup of coffee. EXIF

Do not judge by appearance

Vintage guitar stands beside a record player flanked by two large speakers against a green wall with framed photo above. 渋谷SWING Main StageEXIF

My appearance may look young and, how is a guy like me in a jazz cafe, jazz is for the aged! Soon, I had the look from the customer probably in his 50s~60s, while ecstatically admiring and taking photos of the aged jazz records and instruments (or rather props, don't know whether they still work)

Photographers... bending, getting low and posture, you get the idea. I wouldn't have done that if the cafe had more customers

Golden hollow-body electric guitar beside vintage record player and blue amplifiers on wooden floor. EXIF Wooden record player with black vinyl disc, brass horn, and stacked blue amplifiers beside it. EXIF Dark room with vintage audio equipment, featuring a framed black-and-white group photo on a green wall. EXIF As I finished snapping the main stage, when I turned back to head towards my seat for a break, to my surprise, the customer pointed in the direction of the bar and asked me to take some photos of the record player

Man behind counter with trumpet foreground and vinyl records stacked on shelf. EXIF

As the customer was leaving, I was back at my seat and we greeted each other with a nod. Would have loved to chat with him! I feel there's the same excitement and love for Jazz and interesting stories to be heard from him

Man seated at a dimly lit bar counter with patterned stools and shelves of bottles behind him. Featured in Black and White Bar and Elder

Jazz. It just connects people, no matter the age gap

Master of 渋谷 SWING

Would have loved to stay longer and actually listen to the music, but I had an appointment with a friend, so it was time for me to leave and decided to ask the master for a portrait shot

Barista in a black apron stands behind a counter, with shelves of vinyl records stacked directly behind him. Featured in Color Master of 渋谷 SWING

Links

shibuya-swing.com (opens in a new tab)