Tour Description
About Your Guide
Ohno Ayako, living in Kyoto, is one of the top Japanese pianists. This photo was taken at Bonds Rosary in Kyoto.A
re you a jazz fan who plans to visit Japan sometime in the near or foreseeable future?A
re you curious about the jazz scene in Japan, about the atmosphere in Japanese clubs, or the way Japanese jazz musicians play? We offer customized tours, guiding you and your travel companions to the best and most exciting Japanese jazz clubs in Kansai- Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara- as well as to many other places including; Okayama, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and- of course- Tokyo. Tours are coordinated with your travel itinerary, and we can also guide you to truly amazing clubs outside of the big cities and off the beaten track (Shikoku, Kyushu, Hokkaido, Okinawa, etc). We speak and lead tours in English, French, and Japanese. But not only that! In addition to the transportation we provide, making getting around Japan a simple pleasure, you will have a chance to meet and talk with many of the musicians you will hear performing.
The great Osaka drummer Ishikawa Junji and I go way back together. Ishikawa-san was the drummer on my very first tour of Japan!And not only that! Dinners in amazing local restaurants with wonderful food and sake can be added to your customized tour package. Dinners may even include some of the musicians we will have a chance to see perform for some intercultural exchange and major informal fun.
All transportation as well as music charges will be included in your quote. You can pay in yen, dollars, euros, or in any other currency. You need only pay for whatever you actually consume at the venues (drinks/food/snacks).
I am a jazz guitarist who moved from New York to Kyoto 6 years ago. Before moving to Japan, I toured Japan twice yearly for thirty years. I have 24 recordings out as a leader and have played and recorded with many jazz greats including Barry Harris, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Pepper Adams, Jimmy Knepper, Jack McDuff, Ray Drummond, Mickey Roker, Kenny Washington, Eliot Zigmund and many others. In addition to the recordings I have made in the US and Europe, I also recorded four times for the Japanese King Records label.
How to arrange a tour
Tours of any length up to one week can be planned given enough advanced planning time. Dinners can be added for some or all nights of the tour, it's entirely up to you on how you would like to customize your tour. Our tours take place primarily during evening hours depending on travel considerations. However, we are connected with the best tour operators throughout Japan, so if you would like to see the sights in any of the cities we'll be visiting during the day- by foot or bicycle- we can arrange that for you as well! We require a deposit of 75% of the cost of your tour by one week before your start date. The balance must be paid upon the start of your tour. We accept bank transfers as well as all major credit cards and cash. Every tour is custom made. We will guide you to the best, most talented and well known musicians performing at the time of your visit in the best clubs in the area.To contact us click here
This photo was taken with one of the great guitarists in Japan, Inoue Satoshi at Bon Courage in Tokyo. Satoshi-san has played and recorded with James Moody, Slide Hampton, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Barry Harris and many others.
Phillip Strange is a phenomenal pianist who has lived in Osaka for many years. He is one of the busiest and most popular pianists on the Japanese jazz scene and has recorded and performed with the likes of Joe Henderson, Lew Tabackin, Dave Holland, Ernie Watts, Slide Hampton, Jon Faddis, James Moody and many others. This photo was taken at 100ban Hall in Kobe.
With the great guitarist, Masuo Yoshiaki at AG-22 in Tokyo. Masuo is an all time Japanese guitar great. Living in NY for many years, he played and recorded extensively with Sonny Rollins. Also with Lee Konitz, Elvin Jones, Michael Brecker and many others. 
The photo on the left with the wonderful bassist Kimura Hideo was taken in the spa (onsen) town of Beppu, in Kyushu, at Funk. Off the beaten track, but if you happen to be traveling- and especially if you love a great spa- Beppu is most definitely worthy of a visit! (You can go there by ferry as well, a wonderful trip!)
The photo on the right was taken at the Naramachi Blue Note in Nara with one of the greatest young bassists in Japan, Mitsuoka Naoki. I love the atmosphere at the blue Note and Nara is a must on anyone's Japan itinerary! 
With Nakamura Hiroko at the famous Porsche in Yamaguchi. There are wonderful clubs all over Japan, most of them quite small, where you can hear the best music and be only a few feet from the action. This is one of those places- definitely off the beaten path but worthy of a visit- and it's one of the best and oldest jazz clubs in all of Japan.
With shakuhachi player Kishimoto Toshio at Bird in Okayama. East meets west jazz! 
With Ono Midori, currently living in Nara, one of the greatest organists in Japan. This photo was taken at our concert at Bonds Rosary in Kyoto