SOMETIME Kichijoji (they use all caps..) opened in 1975 and still packs people in every night of the week. As the name says it`s in Kichijoji, an area in Western Tokyo that has long been known for being a jazz `town`. SOMETIME is without a doubt the center of the community, a great place to dive into the local scene. There are usually different Japanese musicians playing every night, all genres featured. The official name `Piano Hall SOMETIME` refers more to the look of the place rather than about the music. The big black grand piano does dominate the center of the room (there is no stage), but it`s not at all a `piano bar`. Customers sit at the counter around the open-space, or look down on the musicians from the seats in the loft.

There`s a real `speakeasy` feel to the place when it`s full and the musicians are out on the floor tearing it up. Even better for the poorer/cheaper jazz fan is the live charge. Gigs can be as cheap as ￥1600, and that covers you for all the sets in the evening (unlike many big-name chain clubs..) SOMETIME is a great place to kick off a night in Kichijoji, and I`d recommend the Sunday afternoon lunch sessions too.