Roppongi | A Must-Visit Record Bar in Tokyo's Night, Enveloped in Fine Music, MUSIUM: A New Frontier in Music and Museums Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Feb 23 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Roppongi | A Must-Visit Record Bar in Tokyo's Night, Enveloped in Fine Music, MUSIUM: A New Frontier in Music and Museums

Tokyo's Roppongi, a vibrant meeting spot for locals and tourists alike, welcomes a new concept, "A Bar in the Music Vault," blending MUSIC and MUSEUM. MUSIUM, a space where carefully selected quality music meets delightful drinks, is perfect for enriching those special moments during the night. Step into the allure of MUSIUM, a haven for sophisticated evenings.

See full listings of Bar/Cocktails restaurants found in and around Roppongi.

A Bar in the Music Vault

Strolling straight from the Roppongi intersection towards the view of Tokyo Tower, you'll soon encounter an unexpected sight: a massive, factory-like entrance with heavy silver doors. Reflecting the surrounding lights with its luster, this huge facade, reminiscent of a warehouse's sliding door, is where you'll find the entrance to the bar MUSIUM.

Roppongi | A New Frontier in Music & Museums - A Must-Visit Record Bar in Tokyo's Night, Enveloped in Fine Music【MUSIUM】

This facade, resembling a sliding door, gives a glimpse of the future. Through its windows, you can see analog records displayed, evoking the feel of a music vault from the near future.

As you open the door, you're instantly enveloped in an authentic atmosphere—a space where music surrounds you. Ahead lies a straight copper countertop, and the walls and other elements, deliberately left raw, shine dully in a futuristic, abandoned warehouse theme. Just by observing, you find yourself immersed in the 'museum-like' world of Roppongi.

Among the highlights, the massive speakers and the wall lined with analog records instantly draw attention. From the approximately 100,000 analog records owned by USEN-NEXT GROUP's USEN since its inception, a collection that even enthusiasts would admire is densely displayed. MUSIUM's unique dedication allows you to enjoy these rare records both visually and acoustically through selectors' personalized setlists and vintage speakers, ensuring an optimal experience with meticulously chosen audio equipment.

In a calm atmosphere, the counter seats allow you to face the allure of music and drinks head-on.

A veritable'museum' where you can enjoy and appreciate rare records, now considered musical archives in the modern era.

Devotion to "Sound"

As mentioned before, the uncompromising selection and placement of audio equipment at MUSIUM make it an irresistible spot for music aficionados. The equipment selection was supervised by Mr. Kato, a vintage audio specialist, ensuring that every aspect, from the genre and range of music to the size of the room and volume levels, was meticulously considered. The choice of speakers was also made with a wide variety of music genres in mind, aiming to produce a pleasant sound for the modern ear.

Uniquely, while it's common to match both types of amplifiers (preamp and power amp) from the same manufacturer, MUSIUM deliberately incorporates different brands. This approach allows the audio system to accommodate various music genres, ensuring a consistently high-quality sound experience.

Roppongi | A Must-Visit Record Bar in Tokyo's Night, Enveloped in Fine Music, MUSIUM - A New Frontier in Music & Museums -

The giant speakers that resemble a white wall on the left side of the photo, the two carefully selected amplifiers on the right, and even the deliberately exposed wiring all tantalize the enthusiasts' hearts.

Music lovers have shared their admiration, saying, "The meticulously selected equipment, the exposed wiring, and the audio design with the sub-speakers offer a pleasurable experience no matter where you sit, both in terms of sound and visual appeal." This space, which can be described as a new way of engaging with music, is already garnering attention and delight as a place where one can truly "enjoy the art of music appreciation."

Devotion to "Drinks"

The "MUSIUM Original Cocktail," created by bartender Mr. Kajiwara

The "MUSIUM Original Cocktail," crafted by bartender Mr. Kajiwara, is a highlight drink filled with the unique dedication characteristic of this musical space.

"Funky Tropical"

"Funky Tropical" is an engaging concoction, offering a texture that lets you 'feel' the sound and introducing a fresh perspective on music genres.

Themed around brightness and liveliness, "Funky Tropical" is a tropical drink with a crisp and refreshing throat feel. Its creative presentation aims to let you enjoy the'sound' of funkiness as you drink, making it a fascinating choice that will make you want to 'feel' the sound in your mouth when you visit. Contrary to the bold and intense imagery suggested by the word 'Funk' in its name, the drink actually unfolds a gentle sweetness with a fruity flavor and aroma when tasted. Interestingly, the Funk genre includes many calm and high-quality ballads in black music. This drink was specially crafted for 【MUSIUM】, with the intention of introducing guests to the more serene side of Funk and inviting them to taste and appreciate it.

"Dark Ambient"

The sophisticated herbal cocktail "Dark Ambient" offers an intriguing contrast to "Funky Tropical," inviting a leisurely discovery of new flavors.

This is a deep and mellow herbal cocktail for the mature palate, featuring a complex flavor with absinthe and egg white that lingers. It's crafted around the theme of a gateway to another world. The term 'Ambient' in the drink's name refers to a music genre characterized by keywords like downtempo, simplicity, quietness, and environmental music. Considering that ambient music, when viewed purely in terms of sound quality, is seen as a sort of experimental soundscape, especially when it's instrumental, this bar, with its focus on sound quality, has created a drink featuring ambient. Despite the deep thought and creativity that went into merging music and drinks, Mr. Kajiwara, with a touch of playfulness, admits that the 'dark' twist is simply a personal preference. His cocktails, with their complex flavors, intrigue and draw you in, making you curious about the depths of their taste.

A Unique Blend of Music and Experience

An adult space with an impressive industrial atmosphere where you can immerse yourself in music and drinks. Located as a street-front bar in Roppongi, it has become a popular destination not only for locals but also for international visitors. Whether you are interested in records and audio equipment or not particularly knowledgeable about music, the bar offers ingenious music request methods using marbles. This precious record bar, with its approximately 400-day limited operation, makes you feel it's a pity it's not permanent, compelling you to visit time and again.

The use of marbles for music requests, conveying 'images' rather than specifying songs, is a clever touch that epitomizes the unique MUSIUM experience, creating special nights that are exclusive to the moment.

MUSIUM

Access: 2 minutes walk from Exit 3 of Roppongi Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Toei Oedo Line.
Address: 1F Asahi Life Roppongi Building, 5-2-4 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.