Takamatsu is a town that is renowned for its music scene. Have fun exploring the bars, record shops and live music venues to find your favorites.

Fifty:Jazz vinyl café

The owner, Mr. Fujihashi, used to work part-time at Fifty in Kichijoji, Tokyo (from 1973 to 1983), and he had always wanted to open his own jazz café.

He was granted permission to use the name and logo and in 2023 he started his own business, the Fifty in Takamatsu.

Jazz cafés allow visitors to enjoy unique sounds that can only be appreciated in their environment.

It is owner's responsibility to get the best sound out of vinyl records. As soon as Mr. Fujihashi puts down a needle to play a vinyl record, it magically recreates the atmosphere at the time of recording.

The place is popular among both domestic and international visitors who are seeking out "well-seasoned" sound.

[Audio equipment]
Needles
・ortofon SPU-GT（Audionix）
・ortofon SPU-GTE（Audionix）
・ortofon CD25i
・ortofon MC-20
・Shure V15 TYPE Ⅳ
・Denon DL-103
・Denon DL-301
Turntable
・Denon DP-1300 Mark Ⅱ
Speaker
・JBL L88 Plus
Preamplifier
・McIntosh C33
Power amplifiers
・McIntosh C2500
・REDEEMER WX/1P（Class A valve amplifier 20W＋20W）

Cafe-Bar-style educatif espace Science and Music: Dr. Einstein's Guarneri del Gesù：Live music café and bar

This café and bar is run by Dr. Nishikawa, who has a doctoral degree in system life science. 

While studying at the university in Fukuoka, he became a fan and regular customer of the jazz café New Combo, which made him want to open his own. To him, New Combo was a place to enjoy live music and learn more about music.

Dr. Nishikawa subsequently worked as a researcher in Japan and the United States before opening this café and bar, a place where science, his specialty, meets music.

He sometimes asks the customers who come to the café and bar for its unique concept questions. Answers are displayed in the café and bar to enable them to learn.

There are lunchtime concerts and jam sessions are held on the fourth Friday of every month.

Showa Kayo Bacchus:Karaoke bar

As soon as you open the door and see the rows of old Japanese pop vinyl record jackets on the walls and the mirror balls and red lanterns hanging from the ceiling, you will be transported back to the Showa era.

It used to be a place where customers enjoyed listening to Japanese pop songs from the Showa era. It later became a karaoke bar with a stage to meet the needs of people who wanted to sing in addition to listening.

Once someone starts singing, everyone in the audience will join in. This bar has a warm atmosphere and it is popular with people of all ages, whether they were born in the Showa era or not.

ROOTS RECORDS:Seller and purchaser of used vinyl records

This place boasts an impressive collection of approximately 100,000 vinyl records and CDs. Customers come here from around the country and abroad to experience the fun of physically browsing their collection instead of as browsing items online, which has become the norm.

Some of these people are searching for rare vinyl records.

Customers who wish to sell their vinyl records also come to this place. Mr. Yamahara, the owner, said, "I have managed to keep this place open thanks to the people who wish to sell their records to us."

Once purchased, vinyl records are carefully cleansed before they are displayed on the shelf. The reason behind the success of this place is Mr. Yamahara's real love for vinyl records.

VOICE:Listening bar

In 1986, VOICE was the first vinyl record shop to open in Takamatsu. It used to sell imported vinyl records. It later became a listening bar in 2016—a place to enjoy music.

Each day, the owner, Mr. Nakamura, selects songs that fit his mood.
He particularly likes his Tannoy speaker because of its pleasant sound, which does not make listeners feel tired no matter how long they stay in his place. Tannoy is a British manufacturer of high-end loudspeakers.

His favorite works of art and books are on display, and they also deserve your attention.

Regular customers and tourists enjoy talking with each other here using the universal language of music and art.

TOONICE:Live music venue

Mr. Ikawa, who loves unique underground music, opened this place in 2013.

Many tourists casually drop in to see performances in different styles which are put on almost every day, from student bands to well-known artists.

He also holds experimental events, such as an exhibition that featured a guitar performance where Kagawa lacquerware guitars were played, and a dance performance in which the dancers wore costumes made of Botaori, a traditional textile of Kagawa.

His ultimate aim is to make everyone enjoy spontaneous improvisation, musical or theatrical. He also hopes that everyone will come to his place to enjoy music more casually.

Please also check out the CDs and original merchandise produced by the performers.