DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
2025.12.12
Music bar that carries on the record culture in Shibuya at night
Nearest Station
Located in a quiet back area up a short slope from the Inogashira Line West Exit of Shibuya Station, the music bar “Tangle” is now in its tenth year. The bar plays a wide range of music centered on vinyl records, and guests can enjoy good drinks while listening. People with similar sensibilities naturally gather here, creating a warm atmosphere where even those visiting alone can feel comfortable.
SHARE
In recent years, the renewed popularity of analog records has led to an increase in record bars throughout Shibuya. With its history of hip-hop, club music, and the 1990s “Shibuya-kei” music movement, the area has long been a place where record culture has flourished. It is only natural that more record-focused venues would appear here. Among them, “Tangle” stands out not only for offering high-quality music centered on vinyl but also for having a unique charm that other bars do not share.
Michael and Mio previously worked at the long-loved Shinjuku rock bar “Rock’in ROLLING STONE.” After losing the bar that had shaped their careers, they began thinking about creating a new place of their own. Around the same time, the previous owner reached out to them, which led to the opening of “Tangle” in Shibuya.
“It started in an unfinished state,” Mio recalls. Over the course of ten years, the bar has gradually evolved, and today it attracts music lovers from both Japan and abroad.
Posters and artwork decorate the interior, creating a distinctive atmosphere. At the center is a signed poster of YO LA TENGO.
At the top of the building’s staircase, the entrance door displays an album jacket selected to match the mood of the day. When guests open the door, the first thing they see is the jacket of Bob Dylan’s classic album Blood on the Tracks. The name “Tangle” was inspired by the album’s famous track “Tangled Up in Blue.”
“‘Tangle’ means ‘to become tangled,’” Michael explains. “In human relationships, people sometimes clash or become intertwined, but I believe that embracing those moments can lead to something new. That idea is reflected in the name.”
Michael and Mio take turns selecting the music. They introduce a wide range of genres—rock, blues, jazz, dub, contemporary music, hip-hop, as well as music from South America and Africa—simply choosing what they believe is good. On weekends, the bar also hosts DJ events that bring a different kind of atmosphere.
A sign with the bar’s name stands at the building entrance, and guests walk up the stairs to the third floor.
The entrance door displays the day’s recommended record jacket.
Opening the door reveals the Bob Dylan album jacket that inspired the bar’s name.
Behind the DJ booth are records owned by Michael and Mio.
On the left is Mio, and on the right is Michael. They take turns DJing at the bar.
Inside the bar, there is a counter and several tables. A frame divider installed during the COVID-19 pandemic and dried flowers displayed throughout blend softly with the indirect lighting, creating a warm and distinctive atmosphere. In the back, there is a small smoking room designed so that smoke does not leak outside. The books on the shelves belong to Michael—biographies of musicians, interview collections, art books, and photography books—and guests are free to read them. The two large paintings were created by artist Atsuya Nagata, who painted them based on his image of “Tangle.”
A popular drink is the bar’s original “Tangle Hi” (800 yen). Made with shochu mixed with homemade ginger syrup and soda, it is served with gari (pickled ginger), a style known in Kansai as “gari-chu.” Lightly sweet and refreshing, it is very easy to drink. Another favorite is the “Africa Wari” (600 yen), shochu mixed with rooibos tea.
Guests range from regulars to international travelers, and as Mio says, “It’s totally fine to come alone.” The mood is relaxed and welcoming. The warm sound from the speakers makes every track feel even more appealing—that is the special magic of “Tangle.”
A painting created by artist Atsuya Nagata, inspired by his image of “Tangle.”
The small room at the back serves as a smoking area and is designed so that smoke does not escape.
Guests are free to read the books on the shelves—an ideal opportunity to put down your phone and enjoy a quiet moment with a book.
The bar’s original drink “Tangle Hi” (800 yen), made with Kinmiya shochu, homemade ginger syrup, soda, and served with gari (pickled ginger).
The information in this article is current as of December 12, 2025 (at the time of publication)
