Live on stage
Catch who is playing at Backdoor this evening.
An intimate room in Ashikaga. Happy-hour daily, live music Fri / Sat / Sun.
Live, Fri / Sat / Sun
Find us here
About the room
The Backdoor is a music bar built around one idea: that live performance and a thoughtful pour belong in the same room. We program a rotating lineup of artists Friday through Sunday, anchored by a counter that takes cocktails, whisky, sake, and seasonal craft beer as seriously as the sound.
The room is small on purpose. Counter and table seating, no bad sightlines, no bouncers at the door. The atmosphere lives somewhere between a listening bar, a jazz basement, and the second party that goes later than the first.

The room is run by hand.
On the calendar
What it feels like
Menu
A short, considered kitchen and a deep back bar. The full printed menu lives at the counter. Here's a taste.
¥1,000 · 1 drink included

Light, salty, made to live next to a drink.

A short, honest kitchen. Three plates, one ¥1,300 price.

Coco Farm pours by the glass; champagne by request.

Sake, shochu, brandy, tequila. Bottle keep available.
Prices pre-tax. After midnight, alcohol is served with a food set per local rules. The list rotates by night.
See the full menuBehind the counter
How it works
Simple structure: a cover on live nights, a minimum on standard nights, and the option to rent the room outright. No hidden table charges.
Unlimited drinks + karaoke for two and a half hours. Starting April 1. Show up early, leave singing.
Regular evening cover. Live music on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays; quiet on other open nights.
Book the entire room for a birthday, label launch, or private party. Custom menu and lineup.
What guests say
Hiroshi T.
2 weeks ago
Best live music bar in Ashikaga. Singer was incredible, the whisky list goes deep, and the staff remembers your name on the second visit.
Maria L.
3 weeks ago
Showed up for happy hour on a Monday and stayed until close. The longganisa set is the move. Get the rice refill. The owner came by to check in personally.
Kenji M.
1 month ago
Saturday night was packed but never felt cramped. Found a seat at the counter, ordered the Hennessy XO for the table, and let the night go. Will be back.
Emi S.
1 month ago
Booked the whole room for my 30th. Karaoke + live set combo was perfect. They tailored the lineup to my requests. The food kept coming and nobody wanted to leave.
Daniel R.
2 months ago
Cinematic atmosphere, brick walls, edison bulbs, and a stage that punches above its size. The cocktails are all ¥500. Couldn't believe the price-to-quality ratio.
Yuki K.
2 months ago
A hidden spot but worth the drive from Tokyo. Live jazz on a Friday, the back bar runs from Suntory all the way to Macallan 12. Highly recommend.
Reserve
Small room, fast-filling nights. Reserve in advance. Tell us the night, headcount, and whether you want counter, table, or the whole room.
Tonight's lineup, last-minute changes, the occasional behind-the-bar moment, all posted on@thebackdoorjp.
Find us
Look for the door under the brass sign. We're a few minutes by car from Ashikaga Station. Easiest with a taxi or a designated driver after midnight.

Look for the brass.
Nishisawarago 1191-1, Ashikaga, Tochigi, Japan
〒326-0065
栃木県足利市西砂原後町1191-1 グランドサイドB
4 min by car from Ashikaga Station