In Japan, listening bars have become a distinct part of late-night culture, with origins dating back to the 1950s. Decades later, they continue to thrive, offering a haven for audiophiles and discerning drinkers. In OFF THE RECORD, we explore establishments where music and atmosphere are central, uncovering the stories, people, and sounds that define them. Our ninth edition sees us in Gakugei-Daigaku at Record Bar Hellish APT, a place built on instinct rather than rules, where guests can slip in naturally for music, cocktails, and conversation as the night unfolds at its own pace.
Just a short walk from Gakugei-Daigaku Station, along the backstreets, a two-story building glows from its upper window. Climbing the stairs to the second floor, the outside world fades. Neon signage casts a soft purple and blue light across the room as projected visuals flicker above the bar. Music drifts from vintage speakers, warm and balanced, filling the space without overwhelming conversation. Behind the counter, owner Tsurugi Sato serves distinctive fruit cocktails made with homemade liqueurs. He greets guests with a relaxed friendliness and a laidback demeanor that sets the tone. This is Hellish APT, the kind of place where you settle in without ceremony, whether for one drink or the entire evening.
Owner, Tsurugi Sato
Vintage Sound and Eclectic Selections
One thing that’s clear upon entering is that music is central to Hellish APT. The system, built around vintage JBL speakers, a Luxman amplifier, Technics turntables, and an Allen & Heath mixer, delivers sound that is both clear and immersive. It is loud enough to carry weight across genres, yet warm and balanced enough to allow conversation to flow naturally. Nothing feels overpowering and the music fills the space rather than dominating it.
Even the interior contributes to the acoustics. Skateboards mounted above the bar, detailed with wooden blocks, look like artful decor but double as subtle sound treatment, carefully positioned to shape reflections within the room. The result is a listening experience that feels intimate yet full, inviting guests to lean in rather than step back.
Records are played on Technics turntables while the vintage speakers sit above the bar. The skateboard decks are also positioned behind and across from the speakers to enhance acoustics.
Serving as both bartender and musical curator, Tsurugi’s record collection spans genres, and on any given night the selection might move from City Pop and Hip Hop to rock, Thai funk, and other global grooves. “I try to play both music people know and tracks that might be new to them,” he says. Selections shift depending on the mood of the room, but the intention remains consistent: to create an environment where discovery and conversation coexist.
A few of Tsurugi’s favorite LPs including Tatsuro Yamashita’s For You, Maki Asakawa’s American Night, Yussef Dayes’ Black Classical Music, and Tom Misch’s Quarantine Sessions.
Original Cocktails and Real Flavours
After music, the next element is the drinks. The bar is stocked with a wide range of spirits, but the main draw is the original fruit cocktails crafted with homemade liqueurs. Far from the artificial, syrup-based drinks common elsewhere, all the liqueurs here are made by Tsurugi using fresh fruits, herbs, and spices, letting natural flavors shine through. Even tea-based cocktails are brewed in-house from loose leaves, preserving freshness and depth. “Rather than the usual route of making classic cocktails, I wanted to create unique drinks that you can only have at this bar,” says Tsurugi while detailing his approach.
The homemade liqueurs line the shelf. Bases range from vodka and gin to sake, each infused and brewed in-house to create natural, distinct flavors for his original cocktails.
Drinks like the signature Hellish Gin and Tonic and Smoky Apple with apple and cardamom reflect both precision and creativity, inviting guests to sip slowly and savor the real flavors. They are served in solid vintage glasses adorned with playful, oversized prints, including the Looney Tunes glasses Tsurugi has collected from vintage shops. The combination of inventive cocktails and whimsical glassware mirrors the bar’s relaxed, unhurried spirit, making each drink a small discovery in itself.
Drinks are served in solid vintage glasses with playful, oversized prints rather than the ultra-thin glassware common in Japanese bars. The bar also offers a wide selection of craft gins.
Over time, Tsurugi has cultivated a customer base that mirrors this approach. About half are regulars who drop in frequently, while the rest are newcomers. You’ll find curious locals or international visitors experiencing Hellish APT for the first time. The mix creates a dynamic yet comfortable energy, where conversation flows easily and guests feel at ease, whether enjoying the music solo or chatting with friends.
Instinct and Experience From Astoria to Gakugei-Daigaku
It may seem like Tsurugi has always been part of Tokyo’s bar scene, but Hellish APT opened in 2020 after a long journey of leaps and learning by doing. In his early twenties, he briefly pursued fashion but quickly realized it offered little stability. Instead, he saved to move to New York, arriving without fluent English and supporting himself with part-time jobs while studying design.
A pivotal moment came at Hell Gate Social, a bar in Astoria where he first worked part-time. “At first, I was just a regular customer, but eventually I started working there about once a week,” he says. He discovered bars could be part of daily life, and in New York they were casual spaces to drop in alone, meet friends, or linger after work without ceremony. “For me, having a regular bar in America made me think, ‘It would be great if Japan had more places like this,” he recalls. The idea of opening his own bar was planted, and after 5 years he returned home.
Hellish as an ode to Hell Gate Social, the Astoria bar where Tsurugi worked, and APT references the space’s former life as an apartment.
Back in Japan, Tsurugi spent a decade finding his footing, struggling at first but eventually establishing himself as a web designer and director. By his late thirties, with stability and confidence, he was ready to take another leap and bring his bar vision to life. “I didn’t really have a clear vision at the start. I just wanted to make something original,” he says. Finding an old second-floor apartment, he stripped it back and let the space slowly take shape. Guided by instinct, experimentation, and a hands-on approach, the bar evolved organically into the place it is today.
Projected visuals create an immersive environment, while shifts in lighting hues can completely transform the bar’s ambiance.
Music, drinks, and atmosphere are treated equally, shaped by Tsurugi’s tastes and self-taught skills, from tuning the sound system to crafting homemade liqueurs. The sign at the front reads “Good Music & Conversation.” Guests can drop in and linger at their own pace, discovering records, sipping inventive cocktails, and soaking in the warm, immersive atmosphere. Under neon glows and flickering visuals, the bar becomes a small world of its own, where the city’s rhythm slows and Tsurugi’s independent spirit, eclectic taste, and easy hospitality shape each moment.
Record Bar Hellish APT
Address: 2F, Kakuda Jujigai Store, 2-20-14 Takaban, Meguro City, Tokyo 152-0004, Japan
Business Hours: 8:00 PM – 5:00 AM
Closed: Sundays, Mondays
Instagram: @hellish_apt
