What the Dickens! Ebisu: The Ultimate Guide to Tokyo's Best Comedy Club Venue

Where does Pirates of Tokyo Bay perform? Every month, we take the stage at What the Dickens! An authentic British pub on the 4th floor of Roob 6 Building in Ebisu, Tokyo. Just one stop from Shibuya on the Yamanote Line, it is one of the most unique things to do in Tokyo on any given night, and on show nights it becomes the city's most unpredictable comedy club experience. Whether you searched for a comedy club in Tokyo, a British pub in Ebisu, or the best shows in Tokyo, this is where it all happens.

If you are searching for comedy shows in Tokyo, a proper British pub with great food, or simply a night out that is genuinely different from a standard bar or restaurant, this is the place.

What the Dickens! - A Slice of Britain in Ebisu

What the Dickens! has been running since 1995, making it one of the longest-standing foreign-owned venues in Tokyo. It is not a theme bar. It is not a tourist trap. It is a real pub, warm, welcoming, slightly chaotic in the best possible way, with draught pints, live music most nights of the week, and a full kitchen serving British classics.

On Pirates of Tokyo Bay show nights, the 4th floor transforms. The pub fills up. The lights go down. And then nothing is scripted for the rest of the evening.

Venue Quick Facts

• Full name: What the Dickens!

• Address: 4F Roob 6 Bldg, 1-13-3 Ebisunishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0021

• Nearest station: Ebisu Station (JR Yamanote Line / Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line) 3 minutes on foot from the West Exit

• Distance from Shibuya: 1 stop on the Yamanote Line

• Floor: 4th floor. Take the elevator

• Opening hours: Tuesday–Thursday 5:00pm–midnight / Friday–Saturday 5:00pm–1:00am / Sunday 3:00pm–11:00pm / Monday closed

• Food style: Authentic British pub food

• Draft beer: Guinness, Fuller's London Pride, Asahi, Aspall Cider, Belhaven IPA and more

• Reservations: Not required for the pub; advance tickets strongly recommended for comedy shows

Does What the Dickens! Serve Food During Comedy Shows?

Yes! This is one of the things that makes it stand out as a comedy club experience in Tokyo. The full menu is available before and during the show. You are not limited to drinks. You can sit down with a pint of Guinness and a plate of fish and chips, watch unscripted comedy unfold around your table, and make a proper night of it.

Food highlights worth ordering:

• Fish & Chips with Tartare Sauce ¥1,400 - the classic, done properly

• Chicken Pie, Chips & Veg ¥1,400 - genuinely good comfort food

• Steak Pie, Chips & Veg ¥1,400 - rich, warming, very British

• Spicy Chicken Wings ¥600 - great for sharing at the table

• Nachos with Melted Cheese ¥800 - crowd favourite on show nights

For drinks, the draft selection runs from Guinness and Fuller's London Pride to Japanese craft options including Nest Beer White Ale and Sumidagawa Pale Ale. Non-alcoholic options are available too.

📍会場 / VENUE:
WHAT THE DICKENS!
EBISU / 恵比寿

What the Dickens!

Roob 6 Bldg 4F, 1-13-3 Ebisunishi, Shibuya, Tokyo
ROOB6ビル 4F, 恵比寿西1-13-3, 150-0021 渋谷区, 東京都

地図と道順を表示 / MAP & DIRECTIONS

How to Get There

From Ebisu Station (West Exit / 西口):

1. Exit through the West Gate (西口)

2. Head northeast toward 駒沢通り/都道416号

3. Turn left onto 駒沢通り/都道416号

4. Turn right before KFC

5. Turn left. What the Dickens! will be on your left

6. Take the elevator to the 4th floor

Total walking time: approximately 3 minutes (200 metres)

By train from Shibuya: One stop on the JR Yamanote Line to Ebisu Station. The whole journey is under 5 minutes door to door.

Why This Venue Works for Comedy

Most comedy clubs in Tokyo are either underground bars with low ceilings or formal theatre spaces with rows of seats facing a distant stage. What the Dickens! is neither. It is a proper pub with tables, booths, a bar you can lean on, and a stage that puts the performers close to the audience. That proximity matters for improv comedy, when the cast asks for suggestions, they are right in front of you, not across a theatre.

The atmosphere on show nights is warm, international, and relaxed. Regulars know each other. First-timers get settled quickly. The staff are friendly. The beer is cold. It has been the home of Pirates of Tokyo Bay for years, and there is a reason we keep coming back.

🎟️ Coming to a Show?

Pirates of Tokyo Bay performs monthly at What the Dickens!

• Tickets are ¥2,500 and include your first drink free.

• Doors open at 7:00pm.

• Show starts at 7:30pm.

• Check upcoming dates and reserve your seat: www.piratesoftokyobay.com/tickets

• Seats fill up. Book in advance.

この記事を日本語で読む → 日本語版

Tokyo Spring Comedy: Bloom, Boom, and a Special Guest on Stage!

What is the Pirates of Tokyo Bay? We are Tokyo's premier English and Japanese improv comedy group, performing monthly at What the Dickens! in Ebisu, just one stop from Shibuya. No scripts. No safety nets. Just live, unscripted comedy built entirely from your suggestions, on the spot, every single time.

Our next show is Sunday, March 29th, 2026. If you are searching for something genuinely different, something more alive than a typical comedy club experience, this is your night.

Spring Has Arrived. So Has Hayashi Mansuke.

March in Tokyo means cherry blossoms, hanami picnics, and the specific joy of being outside after a long winter. But cherry blossoms are gone in a week. A great night of improv comedy? That stays with you.

This month's show comes with a massive bonus. Returning to our stage as a Featured Player is Hayashi Mansuke, a veteran comedy performer from Yoshimoto Kogyo and a core member of The Empty Stage, one of Tokyo's top improv shows. He guest-performed with us in 2023, came back last month and absolutely owned the room, and now he's joining us as a regular featured member for 2026.

The chemistry between Mansuke and our international cast is something you genuinely cannot predict, and that is exactly the point.

"Do I need to speak both languages?"

This is the question we hear most. The answer is no.

Our shows are designed so that anyone, whether you speak English, Japanese, or are somewhere in the middle, will laugh just as hard as everyone else. We use physical comedy, pantomime, big reactions, and yes, occasional gibberish to make sure the whole room is in on the joke. Language ability is not a ticket requirement. Curiosity is.

Why What the Dickens!?

If you are looking for things to do in Tokyo that feel genuinely local and alive, What the Dickens! in Ebisu is one of the city's great hidden gems. A proper British pub on the 4th floor, with real fish and chips, cold pints, and a stage that has hosted some of the most unpredictable nights in Tokyo comedy.

Three minutes from Ebisu Station on the Yamanote Line. One stop from Shibuya. Easy to find, impossible to forget.

What to expect on the night:

• Doors open at 7:00pm - come early, grab your free drink, find a good seat

• Show starts at 7:30pm sharp

• Runtime approximately 1 hour 45 minutes

• Full British pub food and drinks menu available throughout

• You will be asked for suggestions, the weirder the better

🎟️ EVENT DETAILS / March 29th

• Date: Sunday, March 29th, 2026

• Doors: 7:00 PM

• Show Start: 7:30 PM

• Venue: What the Dickens!, Roob 6 Bldg 4F, 1-13-3 Ebisunishi, Ebisu (1 stop from Shibuya)

• Tickets: ¥2,500 (includes your 1st drink free!)

• Reserve: www.piratesoftokyobay.com/tickets

Seats fill up fast. Book in advance.

See you on the 29th!

この記事を日本語で読む → 日本語版

Tokyo Spring Comedy: Bloom, Boom, and Unscripted Laughs!

Shake off the winter chill and start the season with a laugh!

Spring in Tokyo is famous for cherry blossoms, but we think it should be famous for uncontrollable, unscripted laughter. I’m Mike, the founder of the Pirates of Tokyo Bay, and we are gearing up for a massive night of English and Japanese improv comedy this March.

If you've visited a typical Tokyo comedy bar for stand-up and are looking for something completely different, short-form improv is your answer. There are no scripts, no planned jokes, and no safety nets. We take your live suggestions and spin them into scenes, stories, and songs on the spot.

A massive addition to the Pirate Crew

We have an incredible treat for you this month. Joining us on stage is our brand-new "Featured Player," Hayashi Mansuke!

Mansuke is a seasoned comedy veteran from Yoshimoto Kogyo and an active member of The Empty Stage (a premier Tokyo-based improv comedy show featuring Yoshimoto comedians and actors). He guest-performed with us back in 2023, absolutely crushed it again last month, and we are thrilled to have his high-energy, razor-sharp wit as a regular featured member in our shows this year. You do not want to miss the chaotic chemistry between him and our international cast.

"Do I need to speak perfect English or Japanese?"

Not at all. We use pantomime, physical comedy, gibberish, and expressive emotions to bridge the gap. Whether you are an expat, a tourist, a language learner, or a local, you will understand the premise and you will laugh.

Grab your friends, grab a pint, and join us in Ebisu.

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Sunday, March 29th, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM Start (Doors Open at 7:00 PM)
Venue: What the Dickens (4F), Ebisu
Tickets: ¥2,500 (Includes your 1st drink free!)
Reserve your spot here: www.piratesoftokyobay.com/tickets

See you at the show!

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a Featured Player (Booster)? A Featured Player is a special performer who joins our regular international cast on stage. This month, Hayashi Mansuke - a comedy veteran from Yoshimoto Kogyo's acclaimed improv show "The Empty Stage" - joins the crew for what promises to be an explosive night.

この記事を日本語で読む → 日本語版

Check us out on NHK TV / NHKワールドに出演！

As Tokyo becomes more international, the city's English-language comedy scene is growing.  We were excited when NHK and their English-language channel, NHK World, reached out to us to feature us in a segment about the various comedy options across Tokyo on their show Tokyo Eye 2020.

東京がグローバルな都市になるにつれて、英語によるお笑い界も成長を遂げています。NHKワールドの番組「Tokyo Eye 2020」では、私たちを東京で楽しめるお笑い／娯楽の一つとして取り上げていただきました。

We welcomed their reporter, Felicia Gonzalez to not only our practice, but also to join us on stage at one of our recent bilingual comedy shows at What the Dickens in Ebisu.  

In addition to having NHK check out our practice and live show, we brought them along to one of our recent corporate training sessions, this time at the translation company Gengo in Shibuya.  

Check out the video below to see our lengthy feature as well as some clips from other comedic talent across Tokyo including our friends at Stand-Up Tokyo which is the leader in English-based stand-up comedy here in Tokyo.  Enjoy!

同番組のレポーターであるフェリシア・ゴンザレスさんには、私たちの練習だけではなく恵比寿のWhat the Dickensにて毎月公演する即興コントライブにも実際にパフォーマーとして参加していただきました。

またそれだけではなく渋谷にあるクラウドソーシングの翻訳サービスを提供している株式会社Gengoさまで企業研修の様子も撮影していただきました。

動画には私たちだけでなく、私たちの仲間として東京で先頭に立って活動しているスタンドアップコメディグループの「Stand-Up Tokyo」や他のエンターテイメントが紹介されていますので、ぜひご覧ください！