Ebijyu (aka Ebishige) - A Hidden Gem

I've been told that at some point in time funk bars were all the rage in Japan. Tokyo and Osaka were particular hotbeds for these establishments, with these cities making up their own social and party dances to the American music that invaded the underground. As time went on, however, the number of patrons (and consequently bars) dwindled as they aged.

Ebijyu (or Ebishige, as it is labelled on Google Maps for whatever reason) is one of those diamonds that has carried on the love of funk, and the regulars here have kept their funky souls strong. Its owners having hosted the likes of Kool and the Gang and the JB's, the place has its own authentic reputation. The walls of the place are lined with funk music memorabilia and decor, and you can see photos of the owners posing with the musicians that have visited them.

This was the one with the most autographs on their wall.

The Master of the bar has collected funk classics on vinyl since he was a small child, so he has an extensive selection of music when he is on the turntables. You can request tracks from him too, if you'd like. The Mama-san (the bar master's wife) does most of the seating and serving, and she does a magnificent job finding the best arrangement for all patrons to be comfortable. Both of them are very friendly people, but they aren't pushovers by any means. They can take care of their patrons.

The place is very cozy, but there is a space for dancing, and the dancing is the most interesting thing here. At times during Saturdays, you are likely to witness the regulars gather on the dance floor and do some social dance. Sometimes the mama-san and master will join in. All of them have been doing the dances for years, and you can see their authentic enjoyment of the activity.

Readers that know me personally know that I am a dancer, and I couldn't help but try to learn the dances that the regulars here were doing. All of them were nice enough to teach us as we joined, and they were very welcoming despite my inability to speak Japanese. Most of them mind their own business though, so you don't need to expect random people approaching you during your visit.

Trying to learn a step from the Mama-san.

The tab can run fairly high though. On any given night, if you are a heavy drinker, your bill might run upwards of ten thousand yen if you're not careful. That's not to say the drinks aren't good; the drinks are all worth the price and the proprietors are very generous with their servings of alcohol. As far as I know, they don't have a drink menu, so the place is best for experienced drinkers.

All in all, Ebijyu is a great place to visit for a drink or two in a different atmosphere. It's a very unique place in a quiet part of Tokyo, and is definitely one of my personal favourite establishments.

This is half capacity, before people feel like dancing.

Thanks for reading! If you want to read more about Japan, there's this post about Yokohama. If you like playing mobile games, why not read about this one before giving it a shot?