Ebisu, Shibuya

Ebisu is the southernmost part of Shibuya ward in Tokyo, Japan, and a major district of the ward. It was developed on the site of a former brewery, which it is named after, and is home to Yebisu Garden Place. It has a high concentration of bars and restaurants.

Geography and transportation

Ebisu is a major district and neighborhood of the special ward of Shibuya. It is the southernmost part of Shibuya, north of Meguro ward. Ebisu is accessed by the JR Yamanote Line and Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line via Ebisu Station.

History

Ebisu was founded around 1928 as a community developed around the Japan Beer Brewery Company facilities which began brewing Yebisu Beer in 1890.
After the breweries were moved to Chiba in 1988, the area underwent a major urban development resulting in the construction of Yebisu Garden Place, which opened to the public in 1994. Following the construction of Yebisu Garden Place in 1994, the area around Ebisu Station developed rapidly.
The district and railway station of Ebisu takes its name from the Yebisu Beer brand, which in turn was named after Ebisu. The spelling "Yebisu" is intentionally archaic. With or without the "y" the pronunciation is the same as "Ebisu".

Sightseeing and attractions

Food and drink

Ebisu has a high concentration of restaurants, cafés, izakaya, ramen shops, bars and old-fashioned tachinomi bars. The district is also known for its international nightlife scene, hosting events such as English and Japanese improvisational theatre.

Yebisu Garden Place

Yebisu Garden Place is a shopping and cultural center located in Ebisu. It has a sloped promenade leading to a large central plaza covered by a wide glass arch. The area regularly hosts events and markets on weekends.
It is accessible via the Ebisu Skywalk from JR Ebisu Station East Exit, which takes approximately 5 minutes on foot.
The complex contains the following attractions:

Sapporo Breweries headquarters
Museum of Yebisu Beer
Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
Château Restaurant Joël Robuchon, a replica of a Louis XVI French château, which houses three Michelin-starred restaurants
Yebisu Garden Place Tower, a skyscraper with "sky dining" restaurants on the top 38th and 39th floors with panoramic views over Tokyo
Atre shopping arcade
Glass Square, a self-enclosed shopping centre
Mitsukoshi department store

Yebisu Garden Place offers one of the most popular winter illumination events in Tokyo, holding it annually for over 20 years. The entrance pavilion, sloped promenade, and central square are decorated with about 100,000 gold LED lights. In the central square, a Baccarat crystal chandelier which has 8,500 crystal pieces and 250 lights is hung during the event. At 5 meters tall and 3 meters wide, it is one of the largest chandeliers in the world. Its creation required the work of 13 Meilleur Ouvrier de France craftsmen.

Businesses

The magazine The Diplomat has its headquarters in the Ebisu MF Building.

Education

operates public elementary and junior high schools. Ebisu 4-chome, 1-chome 11-12, 20-26, and 32-35 ban, 2-chome 9-10 ban, and 3-chome 1, 4-42, 44, and 46-49-ban are zoned to Kakezuka Elementary School. Ebisu 1-chome 29-31 ban, 2-chome 1-8 ban and 11-39 ban, and 3-chome 2-3, 43, and 45-ban are zoned to Rinsen Elementary School. Ebisu 1-chome 1-10, 13-19, and 27-28 ban are zoned to Hiroo Elementary School. All of Ebisu is zoned to Hiroo Junior High School.