The 2nd stop for me of the 29 Stops on the JR Yamanote Line is Ebisu, it’s 3 stations from home so an easy one to get too. Prior to today i’d only been out to Ebisu once and that was for an afternoon at the Ebisu Beer Hall with the other members of the language school i was attending.

Ebisu, formally Yebisu before the ‘ye’ was dropped for just an ‘e’ also happens to be a popular beer in Japan and it was actually the beer that named the town and the railway station, not the other way around as many would imagine.

As a place Ebisu would best be described as a quiet place located in the Shibuya ward. Ebisu is conveniently situated next to Shibuya and Roppongi so it’s only a matter of heading on the Yamanote Line or Hibiya Line for a few stops to get into the thick of it. Having said that, there is no shortage of bars and restaurants all with their own individual style which can keep you occupied for many a lazy evening.

Ebisu’s main tourist attraction tends to be centered around the newer Yebisu Garden Place and the Westin hotel area. Accessible from the Ebisu Station East Exit via the “Yebisu Skywalk” covered moving walkway, it features the headquarters of Sapporo Breweries, The Beer Museum Yebisu and the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography.

“Ebisu was founded around 1928 as a community developed around the Japan Beer Brewery Company facilities where the Yebisu Garden Place now stands. Yebisu Beer, named for Ebisu, one of the Japanese Seven Gods of Fortune, was introduced in 1890 by Japan Beer and has long been a local favorite. The area adopted its name from the train station built in 1901 by the company to facilitate distribution of its beer. Japan Beer has since reorganized and was renamed Sapporo Breweries Ltd. After the beer factories were moved to Chiba in 1988, the area was redeveloped as the Yebisu Garden Place, opened to the public in 1994.”

I took the Sky Walk out to Garden Palace.

Upon arriving outside the station you’re met with pretty peaceful surrounds.

Walking around Garden Palace there’s a big mixture between concrete and water features.

And a random Harpist playing for the general public.

There’s a wealth of shops in Garden Palace with many big brand names. I’m also getting creative and putting the camera on an angle for this shot.

Walking tours for some retired folk, more than likely from out of town.

Away from Garden Palace and it’s pretty much like lots of other places in Japan.

With cool motor bikes to get around on.

If you’re peckish you can stop in for some Octopus at this hole in the wall take-out place.

Then sweeten your taste buds with some Japanese Ice.

There’s NO shortage of colour in Ebisu, one of the things i liked about the place.

The smokers are kept in the confines of the smoking area.

Ebisu has a strong and fit police presence.

Many streets i walked down were veritable treasure troves of bars and clubs, all closed, maybe i’ll need to do the 29 stops again as an after dark special.

It wouldn’t be Japan without a Hostess Bar and some Pachinko.

Parking was free in many places, not right next to the station though.

The in between a ballet school and a restaurant it was straight back to cultural Japan.

Spring has sprung.

CAM It’s not just a place to get drunk, it’s a Personal Networking Bar

The later the afernoon got the more people were out and about, often relaxing in the sun.

Then it was time for the 7 minute journey back home on the Yamanote Line.

Although i could have stayed in a Capsule Hotel if i wanted.

Next week on the 29 Stops of the Yamanote Line it’s time for Gotanda, i haven’t been to Gotanda yet so i’m looking forward to it.

Similar Posts:

• JR Yamanote Line – Hamamatsucho
• JR Yamanote Line – Mejiro
• JR Yamanote Line – Komagome
• JR Yamanote Line – Meguro
• JR Yamanote Line – Ikebukuro

You might consider subscribing to my RSS feed or starting to follow me on Twitter

Tagged as: beer, ebisu, gotanda, Japan, japanese, park, Roppongi, shibuya, tokyo, yamanote