Ebisu Area Guide

Contents

• Location
• Key Stats
• Orientation Around the Station
• Livability
• Short History of Ebisu
• Useful Info at a Glance
• Ebisu Apartments

Location

Ebisu is located just one stop away from Shibuya on the Yamanote Line (the train line that connects Tokyo’s largest and busiest train stations). It’s also within the borders of Shibuya Ward but has a different atmosphere and vibe compared to Shibuya proper.

Ebisu enjoys an enviable central location in Tokyo: it’s just to the south of the hustle and bustle of Shibuya Station but also within walking distance of the stylish and trendy neighborhood of Daikanyama to the west and the calm, green environs of Meguro. Ebisu is also directly connected to the ex-pat friendly neighborhoods of Hiroo and Roppongi which are just a few minutes away on the Hibiya line.

Originally the site of the Japan Beer Brewery Company (which has since been renamed Sapporo Breweries Limited), where Yebisu Beer was brewed. This area and station have taken the name from the brewery as it was the largest establishment in the area at the time the station was created. Ebisu and Yebisu are pronounced exactly the same, the extra “y” is a stylistic choice that hearkens to a more antiquated romanization of the Japanese. As Ebisu Station is on the Yamanote Line, it’s quite easy to get to and has a fantastic, diverse selection of shopping and dining available.

Key Stats

Average Rent in Ebisu

Apartments For Rent in Ebisu

Train Lines

JR/Subway/Other	Line
JR	Yamanote
JR	Saikyo
JR	Shonan-Shinjuku
Metro	Hibiya

Accessibility

Orientation Around the Station

At JR Ebisu Station you’ll have a choice of exiting to the east or west. But, on top of that you can also exit on ground level or where the tracks are located (3F).

• The West Exit points you toward the entrance to the Metro Hibiya Station. It’s the exit you’ll want to take if you’re transferring to the subway.
• The East Exit has a small park area for taking a quick break. You’ll also find a roundabout for taxi arrivals/departures.
• If you exit on 3F of the station, you can walk through part of the Atre department store which will have a bunch of bakeries and restaurants enticing you with delicious aromas conveniently placed close to the station exit. If you keep moving through the stores you’ll get to a long escalator that will take you to the ground floor of the West Exit.

Yebisu Garden Place

A city-within-a-city that features the Westin Tokyo hotel, the Yebisu beer garden, MITSUKOSHI department store, Joel Robuchon’s Michelin 3-star Chateau restaurant, and a plethora of other shops and restaurants. There’s a covered walkway with moving sidewalks to help get you from the station to Yebisu Garden Place, located just south of the station. In addition to the established features, there are seasonal events often held in the wide-open plaza area. You can check out upcoming events on the website (in Japanese, but a machine translation feature is available in the side menu).

Izakayas as Far as the Eye can See

Ebisu is extremely well-known for the depth and quality of izakayas (Japanese-style bars) that you can find in every corner of the area. It’s very common to see these establishments packed with people looking to grab a quick drink after a day in the office. Don’t be alarmed if you can’t find any seats in some of these bars, tachinomi (drinking while standing) bars are an ordinary sight in Ebisu. There’s such a variety of bars in the area you can always try something new, or become a regular at your favorite watering hole.

Tokyo Photographic Art Museum

Located in the same vicinity as Yebisu Garden Place is the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum. There are a few galleries inside with rotating exhibits featuring photographers and artists from all over the world.

Eating

In addition to the wealth of izakayas in the area, Ebisu is home an exceptional amount of restaurants ranging from holes-in-the-wall to a Michelin 3-star restaurant. As a small slice of what you can find in this culinarily blessed neighborhood, check out: BLACOWS for gourmet burgers, the world-acclaimed Joel Robuchon Restaurant, and Analog Cafe Lounge Tokyo for a relaxed, intimate cafe setting!

Livability

As the area is close to neighborhoods known for their international population (Hiroo and Roppongi), Ebisu also enjoys a good reputation as a foreign-friendly residential neighborhood . It provides great access to the rest of the city, and there’s plenty to do and see. Shoppers and cafe lovers will enjoy how close it is to Daikanyama and Naka Meguro! All this comes at a relatively steep average rent, but that’s due to the high number of stylish condominiums near the station.

Ebisu is a great area for those looking to move to Tokyo since there’s plenty of shopping and a good combination of train lines for public transportation. Particularly, those who love checking out different restaurants will feel quite spoiled in Ebisu. The area definitely feels very city-like. You’ll be able to find pockets of calm and quiet in the neighborhood, but if you’re picturing something suburban you might want to check out areas like Sendagaya or even Asagaya/Koenji.

Short History of Ebisu

The name of Ebisu comes from the Yebisu Beer brand which was established in 1928 in the area. Since then, the company has rebranded itself as Sapporo Breweries, but the headquarters can still be found in Ebisu. Along with this, you’ll find a museum dedicated to Yebisu Beer, which is a popular attraction for beer lovers. But where did the Yebisu Beer brand get the name? Ebisu (aka Yebisu) is one of the Seven Gods of Fortune, more precisely, he is the god of fishermen and luck.

It was really the construction of Yebisu Garden Place in 1994 which triggered a rapid development in the area resulting in the upscale, stylish atmosphere it has today. It’s quite interesting how a beer company is so invested and intertwined with the roots of this area of Tokyo!

Useful Info at a Glance

Supermarkets

*This is just a selection of supermarkets in the area.

Gyms

*These are just examples of gyms available in the area.

Language Schools

Ward Office, Police

Clinics

*These are examples of clinics in the area.

Parks

Department Stores

Ebisu Apartments

Apartments for rent near Ebisu Station:

• Ebisu Station apartments
• Shibuya Station apartments
• Meguro Station apartments
• Hiroo Station apartments
• Daikanyama Station apartments
• Naka-Meguro Station apartments
• Shirokanedai Station apartments

Ebisu and its surrounding neighborhoods are all extremely popular areas of Tokyo that provide varying balances between city and residential livability. In particular, Ebisu will appeal to those who enjoy city living and all the modern conveniences it can bring. You’ll be located on the Yamanote Line for getting around the biggest stations in Tokyo easily, and you’ll also have access to the Hibiya subway line for additional public transportation. Depending on what you’re looking for, it’s possible to find a 1LDK apartment in the area for ¥134,000 per month.

Apartments For Rent in Ebisu

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