Yebisu Garden Place is a “micro-city” like Roppongi Hills or Tokyo Midtown but much smaller.
Ebisu is a neighbourhood in Tokyo that emerged around the first big beer factory of the manufacturer Japan Beer (known today as Sapporo). In 1890 Japan Beer launched a beer that was called Yebisu (archaic written form of Ebisu), which is the name of one of the seven lucky gods of Japan. Yebisu beer from Japan Beer became an instant hit, to the point that the neighbourhood where the main factory of Japan Beer was located became “Ebisu” (modern written form of “Yebisu”). In 1901 Japan Beer built a train station beside the factory and called it “Ebisu” as well.
Today, the Ebisu train station is part of the Yamanote line. Yebisu beer is still very popular and some people think it’s the best Japanese beer. The old location of the Japan Beer factory is now the Yebisu Garden Place. The original factory had to be moved outside of Tokyo in the late 80’s. Train station with a beer name, neighbourhood with a beer name, shopping mall with a beer name… they have truly made good use of the fact that there was a beer factory in the middle of Tokyo in the old days.
There’s not much to see in Yebisu Garden Place (do not go and visit unless you’re going to be in Tokyo for quite a bit of time), but if you like photography I’m pretty sure you’ll have a good time in the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography (number 1 on the map). And if you like beer, you’ll be able to taste all kinds of Yebisu beers in the bars in the mall and near the train station (number 8 on the map). There is also a nice hotel (number 3 on the map), in a great location if you want to visit Tokyo; beside the hotel there is a restaurant with a bunch of Michelin stars (number 4 on the map). And if you’re very interested in the history of Yebisu beer, you can visit the beer museum for free (number 7 on the map). One of my favourite places is a taco restaurant that has a terrace overlooking Yebisu Garden Place (number 2 on the map).
Link to Google maps
1 – Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
2 – Great Taco restaurant
3 – Westin Hotel
4 – Joel Robuchon restaurant
5 – Garden Place Tower
6 – Central plaza
7 – Beer Museum Yebisu
8 – Area with many bars and restaurants
Taken from the Taco restaurant. Number 2 on the map.
Taken from the Taco restaurant. Number 2 on the map.
Taken from the Taco restaurant. Number 2 on the map.
Taken from the Taco restaurant. Number 2 on the map.
Strolling around the center of the complex. Number 6 on the map.
Strolling around the center of the complex. Number 6 on the map.
Strolling around the center of the complex. Number 6 on the map.
Strolling around the center of the complex. Number 6 on the map.
Strolling around the center of the complex. Number 6 on the map.
Joel Robuchon Restaurant. Number 4 on the map.
Joel Robuchon Restaurant. Number 4 on the map.
Ferrari behind Joel Robuchon Restaurant. Number 4 on the map.
Dusk in front of the main tower “Garden Place Tower”, where the Japan Morgan Stanley offices are located. Number 5 on the map.
