VIDEO: Yebisu Garden Place, old brewery with modern charm in Tokyo

Yebisu Garcden Place exterior

Yebisu Garcden Place (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)

In the heart of the metropolis, Ebisu is one of Tokyo’s most popular and desirable districts to live or to spend a fun day out. Here modern buildings coexist with abundant greenery and the area is flooded with world‑renowned restaurants, luxury hotels and stylish shops.

Yebisu Garden Place is a landmark in Ebisu featuring a 167‑meter‑tall office tower, two museums, chic restaurants, cafés, bars, and more. You’ll find plenty to do in this busy complex, so don’t miss it.

From JR Ebisu Station, the complex is only a short, five-minute walk along the “Ebisu Skywalk” moving walkway.

Since the complex was built on the former site of the Sapporo Beer brewing factory, you’ll find various beer stands offering different types of beer and traditional German dishes, while elegant French restaurants offer upscale dishes.

When I stepped off the walkway and entered the vast complex, a castle‑like red‑brick entrance pavilion with a classical clock tower nicely welcomed me in the Clock Square.

Walking among the complex packed with European‑style buildings made me feel as if I were strolling along Rue Saint‑Honoré in Paris. As I entered the Center Square, the open area had many benches where visitors can do some people-watching and rest while they plan out where they’ll go first.

My first stop was the Yebisu Beer Museum. You know, Yebisu Beer is a premier Beer of Japan first produced by Sapporo Beer Brewery in the 1890s. The museum introduces the history with interesting exhibits featuring vintage bottle designs, old advertisements, manga and magazines. They even have a large brewing kettle retired from the factory on display.

In the tasting salon, you can try varieties of Yebisu Beer samples and pick up branded merchandise in the museum shop.

Enjoy a leisurely walk in the Yebisu Garden Place, a sophisticated district where the charms of traditional and modern Tokyo coexist.

Yebisu Garden Place exterior