Ebisu Yokocho

In short

Ebisu Yokocho is a drinking and dining alley with around 20 eateries located right near Ebisu Station. It opened in 2008, revitalizing the site of a former public market. Lined with red lanterns and colorful signs, it exudes a Showa-era atmosphere.

• ​Lantern and sign entrance​​: Marked by a red lantern bearing the character "寿" (kotobuki, celebration and long life) and colorful signs reminiscent of a Showa-era entertainment district.
• ​Narrow L-shaped alley​​: Packed with small shops of about 3 to 5 tsubo (approx. 10 to 16.5 square meters), with passageways barely wide enough for people to pass each other. You can easily chat with neighboring customers.
• ​Bar-hopping​​: Features shops serving skewered grilled foods, oden, teppanyaki, bistros, and more, all with open storefronts that make hopping from place to place easy.

History & Highlights

​Ebisu Yokocho​ is a drinking and dining alley located about a 2-minute walk from the East Exit of Ebisu Station. It houses around 20 eateries.

This location once flourished as a public market. It was a market called the "Ameyoko of Ebisu." However, it declined over time and effectively became a shuttered street lined with empty shopfronts. Because there were multiple landowners, it is said that nobody could take action to redevelop it, leaving it untouched for years.

Hamakurateki Shoten Seisakusho revitalized this Showa-era shuttered shopping street. In 2008, Ebisu Yokocho opened on the site. Its representative, Hamakura Yoshinori, wanted to pass down the alleyway culture to the next generation. He explained that he artificially created an alley that young people would find easy to enter.

Inside the alley, there is a retro Showa atmosphere reminiscent of a theme park. The trend of "nikuzushi," sushi made with meat, is said to have originated from a shop that started in this Ebisu Yokocho.

Viewing & Experiencing Highlights

• ​Lanterns and signs at the entrance​​: At the entrance, red lanterns reading "寿" (kotobuki) and colorful signs line the entryway. The signs evoke the look of a Showa-era entertainment district.
• ​L-shaped alley and tiny shops​​: The alley forms an L-shape, densely lined with small shops of about 3 to 5 tsubo. The corridor is so narrow that people can barely squeeze past one another. The distance between neighboring shops is close, and you can strike up conversations with neighboring customers with ease.
• ​Bar-hopping​​: A variety of establishments are available, including kushiyaki skewers, teppanyaki, oden, yakiniku, bistros, and wine bars. Every shop features an open layout, making it convenient to move between several places.

Tips for Exploring

Exiting the East Exit of Ebisu Station and walking a short distance, you will spot the red lanterns and signs. Open the entrance door and head deep into the L-shaped corridor. Rather than sticking to just one shop, visiting several is the best way to enjoy it.

About 730 meters in a straight line to the south-southeast is Yebisu Garden Place. About 680 meters to the west is Daikanyama.