6 Beer Factories and Museum Easily Reachable from Tokyo

For beer enthusiasts and those looking to explore Japan's rich brewing culture, there are several beer factories and museums easily accessible from Tokyo that offer unique experiences. Here’s a detailed guide to help you plan your visits.

1. Kirin Brewery Company Yokohama Factory

Located in Yokohama, this factory is one of nine facilities operated by the Kirin Brewery Company. The tour, which lasts about 90 minutes, allows visitors to engage their senses by tasting malt, touching hops, and smelling their aroma. The guided tour covers the beer-making process and showcases the latest equipment and videos. After the tour, you can sample freshly brewed draft beer. The factory is a 7-minute walk from Nama-mugi Station on the Keikyu line.

• Address: 1-17-1, Namamugi, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-8628
• Opening Hours: 09:45am – 4:30pm (Advance booking required), Closed on Mondays (open if it's a holiday)
• Ticket Info: 500 yen (per person over 20 years old)
• Eating Facilities: Tasting space, restaurant (temporarily closed due to Covid-19)
• Accessibility: Slope, elevator, wheelchair rental, disabled stall, service dog, Braille
• Childcare: Baby changing table
• Foreign Language Support: English, Chinese, Korean (pamphlet only)

2. Yebisu Brewery Tokyo

Reopened in April 2024, Yebisu Brewery Tokyo is located in the Ebisu district of Tokyo. This facility includes a museum area, brewery area, and tap room area. The museum area offers insights into the history of Yebisu beer, while the brewery area uses German-made equipment to produce approximately 130 kiloliters of beer per year. In the tap room, you can purchase various beers, including flagship and limited edition options. The brewery also hosts a beer festival, known as the "Yebisu Beer Holiday," often in September.

• Address: Yebisu Garden Place, 4-20-1 Ebisu, Shibuya City, Tokyo
• Opening Hours: Check the official website for up-to-date information
• Admission: Check the official website for up-to-date information
• Nearest Transport: 8-minute walk from the east exit of Ebisu Station on the JR Yamanote line
• Special Features: Beer storming area, Yebisu Bar Stand, Taps by Yebisu

3. Suntory Musashino Beer Factory

Located in Fuchu, Tokyo, the Suntory Musashino Beer Factory offers a free 70-minute tour of the brewery. During the tour, you can see the production process, including the packaging of beer. After the tour, you can taste freshly brewed The Premium Malts and take a photo with a Malts panel. The factory also has a shop where you can buy original goods.

• Address: Yazakicho 3-1, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo
• Opening Hours: 9:30-17:00, Closed during end-of-year holidays and special holidays
• Access: 10 minutes by shuttle bus from Bubaigawara Station, 15-minute walk from Fuchu Honmachi Station
• Special Features: Photo opportunity with Malts panel, original goods shop

4. Asahi Beer Kanagawa Factory

Situated in Minamiashigara, Kanagawa, the Asahi Beer Kanagawa Factory offers a 90-minute tour of the production facility. The tour includes a video presentation, viewing of the preparation and filtering rooms, and a 360° angle video of the production line. After the tour, you can taste freshly brewed Asahi Beer, including Super Dry and Dry Premium, and explore the bio-garden.

• Address: 1223 Nuda, Minamiashigara-shi, Kanagawa
• Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00, Closed during end-of-year holidays
• Access: 20 minutes by bus or 15 minutes by taxi from Shin-Matsuda Station, 10 minutes by bus from Daiyuzan Station
• Special Features: Bio-garden, novelty goods and souvenirs shop

5. Sapporo Beer Museum

Located in Sapporo, Hokkaido, this is Japan's only museum dedicated to beer. The museum explores the history of Sapporo Beer, dating back to the 1876 Kaitakushi business. The facility includes a museum exhibition, a paid tasting corner known as the Star Hall, and a museum shop. Visitors can taste various brews, including Hokkaido exclusive beers and non-alcoholic options.

• Address: Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido (Note: Hokkaido Brewery is a separate facility)
• Opening Hours: Museum exhibition: 11:00AM-6:00PM, Star Hall: 11:00AM-6:30PM, Museum Shop: 11:00AM-7:30PM
• Closed: Every Monday (or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday), year-end/New Year, irregular closings
• Special Features: Multilingual support via 2D codes, exclusive Sapporo Beer merchandise

6. Yebisu Beer Museum (Before Reopening as Yebisu Brewery Tokyo)

Although the Yebisu Beer Museum has been redeveloped into Yebisu Brewery Tokyo, it previously offered a 40-minute tour that included a crash course in Yebisu beer history and beer-tasting. The tour culminated in a rock-scissors-paper tournament where the winner received an additional glass of beer and a signature Yebisu glass. This information remains relevant for those interested in the historical context of Yebisu beer.

• Address: Yebisu Garden Place, 4-20-1 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
• Opening Hours: 11am-7pm (last entry 6:30pm), Closed Monday or the following Tuesday when Monday is a national holiday
• Admission: 500 yen (includes two glasses of beer)
• Nearest Transport: 8-minute walk from the east exit of Ebisu Station on the JR Yamanote line
• Special Features: Rock-scissors-paper tournament, beer-tasting, souvenir shop