Beer in Japan

Beer (ビール) is the most popular alcoholic drink in Japan and widely consumed at homes and drinking establishments nationwide. Four companies currently dominate the market: Asahi, Kirin, Suntory and Sapporo. The standard type of beer sold at izakaya, bars and restaurants is light lager beers with an alcohol content of around five percent. In addition, regional craft beers have become popular in recent years.

History

The Dutch started brewing beer for their own use in Nagasaki during the Edo Period. The first brewery to serve the Japanese market was founded in 1869 in the international port town of Yokohama by a foreign businessman. After changes in ownership, it started producing Kirin-branded beer in 1888. Meanwhile in Sapporo, the government built a beer brewery and established the Sapporo Beer brand in 1876 as part of its efforts to develop the island of Hokkaido. Accordingly, Yokohama and Sapporo vie for the title of birthplace of Japanese beer.

The popularity of beer increased sharply in the second half of the 20th century, and beer has long since overtaken sake as the nation's favorite tipple. In recent decades, some Japanese beers have also gained popularity overseas.

Variations of beer

Because the alcohol laws in Japan dictate that beer be taxed according to its malt content, other beer-like drinks have been created by the Japanese brewers that contain less malt and thus are cheaper to sell. The current three ranks of beer are as follows:

Beer

Regular beer with regular malt content. Because of higher taxation, it costs more than the two ranks below.
Happoshu

Happoshu (lit. "sparkling alcohol", also known as low-malt beer) is a relatively recent invention by Japanese brewing companies. It has a similar flavor and alcohol content as beer, but it is made with less malt, which gives it a different, lighter taste. Due to the lower malt content, happoshu is taxed differently than beer and costs less.
New Genre (Shin Janru)

New genre beer (also known as "third beer" or "daisan no bīru") is the most recent development in the Japanese beer industry. In order to counter tax changes that reclassified the malt content of beer and subsequently raised the price of happoshu, this beer-like beverage contains no malt, instead using pea, soy or wheat spirits. As a result, it can be sold at an even lower price.

The alcohol tax rate is incrementally being adjusted to be unified into a single one for all beer and beer-like beverages by 2026. This means that the price difference between beer and its less-malt-containing alternatives is narrowing.

Craft beer

The craft beer (地ビール, ji-bīru, literally "local beer") scene emerged in the mid 1990s. Up until then, stringent brewing laws granted licenses only to large-scale brewers. This all changed in 1994 when the government drastically relaxed the law, enabling small-scale breweries to thrive. Since then, craft beer has become increasingly popular, with hundreds of microbreweries around the country now selling high-quality regional beer domestically and abroad.

There is a particularly vibrant craft beer scene in the big cities like Tokyo and Osaka, where various dedicated bars sell beer from a particular brewery they are linked to, if not from a selection of breweries. There are also an increasing number of brewpubs that brew and sell their own beer on premises. Many onsen towns also contribute to the national craft beer presence with celebrated local breweries that take advantage of local pure waters.

How to enjoy beer

In izakaya, restaurants and bars, beer is usually available as draft beer (nama-bīru) or bottled (bin-bīru). Draft beer is most commonly available in two sizes: a medium sized jug (chū-jockey, typically 500-700 ml) or a smaller sized glass (typically 200-300 ml). Less common are large sized jugs (dai-jockey, typically one liter). Bottles typically contain 500 ml of beer.

Beer is also easily available at convenience stores and at kiosks in train stations, where it is sold mostly in 350 and 500 ml cans. At supermarkets, some brands sell their beer in 250 ml and even 135 ml cans. Vending machines selling beer have drastically decreased in number over recent years, except in business hotels where they are still common.

Beer-related attractions

Some of the big companies maintain beer museums or offer factory tours. Below are some of the better and more easily accessible beer-related tourist attractions:

Sapporo

Sapporo Beer Museum
The Sapporo Beer Museum introduces the history of beer and the process of beer making. Tasting sessions are available at the end for a small fee. Adjacent to the museum stand a few atmospheric beer halls and restaurants.
Tokyo

Yebisu Brewery Tokyo
The Yebisu Brewery Tokyo is located within Yebisu Garden Place in Ebisu, Tokyo where the original brewery stood. The museum commemorates the history and science involved in beer brewing. Paid beer tasting is available.
Yokohama

Kirin Beer Factory
The Kirin Beer Factory in Yokohama offers tours of its facilities. Tours are available in Japanese and sometimes English and include a tasting session at the end. Similar tours are also available at Kirin's other breweries.
Osaka

Asahi Suita Brewery
Located in Suita City, just north of central Osaka, the Asahi Suita Brewery offers tours of its beer museum with a tasting session at the end. Similar tours are also available at Asahi's other breweries.
Okinawa Main Island

Orion Happy Park
Orion Beer is the most popular beer in Okinawa. At the Orion Beer brewery in Nago City, in the north of the Okinawa Main Island, free tours of the brewery are held that include a tasting session.

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