Closed: Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit in Hatanodai, Tokyo

Editor Note: Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit has closed down. This review has been kept for posterity’s sake

Somehow, and I’m blaming my trip to the UK, Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit seems to have escaped my mighty review claws even though I have been there three or four times since my first visit there, thanks to Hiro, again a font of knowledge of craft beer bars and breweries. We’ve been there to start off an afternoon session moving on towards Tokyo though we have often stayed at Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit longer than we should have done because:

a) The master, Adachi-san, has a cracking range of beers at daft prices

b) The food is delicious for the price you pay.

Dark, romantic, low-lit.

Whenever we’ve met up at Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit, we’ve always tried to get there for opening time at 3pm. It isn’t a difficult place to find from Hatanodai station; however, Hatanodai isn’t the easiest place to get to. For those who don’t know, Hatanodai is located on three different train lines – well two if you count the Oimachi Line as one line, so I’m guessing that’s how the bar got the Transit part of the name. It’s a cosy little bar that is a bit dark during the daytime due to some “interesting” lighting inside so it’s easy to lose track of time during your drinking session.

Good range of beers on tap with prices that include tax.

Ise Kadoya Summer Fruits Wit. Fruity indeed.

Fujizakura Aroma Weizen - nice and drinkable

The taps at Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit rotate with Adachi-san updating the Facebook page on a religious daily-basis along with some jovial picture of a bar mat as well. Prices vary from beer to beer, though half sizes tends to equate to half the price of large beers. The majority of the beers at Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit tend to be US pint size or thereabouts of 450ml though it is possible to find larger beers, such as the Fujizakura range of beers in larger 500ml glasses. All the beer prices include tax as well, so there are no sudden surprises when you get the bill at the end.

All this cost something like 600yen. Bargain!

Adachi-san does serve a variety of food at Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit that is incredibly well-priced and also prepared by himself as well. The range of food is from simple Japanese bar snacks, such as pickles and the ilk, through to horse meat or gyoza. I’m a big fan of simple snack food and the large variety available means there is something for everyone. Though, and I hate to say this about a bar I enjoy this much, Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit is a smoking bar. Sometimes you might be lucky and might get away without someone smoking but other times.

Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit One Paragraph Review

I really liked Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit – a great selection of beer with lovely food but the smell of smoke and the fact that smokers are happy to puff away next to you while you are drinking or eating is frustrating to say the least. If you don’t mind that, then take a train, or two, and grab a seat. You’re going to be there for a while. There is no table charge either.

Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit Details

Open: Monday to Saturday 15:00 ~ 22:00

Close: Sunday

Phone: 03-6426-7788

Facebook page: Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit

How to Get to Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit

The closest station to Craft Beer & Whisky Bar Transit is Hatanodai Station on the Tokyu Oimachi Line and Tokyu Ikegami Line. Take the south exit and the bar is less than minute from the exit.