Zakkoku Micro Brewery in Ogawamachi, Saitama

Zakkoku Micro Brewery The Bottom Line

Zakkoku Micro Brewery is a trek for anyone who doesn’t live in the area – heck, from Omiya itself it’s an hour train journey at best, so from Tokyo it’s about two hours. However, if you’re in the area, then there is no excuse not to go there. The whole bar is non-smoking and there is no table charge – as there are no tables! There are some snacks available but they don’t mind you bringing some of your own in. Be warned, there’s a minimal amount of English going on and the local dialect is strong so bring out your best Japanese if you can.

Photo thanks to Dan Welland.

Zakkoku Micro Brewery The Full Review

Zakkoku Micro Brewery used to be Japan’s smallest brewery, but since it opened in 2004, it’s quickly been overtaken (or should that be undertaken) by other breweries for the title of smallest brewery in Japan. Zakkoku Micro Brewery is run by Baba Isamu and he also grows as much of the malt and hops used in the beers when he can, ensuring that ll the beers are organic too.

Zakkoku Micro Brewery is located about two minutes from Ogawamachi station – which is right in the north-western part of Saitama. In fact, on a good day you could probably see over into Gunma and Takasaki itself. Even though it is a brewpub, there isn’t much space inside, with space for about 10 people at the seating. There are weren’t any tables inside Zakkoku Micro Brewery, though during the summer months there are some tables put outside for drinkers to use. As such, there is no table charge and the whole bar is non-smoking too.

Millet Weizen Photo courtesy of Dan Welland

Amber Ale Photo courtesy of Dan Welland

All of the beers at Zakkoku Micro Brewery are their own, so no guest beers from other Saitama breweries or any other breweries from Japan in fact. There are anywhere between four to eight beers on tap at any one time, and the beers come in one size each – no small, medium, or large – though prices range from ¥500 to ¥600 per beer. The Millet Hefe Weizen can be bought to takeaway too. There isn’t a happy hour nor is there a beer flight either.

There isn’t much food on at Zakkoku Micro Brewery besides some small snacks and dishes, so make sure you’ve either eaten lots or got something in your bag. They don’t mind you taking in your own snacks, but they do have a one-drink minimum order.

Zakkoku Micro Brewery Details

Open: Wednesday to Saturday 15:00 – 19:30 Sundays & National Holidays 11:00 – 18:30

Closed: Mondays / Tuesdays

Happy Hour: None

Phone: 0493-72-5673

Homepage (in Japanese): http://www.craft-beer.net/zkm.html

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How to Get to Zakkoku Micro Brewery

The closest station to Zakkoku Micro Brewery is Ogawamachi on the Hachikō Line between Komagawa and Takasaki, and also by the Tobu Tojo Line from Ikebukuro in Tokyo.