We love our dogs here at BeerTengoku – in fact we had a labrador retriever too that was rescued back in 2019. However, it seems that while we love dogs – who doesn’t enjoy seeing a dog bound up to them, then have a good scratch behind the ear – there are not many places in Japan that are dog friendly, even though they are a man’s best friend. Part of this is due to space being at a premium, but that doesn’t mean you should leave your furry friend at home.
Being from the UK, and Europe even more so in this case, it seems strange that places with outdoor seating don’t allow people to sit outside with their dogs. So it’s been our mission over the last few years to try and show people on the site where they can take their dogs and drink craft beer with them. So for this instalment, the bars on this list have to fulfil the following conditions:
- Dogs can’t simply be tied up on a hook and be done with it. There has to be a proper space for them, and signage, so dogs are allowed.
- Craft beer has to be on tap and not in bottles – we have no problem with the latter; however, there is no difference then in making your own food and buying your own bottles for consumption at home.
- Must have Japanese craft beer on tap – that’s a given.
- We’ve widened the area to anywhere in Kanto, though there are probably places outside, we’re yet to get to them. Let us know in the comments below and we’ll try adding them.
YYG
YYG has two floors available for drinking, with dogs allowed on the first floor terrace area outside. It’s a fantastic little area anyway for drinking, but seeing as they allow dogs in that area too means you can pop in after a nice long walk around the area, and grab a couple of cold beers.
LaLaChai
Combine great food, a warm and inviting atmosphere, with some brilliant beers on tap, and you end up with LaLaChai. This place came about because of a recommendation from Samsun the Craft Beer Dog – yes, that dog can type messages – and over I popped. It was everything they said and more, though you may end spending a lot of time here with so much to eat and drink on the menu.
Review : LaLaChai in Hatagaya, Tokyo
Let’s Beer Works
Let’s Beer Works wasn’t a place I would imagine to have been dog friendly, but when we went there, there were a number of dogs in and around the brewpub, with the owners being very chatty and friendly to all of the owners. It’s great that a small community like this has a place where they can hang out and get beers to drink in, and then some beers to takeaway for the evening walk.
Mikkeller Tokyo
Mikkeller OL is located in an area of Shibuya that I wouldn’t have expected to have seen many dogs – it’s in the back alleys of the Dogenzaka so you’ve got to be on a seriously long walk, or thirsty for a beer. However, they do allow dogs, and there is also a lot of seating area outside for people to sit, drink, and chat away the evenings.
Review : Mikkeller Tokyo in Shibuya, Tokyo
Urban BBQ Smokehouse
BBQ and dogs – a dangerous combination if I’ve ever seen one! All that meat and dogs having to be patient while the juices drip down from the owners. Well your dogs can sit outside with you on the deck / patio area, while you order some beers from TY Harbour and get a massive plate of BBQ. Go on – if your dog is being patient with you, they deserve a little treat of some brisket, don’t they?
Sakamichi Brewing
Heading out west for this one with Sakamichi Brewing and their first branch. At the time of writing, they are constructing a new branch on the north side of the station but the OG place has a special place for dog lovers. Though the area is on the street, dogs are allowed to join their owners with some fantastic, well-made beers, and some good conversation with both the owners and the local running community.
Yokohama Bay Brewing Totsuka
On the various times we’ve been to Yokohama Bay Brewing Totsuka, I’ve come across a few dog owners sat outside with their pets, perhaps either in the middle or end of their walk along the River Kashio (Kashiogawa), sipping down on some brilliant Czech and German Pilsners in the warm sun. It’s a fantastic little spot anyway, but seeing as pets are allowed here, it definitely earns its spot on this list.
Murmur Biiru Stand
Heading out to Nikko for this one – an area of outstanding beauty, with lots of walking and hiking trails around, perfect for dog walkers. It’s been a few years since I’ve been here, but the owner was super friendly to our dog on the days we went, even offering up some snacks for our dog to feast upon as we ate our sausages. If you’re lucky, the owner may even take a picture and hang it up on the wall. See if you can find us on it next time you are there.
Review : Murmur Biiru Stand in Nikko, Tochigi
Folk Burgers & Beer
Poor dogs! They have to sit and suffer as you munch on some juicy and tasty hamburgers at Folk Burgers & Beer. Combine this with an array of beers that may just have ended your long walk around the area, you can safely relax here knowing that your furry friend is welcomed and may even get given some snacks – perhaps a little bite of your hamburger too if you’re feeling kind.
Quays Pacific Bar & Grill
Hammerhead is a dog walker’s heaven – every time that I’ve been either to Quays or the “world’s best 7/11”, there have been more breeds of dogs than I can count. It’s crazy how welcoming the whole area is to dogs and I wish I could have taken my dog here more before he passed away. Quays has a large outside area for dogs and their walkers to sit, eat, and drink at so stop in for a couple of cold beers on your long walk from Yamashita park.
Outside Kanto
There are plenty of places outside of the Kanto area that encourage dogs and their walkers to come along and here are a few places we’d recommend. If you know of any more, please leave a comment and we can add them to this list:
- Open Air Brewing Kobe Machi – Kobe / Hyogo
- Golden River – Aridagawa / Wakayama
- Cafe & Bar Blooming – Mishima / Shizuoka
- Valle Sagrado – Kobe / Hyogo
