Notable Breweries in Shiga
While this is not a comprehensive list of breweries in Shiga, it’s a list of breweries that are notable in Shiga. For long time readers of BeerTengoku, some will not be a surprise to see on this list, in spite of the strong dislike for them, but are included because they have become synonymous with craft beer from Tochigi.
Flora Fermentation
Flora Fermentation is located in the rural town of Eigenji, Higashiōmi City, Shiga Prefecture. Founded in October 2022 by three passionate brewers in their 20s – Kai Shimizu (Neubauer), Shota Tanaka, and Kohei Onishi – the brewery has quickly gained attention for its dedication to locally rooted brewing and a philosophy of integrating agriculture and fermentation. The name “Flora Fermentation” reflects their philosophy:
“Flora” symbolizes both the plant life and microbiome that define the local environment.
“Fermentation” refers to their focus on creating beer using natural processes and ingredients tied to place.
From the start, they envisioned a brewery rooted in local agriculture, growing their own hops and collaborating with local farmers.
Hino Brewing
Hino Brewing was founded in January 2018 by three festival-loving individuals from Hino Town – Hiroaki Tanaka, Sean Fumienczki (from Poland), and Tom Vincent (from the UK) – who bonded through the local Hino Festival. Inspired by their shared love for the festival, they decided to create “festival beers” to support their community and enhance the celebratory atmosphere.
The brewery is located within the Shiga Agricultural Park “Blumen no Oka”, Hino Brewing began microbrewery operations using park-well water. hrough locally inspired ingredients, original yeast harvesting, and festival-based beer experiences, Hino Brewing continues to embody the spirit of Hino Town and the Hino Festival.
Nagahama Roman Beer
Nagahama Roman Beer began operations in March 1996 in Nagahama, Shiga—making it one of the earliest craft breweries in the Kansai region following the 1994 deregulation of Japan’s beer industry. Housed in a repurposed 100‑year‑old rice warehouse by the river in the historic castle town, the brewery combines traditional charm with modern brewing techniques.
Dedicated to purity, Nagahama Roman Beer adheres to principles akin to the German Reinheitsgebot, using only malt, hops, water, and yeast. All beers are unfiltered and unpasteurized to preserve “umami” richness, with ale fermenting for ~5–10 days and lagers for ~2 weeks in onsite tanks. In November 2016, the brewery introduced a micro‑distillery to produce craft whisky – the smallest in Japan. Using the same mash and pot still systems as their beer operation, they ferment wort and distill single‑barrel whisky following a “one brew, one barrel” philosophy.
Two Rabbits Brewing Company
Two Rabbits Brewing was founded by Sean Collett (Australian), Riko Collett (Japanese), and Batbaatar Purev-Ochir (Mongolian), who met while pursuing MBAs at Kyoto University. In December 2017 they officially established Two Rabbits Brewing Co. in Kyoto before relocating to Ōmihachiman, Shiga Prefecture, to begin brewing in August 2018. Inspired by the Japanese proverb “If you chase two rabbits, you’ll catch neither,” the founders chose the name “Two Rabbits” as a reverse mantra—to focus on one passion and do it well
Shortly after launch in September 2018, they opened a taproom adjacent to the brewery. In February 2019, they launched their first standalone pub, Rabbit Hutch Craft Beer Café, in a renovated Edo-period storehouse along Ōmihachiman’s scenic canal. They’ve experimented with barrel-aging, seasonal releases, and collaborations—such as a Golden Ale produced for Ōmihachiman’s 60th-anniversary celebrations in September 2022 .
In May 2022, they briefly closed the café to transition to a new brewing facility and reopened it later that year .
