In the previous entries of Best of the Bunch, we looked at brewpubs and taprooms. With the craft beer market growing year upon year in Japan, we’ve also started to see the development of chain bars – be it independent companies, breweries having a few taprooms, or just some people opening up a few stores. The danger with chains is that they can become staid with their designs; repeating the same interior patterns, the same food between stores. And for good reason. Drinkers want to have the same experience across the bars that they go to.
However, there’s one thing that can’t be replicated and that’s the ambience of the bar. Sometimes being in a food court is better than being in a building. Sometimes being underground is better than sitting outside in the burning sun and frigid cold weather. In this entry into “Best of the Bunch”, we’re going to be looking at bars that have become chains. The following rules follow for this:
For this list, we’re going with the companies that have the largest number of branches to the smallest.
- The bars must have the same parent company; thus it must have the name of the parent company and sell similar products across all the branches.
- Chains can come in various sizes, and to qualify as a chain, there must be at least four locations.
- Cost – we’re not concerned with cost in this article. Nor are we concerned with table charges.
Table of Contents : Chain Bars
Chain Bar #1 : Craft Beer Market – Number of Locations : 17
It’s no surprise that we’re starting off with Craft Beer Market, who at the time of writing, have the largest number of locations. They’re perhaps the first national chain as well, with branches in Tohoku, Kanto, and Kansai. They also operate two breweries – one in Nihonbashi and one in Takao – yet still promote beers from other breweries across Japan. There is some variation in the branches – some have French food, others gyoza, while the ambience varies greatly between them as well.
If we’re going to have to pick a branch, then let’s go to the original branch that started it all off in Toranomon. That windy and rainy night we sat outside with the plastic sheeting; salarymen pouring in to grab some beers, and share some food. It’s such a long time ago, but it convinced us that a chain of craft beer bars could succeed.
Chain Bar #2 : West Coast Brewing – Number of Locations : 11
Who’d have thought that Mochimune in Shizuoka, a once sleepy fishing village area, would be the base for a craft beer brewery? And that same brewery would then go on to have a number of taprooms across the city, before soon spreading out to the Kansai area? And then have a hotel with their beer on tap with locations in Okinawa and also Tokyo coming along – all within 5 years of opening. West Coast Brewing have seen a meteoric rise since their inception, and they don’t appear to be slowing down.
We’ve yet to visit Okinawa or stay at the villa – if anyone from West Coast Brewing is reading this and wants to fix that, then we’ll happily take one for the team. Of the branches that we’ve been to, the style is very much different, with the dark lab in Osaka being, well, dark, and then the container bar in Shizuoka being a fun place to drink. The best place though is the brewery taproom, in Mochimune, and one that we’ve been to a couple of times. Have an onsen, grab some beers, then enjoy the views of Mt. Fuji as you trundle back home on the train.
Chain Bar #3 : Baird Beer – Number of Locations : 11
Bryan Baird, founder and owner of Baird Beer, would say that he was the first person to use the term “craft beer” in Japan. While we are not historians, there was certainly a movement back in 2000 away from the negative connotations with the term “ji-beer”. Starting out in Numazu, Baird Beer grew from a small one barrel system, to one of the largest craft beer breweries in Japan in 2014, with their Shuzenji location. Their taprooms are also unique in that every branch has a different focus on food – either Japanese or Western. Though Baird Beer are not producing hazy IPAs or pseudo-gimmicky beers, their beers are solid representations of styles.
The only problem with choosing a branch to be on this list is that – which food do you want to eat? Yakitori? Go to Harajuku. Pizza? Go to Nakameguro? BBQ? Then head over to Bashamichi. However, for me, it’s hard to beat the views found at the Shuzenji Garden when the weather is on your side. An easy option if you’ve got the time to get down there, else find the food you want to eat and go to that branch of Baird Beer Taproom.
Chain Bar #4 : Yona Yona Beer Works – Number of Locations : 6
You’re one of the original breweries in Japan that helped roll out craft beer in Japan, and you’re ubiquitous with the scene. So what do you do next? Well the logical thing would be to roll out a chain of taprooms with your beers on tap and a selection of food behind it all. However, that’s where logic went out of the window as Yo-Ho Brewing went into partnership with Wonder Table, a Japanese company that began out specialising in grilled chicken, to get taprooms open across Tokyo.
What started out as Yona Yona Beer Kitchen in 2013, changed soon after to Yona Yona Beer Works with 6 branches across Tokyo. Though there have been more in the past, due to Covid-19, some of those branches closed down – including our favourite in Akasaka. We keep going back to the one in Kanda given the chance, as it’s open bay doors at the front of the shop allow more light and breeze to come in.
Chain Bar #5 : Carvaan – Number of Locations : 5
Carvaan was established by Far East Company and officially opened its doors in 2017. The name “Carvaan” evokes the image of a caravan traveling across ancient trade routes, particularly the Silk Road. This concept strongly influences both the brewery’s architecture and its menu, which blends Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Asian flavors. The company still imports products from the Middle East, with tableware and foods coming over.
If you’re going to visit a branch, like with Baird Beer earlier on, then the best choice would be out in Hanno amongst nature. Sit outside on the deck, and enjoy the breeze and the greenery. However, if that location is too far, then the Yokohama branch overlooking the Sakuragicho area is worthy of a visit, especially at night time, with CosmoWorld and the surrounding area all lit up.
Chain Bar #6 : Craft Beer Bar iBrew – Number of Locations : 5
What more needs to be said about Craft Beer Bar iBrew? The chain began life in a small store on the outskirts of Ginza back in 2012, and looked like it was going to be a growing chain, with its premise on 47 taps of craft beer, one for each prefecture in Japan, with cheap prices too. Then in 2023, the chain opened its first store outside of Tokyo in the Yokohama area, though its Akihabara branch remains the largest.
If you’re looking for cheap craft beer, and a wide variety, then Craft Beer Bar iBrew should be on your list. As for location – it’s a tough one. The charm of the original is hard to beat, but the Yokohama branch is open and wide while being the cheapest of the branches, yet at times, its atmosphere pales in comparison. Akihabara would win out of the branches if push comes to shove.
Chain Bar #7 : Swan Lake Beer – Number of Locations : 5
In 1997, Swan Lake began brewing at the historic Igarashi estate (a wealthy farmer’s former residence) near Lake Hyōko (“Swan Lake”), at the foot of Mt. Gozu in Agano City. Swan Lake Beer has seen a downturn in its fortunes since Covid-19 ripped through the bar and restaurant industry. The brewery once had seven taprooms for their beers, yet since Covid, that number has dropped to five, though one of those is the brewery taproom.
That’s a shame as their place in the centre of Niigata, Swan Lake Pub Edo Niigata, had some amazing views across the Japan sea, though the food was lacking. With the brewery being a tough location to get to, your best bet is getting to Swan Lake Tamachi for some of their beers closer to home.
Chain Bar #8 : Vector Beer – Number of Locations : 5
It’s not often that a brewery starts out from a bar chain, but that’s exactly what has happened with Vector Beer. In 2013, they opened a beer restaurant called Vector Beer near Shinjuku Gyoen, serving domestic craft beer. A year later, they launched their second location, Vector Beer Factory, right next door to the original. As part of the expansion, they decided to start brewing their own beer with the idea: “While we’re at it, we want our customers to drink the beer we made ourselves!” However, they quickly outgrew their roots, and had to relocate to Asakusabashi.
The Vector Beer Factory became Taproom Pherment but the original location is still there and still the best place to get their beer. With an indoor and outdoor section, it’s perfect for some outdoor beers when the weather allows it, but you can also escape back inside when it’s too hot, or too cold, to sit outside.
Chain Bar #9 : Devilcraft Brewery – Number of Locations : 5
DevilCraft Brewery is a Tokyo-based craft beer company that was founded by three American craft beer enthusiasts – John Chambers, Jason Koehler, and Mike Grant.The first DevilCraft bar opened in Kanda in 2011, offering craft beers from Japan and abroad, alongside their signature deep-dish pizza. Due to growing popularity and a desire to brew their own beer, DevilCraft expanded in 2015 by opening their own brewery in Tokyo. With another branch in the Gotanda area opening up a few years later.
The Kanda branch remains a firm favourite, as does the Jiyugaoka branch, with both of them offering up everything that makes DevilCraft such a well respected name in the field of craft beer in Japan, as well as overseas.The latter branch though does offer up a nice outside area to enjoy some craft beer and pizza during the day.
Chain Bar #10 : Mokichi (Shonan Beer) – Number of Locations : 4
Another one from the early days of craft beer in Japan is Shonan Beer, with Kumazawa Brewery behind this one. Founded in 1872 (Meiji 5) by Kumazawa Genzō, the brewery has been operating in Kagawa, Chigasaki for more than 150 years. They are also the last remaining sake brewery in the Shonan region. The company survived through difficult times but was revitalized under the leadership of the 6th generation, Kumazawa Shigeyoshi, who returned from abroad. He introduced Shōnan Beer (craft beer) in 1996, bridging tradition and innovation.
The brewery site features restored traditional buildings, a restaurant (Ten‑Sei), Mokichi Trattoria, bakery, café, and craft beer taproom. The brewery offers tours, tastings, and on-site dining for visitors, making it both a production site and cultural destination. With three other bars to drink at in the Shonan area, the original site, if you can get there, is easily the best. Go in Spring, and you can sit under the cherry blossoms as they bloom; in Summer you can enjoy the cool terrace area, covered with trees; in Autumn, you have the Oktoberfest, one of the most popular events on the craft beer calendar; and finally in Winter, you can sit inside some of the traditional buildings, enjoying your beers and food.
Chain Bar #11 : TDM1874 – Number of Locations : 4
TDM1874 have been around for less than a decade at the time of writing, but the parent company has been around for much longer. Sakaguchiya, the original company that is still family run, had long been supplying sake, wine, and beer to local restaurants before opening the brewpub TDM 1874. Alongside this, they also run their own shops, based around the Tokaichiba name, such as Marche Dix Jours in Kannai. The reason for opening the brewery was that the once popular drink of sake began to see a decline in sales, and with craft beer on the rise, the family run business decided to open a craft beer brewery.
With a number of branches at the time of writing, this one is particularly tough to call. Do you want to grab some beers before watching a baseball game? Kannai. How about some shopping first and then some cold beers? Shimokitazawa. Going to where it all started? Tokaichiba? Then you’ve got the second brewery location in Tennocho which is my particular favourite of the bunch. It’s got a large outside area, but plenty of seats inside for when the weather isn’t so nice.
Chain Bar #12 : Yokohama Bay Brewing – Number of Locations : 4
Yokohama Bay Brewing began in Kannai in 2012 as a small brewpub focused on its signature Bay Pilsner, brewed by Shinya Suzuki. The focus of that original pub also included wrestling, something that can still be seen in that location to this day. As the popularity of the bar increase, so did the need for a larger brewery. In 2017, Yokohama Bay Brewing opened up a brewery in the Totsuka area in the southern part of Yokohama, along with another bar in the vicinity of Totsuka station. Another store was opened in June 2024 at a location much closer to Yokohama station.
And for me, the Totsuka branch is the best of the bunch. Its interior reminds me of the bars in the Czech Republic, and along with the outside area, it’s got somewhere to go when the weather is sunny. Watch the trains come and go as you sit and drink some world class lagers and pilsners.
