Craft Beer & Pizza Okura Brewery The Bottom Line Go to Craft Beer & Pizza Okura Brewery for the pizza, but the beer was pretty underwhelming to be honest after the ones I had at Fukuoka Craft. That’s not to say that Craft Beer & Pizza Okura Brewery is a bad place, it does what it’s supposed to do but …
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Hamayaki Sakaba Torohachi in Shibuya, Tokyo
Hamayaki Sakaba Torohachi The Bottom Line I was hoping for Hamayaki Sakaba Torohachi to be better than it was; however, the prices were way more than I was expecting for something so kitsch I guess. It does have a fun, izakaya-style quality to it, with scaffolding being used for “second” floor seating in some places. Moreover, the whole place is …
Hanasaki Butcher’s Store in Sakuragicho, Yokohama
Hanasaki Butcher’s Store The Bottom Line Calling Hanasaki Butcher’s Store a craft beer bar is a stretch by any imagination, but it’s still worth coming here for some cracking food and beers – as long as you eat meat. While there are some vegetarian options on the menu, there’s not going to be enough to really satisfy you. The whole …
Beer Bar Jan in Yotsuya, Tokyo
Beer Bar Jan The Bottom Line Beer Bar Jan is basically Biere Cave Jan Bar but located in Yotusya instead. It’s got the same atmosphere, the same kind of menus, the same kind of food. Even the bar manager is the same. The only thing that is different about it really is the number of taps. If you’re in the area, …
Brussels Beer Project Shinjuku in Shinjuku, Tokyo
Brussels Beer Project Shinjuku The Bottom Line If you come to Brussels Beer Project Shinjuku to find some cheap domestic beer, then you’re going to be severely let down. If you like Brussels Beer Project beers then Brussels Beer Project Shinjuku will be right up your street – if you can afford it. At least those yen coins won’t be …
Cafe Raisin-Dou in Ibaraki, Osaka
Cafe Raisin-Dou The Bottom Line Cafe Raisin-Dou is a homey, comfortable craft beer bar with a friendly owner. It’s very close to the station, although it can be a bit difficult to find. They have a decent selection of Japanese and European beers, bottled or on tap. Beers are a little pricey, but there really aren’t any other options for …
Kokopelli in Ishikawacho, Kanagawa
Kokopelli The Bottom Line Kokopelli is definitely one of the nicest little bars I’ve been to and I will be going back again – both for the beers and for the great food served there. That’s not to sound dismissive about the beers – the three taps they had did have some variety on there and was good value for …
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Tsukinowaguma in Gakugeidaigaku, Tokyo
Tsukinowaguma The Bottom Line If you’re in Gakugeidaigaku, and you’re desperate for some craft beer, then you can get the train to either Nakameguro or Jiyugaoka, as it is hard to recommend Tsukinowaguma over anything else that’s close by. While there are some taps of craft beer, the place is pricey for what you get both in terms of beer …
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Hopbuds in Nagoya, Aichi
Hopbuds The Bottom Line Is Hopbuds a bottle shop turned bar, or a bar turned bottle shop? Doesn’t matter as it does both well enough that you should go there for a few beers while you’re in Nagoya. The multi-nationality makeup of Hopbuds means you’ll end up talking with people from different backgrounds, a welcome change in what seemed to …
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Takadanobaba Beer Shokudo in Takadanobaba, Tokyo
Takadanobaba Beer Shokudo The Bottom Line If you’ve missed the last train home and need somewhere to drink, then check out Takadanobaba Beer Shokudo. It also offers up something different in the Takadanobaba area – imported beer alongside domestic craft beer though the prices do leave a lot to be desired considering either side of the station there are cheaper …