Sapporo Beer Museum and Garden

 

Sapporo Beer Museum, the only beer museum in Japan, was opened in 1987 to provide visitors with a varied knowledge of beer and brewing in Sapporo city, Hokkaido. The museum allows guests to learn easily about the history of Sapporo Breweries and introduces the history of beer in Japan and the process of beer making. Hokkaido is reputed to be the birthplace of beer in Japan and the Sapporo Beer brand has been brewed in Sapporo since 1877. 

Sapporo Beer Museum

The historic building which now houses Sapporo Beer Museum was constructed under the direction of foreign engineers in 1890 as the factory of the Sapporo Sugar Company.  Sapporo Beer Museum has been selected to receive the official “Hokkaido Heritage” designation and is one of the cultural legacies of the Meiji Era, together with the old red brick Hokkaido Government Office.

Sapporo Beer Museum Cute Figures

The museum tour is free and the main hall showcases the making of beer by using figurines in a cute Japanese way. The explanation is all in Japanese but the museum staff can provide a English reference sheet so you can get an idea of the process. Photos and posters spanning decades are displayed in the halls.

Geisha and Sapporo beer

There is a vending machine on the first level of the Sapporo Beer Museum where you can buy a coupon to allow sampling. They have 3 types of alcoholic ones, and a few non-alcoholic beers which can be sampled for either 500 yen for a flute of 3 glasses, or 200 yen for a glass. For kids, they provide ice cream so that parents have some time to sample the beers. There is also a great souvenir shop, which carries quite unique products that make a great regional gift for taking back home.

Sapporo Beer Museum Displays

Next to the museum is the Sapporo Beer Garden which has two restaurants. The Garden Grill restaurant which has a varied selection of dining options including lamb or crab cooked anyway you like. They also serve Sapporo Five Star Beer, a premium beer that was sold during 1967 to 1972 and was recreated and sold in 2006 to commemorate their 40th anniversary.

The Sapporo Beer Garden.

The exciting Genghis Khan Hall has a giant kessel (cauldron) from the Taisho period that reaches toward the high ceiling of the beer hall giving it an very atmospheric feeling. It offers all you can drink beer and Genghis Khan-style fresh barbecued lamb, a popular local dish named after the great Mongolian ruler (Jingisukan in Japanese), served on hot plates shaped like Hokkaido.

Sapporo Beer Garden Genghis Khan hall

Hours 10:30a.m. – 6:30p.m. (Entrance until 6:00p.m.) Holidays Mondays (Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday) 

 

Address:
Kita 7-Jo Higashi 9-chome Higashi-ku, Sapporo By Bus:
Bus stop “Sapporo beer en” on the Factory Lane Loop No.88 starting at the bus stop “Sapporo-eki-mae” at the South gate of Sapporo station on the JR-Line, near the east entrance of Seibu Kan. (About a 15 minute ride, departs every 20 minutes and costs 200 yen per ride). It stops at places like Odori Station and in front of Seibu department store near Sapporo Station
Bus stop “Sapporo beer en-mae”on East No.63 line, starting at the bus stop “Sapporo-eki-kita-guchi” at the North gate of Sapporo Station on the JR-Line.(About a 10 minute ride)
Bus stop “Sapporo beer en”on Ario No.188 line starting at the bus stop “Bus center”. (About a 10 minute ride) By Train:
 About a 25 minute walk from JR Sapporo Station or a 15 minute walk from Higashi-kuyakusho-mae Station on the Toho Subway Line photos by: mk_is_here & Mr Wabu, MIKI Yoshihito (´･ω･)