Take a tour of first ever brewery in Japan.
Beer. A commodity that no man and now women cannot live without. I’m surprised it never became a commodity used for the trade of goods and services, seeing that is the third most drunk beverage in the world, only behind Tea and Water. Nonetheless, as Japan opened up, beer made its way across the land of the rising sun, and like all things western, became a clear hit. Let’s learn about some of the history of beer in Japan and how you can visit the oldest brewery in Japan.
Sapporo Beer
The oldest brand of beer in Japan is Sapporo beer. Its birth began when, during the Meiji era, a German Trained brew master brought back his expertise to setup the first brewery in Japan. The brewery was initially destined for Tokyo, but due to the need of Ice in the then brewing process, he managed to convince the manager to relocate the brewery to Sapporo. From then on, production has never stopped.
Sapporo Beer Museum
Slowly as time went on, beer production ceased at the original brewery, but instead of tearing the building down, it was converted into a museum as a monument to its origins. Here, visitors can take a free tour of the museum to learn more about its origins and history, while learning about the beer brewing process and how Sapporo beer came to become a dominate brand across the global stage.
Some of the museum highlights include information of the founder and chief brewer: Nakagawa, its construction journey and much more. If you would like a tailored tour, then you can pay for a premium tour where you will be led by a Sapporo Brand Communicator, though you will need some good Japanese skills.
You will also be glad to know that there is the opportunity to partake in a beer tasting session. In the Star Hall, visitors can taste a variety of Sapporo branded beer. And if that isn’t enough, the beer hall serves many local Hokkaido dishes. Dishes include local meat dishes and an all you can eat and drink menu.
In any case a trip to the Sapporo beer museum will be a fun day out for tourists and locals alike. Just ensure you bring your ID, otherwise you may be refused service.
