Sapporo Beer Museum in Sapporo, Hokkaido — Try the original Sapporo Beer made in 1877 here!
I’m sure everyone has heard of Sapporo Beer! Sapporo Beer has come a loooooong way since its birth in Hokkaido in 1877 and it is one of the oldest breweries in Japan that survived the test of time to become one of the most popular Japanese beer today.
The Sapporo Beer Museum opened in 1987 which caters to people who are interested in the history of Sapporo Beer.
Closer look at the building. Somehow it looks like a boarding school in England.
I went in May and this was the first Sakura tree that I saw during my trip so I got pretty excited. :)
Admission to the museum is free however you would get to try a glass of the original Sapporo Beer that was made in 1877 if you take the tour which costs 500 yen. Unfortunately, it is only in Japanese but it is still worth it!
The guided tour will first screen a video on how Sapporo Beer (Eng subbed) was developed and the tour guide will explain in detail about the history of Sapporo Beer through a few stations (photo below) thereafter.
My Japanese is still pretty bad so her words were flying over my head. 😅 I relied on the English descriptions available while the tour guide was explaining each station.
The original design of Sapporo Beer Bottles. Somehow I really like vintage bottle designs.
Advertising posters in the past.
Love the vintage feel!
This poster actually has a hidden pun which was explained during the tour. ジョッキー (Jyokki) is the Japanese word for beer mug which sounds like Jockey in English. Thus, the jockey is drinking delicious beer in a beer mug (ジョッキー).”— うまいビールをジョッキで飲む
Some more posters which feature Japanese celebrities.
As we reached the end of the tour, we finally got to try…
the original Sapporo Beer (left) and current Sapporo Beer (right)!!
While having our beers, the tour guide showed us how to pour a nice cup of beer with foam at the top! If done correctly, it will enhance the aroma and make the beer taste milder. We were also given a handout with instructions on how to pour a nice cup of beer and she kindly passed me one in English but I lost the paper unfortunately…
I got to say that the Japanese are amazing drinkers! They promptly drank 2 glasses of beer in less than 5 minutes — as you can see by the empty glasses of beer in the photo above. Nomikai sessions* have trained them well.
*school/corporate drinking sessions
At the end of the tour, we went to a nice restaurant opposite to have our lunch with a nice view of the museum and sakura trees (still barren back then).
Opening Hours
11:30 to 20:00 (entry until 19:30)
Closed on Mondays (or following day if Monday is a public holiday), December 31 and a few irregular closing days
Address: Kita 7-Jo Higashi 9-chome Higashi-ku, Sapporo
Website:
http://www.sapporobeer.jp/toshidensetsu/index.html (It is only in Japanese; suggest to turn off the music)
https://www.sapporo-bier-garten.jp/global/english.html (Sapporo Bier Garden — series of restaurants opposite Sapporo Beer Museum)
