Tokyo’s craft beer scene has been building for decades, and it has now reached the point where you really do not need to stick to the big commercial names anymore. The city is full of independent breweries, taprooms, and bottle shops, and the range of styles on offer is impressive. You can even find beers brewed with yuzu, matcha, and other local ingredients!
The big commercial brands are still everywhere, and honestly, an ice-cold Asahi on a hot summer evening is never a bad choice. But if you want to go further than that, Tokyo has a craft beer culture that can hold its own against anywhere in the world.
This guide will help you find the best breweries in Tokyo no matter which part of the city you happen to be exploring. We have broken it down by neighbourhood, because where you drink matters just as much as what you drink. Each area has a completely different feel, and the beer culture tends to match it.
Before you head out, it is worth sorting your food plan too. A good beer tour works much better on a full stomach, and Tokyo’s food scene is just as impressive as its breweries. Take a look at our Tokyo Food Guide to plan what to eat alongside your drinks.
Modern Breweries in Tokyo’s Shibuya and Harajuku
Shibuya and Harajuku are the easiest starting point for a craft beer tour in Tokyo. Both stations are central, well connected, and surrounded by bars that are set up to handle an international crowd. The staff at most places here speak English, and the menus are bilingual.
The flip side is that you are in one of the most expensive parts of Tokyo. Pints here cost more than they do in quieter neighbourhoods, and on weekend evenings, the better-known spots fill up fast. Go on a weekday if you can, or arrive early.
Here are three spots we think are worth your time.
Mikkeller Tokyo
Mikkeller is a Danish brewery with bars in cities around the world, and its Tokyo outpost sits in Dogenzaka, a few minutes’ walk from Shibuya station in what used to be the city’s red light district. The area still has that edge to it, which gives the bar an interesting setting.
It runs 21 taps of Japanese and international craft beer, with beer available in smaller glasses or full pints, and roughly half the taps dedicated to Mikkeller’s own range.
Prices run from around 550 to 850 yen for a smaller pour and up to 1,400 yen for a pint, so it is not cheap. The space is small too, with seating on two floors, and it gets very crowded on weekend evenings. Given all that, it works better as a one-or-two-drink stop than a long session.
Baird Beer Taproom Harajuku
Baird Beer was one of the first names in Japanese craft, and their Harajuku taproom is a useful escape if you need a break from the crowds on Takeshita Street. It sits on the second floor of a quiet building and feels more like an old-school neighbourhood pub than a modern craft bar. We also appreciate that they serve classic izakaya-style food like yakitori, which goes perfectly with their beers.
The space is quite small and often fills up quickly as soon as evening comes, so you might need a bit of luck to get a seat without a reservation. The tap list is massive, which can be a bit overwhelming at first, and the prices are typical for the area.
Yona Yona Beer Works
This is the official taproom for Yoho Brewing, the makers of the popular Yona Yona Ale you see in convenience stores. If you enjoy their canned beers, it is worth visiting to try the draft versions, which often include limited seasonal releases you cannot find elsewhere. They have several locations around Shibuya and Omotesando, usually in basements or tucked away in side streets.
Keep in mind that this feels more like a corporate restaurant chain than a small, independent brewery. It can get very loud and busy with office groups, especially on Friday nights. The food menu focuses on roast chicken and sausages, which are tasty but can feel a bit pricey for the portion sizes. It is a very easy and safe option because of the English menus and QR code ordering, but it does not have the same “hidden gem” feel as the smaller spots on our list.
Independent Breweries in Tokyo’s West Side (Shimokitazawa)
Shimokitazawa is about ten minutes by train from Shibuya, but it feels like a completely different city. The streets are narrow and full of independent record shops, vintage clothing stores, small live music venues, and cafes. It is the part of Tokyo that local creative types tend to call home, and it has none of the corporate polish of the city centre.
The craft beer scene in Shimokitazawa suits the neighbourhood. The tap lists at the better bars here tend to focus on smaller Japanese breweries, and the whole area has an annual craft beer festival that brings independent brewers from across the country.
If you only have time for a couple of stops, make it these two.
TAP&GROWLER
TAP&GROWLER opened in Shimokitazawa in 2018 and has built a solid reputation as one of the better spots in Tokyo for domestic Japanese craft beer. It runs 19 taps, with 18 focused exclusively on Japanese breweries and one international tap, plus a rotating selection of over 40 bottled and canned beers. The tap list changes regularly, so repeat visits are always worth it.
What makes it genuinely different from most bars is the growler system. You can buy a glass growler on your first visit and have it filled with any beer on tap using a pressurised filling machine that keeps the beer fresh for up to three days in the fridge. It is a rare setup in Japan, and it is a good option if you want to take something decent back to your hotel rather than picking up a convenience store can. On subsequent visits you can bring the growler back and refill it. Draft beers run around 600 to 810 yen per half pint, which is reasonable for Tokyo.
Beer Bar Ushitora Ichigoten
This is the main taproom for the Ushitora Brewery, an independent maker from Tochigi. While many craft beer bars in Tokyo try to look like modern boutiques, this spot feels more like a lived-in local pub. It is tucked away on a side street in Shimokitazawa and usually has a list of around 20 to 30 taps, all featuring their own original brews.
The bar is currently closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so you have to plan your visit for later in the week. It is also a smoking-friendly venue, which is becoming rarer in Tokyo craft bars. If you are sensitive to smoke, it might not be the most comfortable place for a long session. However, for a huge variety of high-quality Japanese ales in a relaxed, “no-frills” setting, it is still one of the best independent options in the area.
The Best Breweries in Tokyo’s Shitamachi (Asakusa and Oshiage)
Asakusa is the oldest drinking district in Tokyo. The city’s first Western-style bar opened here in 1880, and the area has been a place people come to eat, drink, and spend an evening for several centuries before that.
Today it is best known as a tourist destination, centred around Sensoji Temple and the Nakamise Shopping Street, and during the day it can feel overrun. Come back in the evening once the day-trippers have gone, and the area shows a completely different side.
This is Shitamachi, old Tokyo’s downtown, and it still feels like it. The bars here are casual and the area has a more relaxed feel than the flashy parts of the city. The craft beer spots here are fewer and more spread out than in Shibuya or Shimokitazawa, but the setting makes up for it. Here are the spots we think are worth your time.
Asakusa Beer Kobo
The name “Kobo” translates to “workshop,” and that is exactly what this place feels like. It is a very small operation tucked away in the backstreets of Asakusa. They brew their beer in small tanks right there on the premises, so the selection is always fresh and changes frequently. It is a great example of the “micro” movement that is currently popular in the city.
Because the brewing tanks take up most of the room, there is limited space for people. Get a 360 degree-view of their store here. They usually only have three to five beers on tap at a time, so you do not get the massive variety you find in Shibuya. However, if you want to see a “workshop” style brewery up close, it is a very interesting stop.
Tokyo Sumidagawa Brewing
For craft beer specifically, Tokyo Sumidagawa Brewing is the main destination in the area. It sits in the Mizumachi Complex across Azumabashi Bridge from Asakusa, right next to the Asahi Super Dry Hall.
The brewery operates on the third floor of the building, with the bar and restaurant below. It brews four house beers including a kolsch, a weizen, a pale ale, and a stout, and there is an all-you-can-drink course available that includes the full craft range alongside standard Asahi.
If you haven’t realised by now, this is an Asahi subsidiary, so the word “craft” is used somewhat loosely. But the location is genuinely good, the terrace has views over the street and river, and the brewing tanks visible from inside give it a bit more character than a standard bar. It is a solid choice for the area, especially if you are combining it with a visit to the Skytree or a walk along the riverbank.
Book Our New Tokyo Beer Tasting Experience
We have put together a five-hour tour that explores the best breweries in Tokyo’s east side. We take you to a mix of famous beer halls and hidden workshops like the ones mentioned above.
We then end the night on Hoppy Street. This famous stretch of outdoor bars is named after a retro, malt-based drink that locals used to mix with spirits after the war when real beer was too expensive.
If you want to skip the planning and see the ‘old downtown’ side of the city while sipping craft beer with locals, this is the tour for you.
Breweries in Tokyo FAQs
How much does beer cost in Tokyo?
Craft beer is more expensive than the standard lagers found in a Japanese convenience store. At most breweries in Tokyo, a pint costs between ¥900 and ¥1,800.
Do these breweries serve food?
It depends on the venue. Many independent breweries in Tokyo are small taprooms that only serve light snacks like nuts or pickles. Larger spots often have a full menu with things like yakitori or sausages.
Do we need to book a table?
You usually do not need a reservation for smaller breweries in Tokyo, as many are standing-room only. For larger groups or weekend visits to popular spots in Shibuya, we recommend booking ahead. Arriving early is often the best way to get a seat without a wait.
Is it easy to walk between breweries?
In some areas like Shibuya or Shimokitazawa, the bars are quite close together. However, in the east side, breweries in Tokyo are more spread out. This is why our guided tour lasts five hours, as it gives us enough time to see the sights while we walk between stops.
Are there non-alcoholic options?
Most breweries in Tokyo now offer at least one high-quality non-alcoholic beer or a local soft drink. This ensures you can still enjoy the atmosphere of the taproom and the social side of the tour even if you are not drinking alcohol.
