A short history
Japan’s rice-based sake tradition goes back well over a thousand years, but beer arrived with Dutch traders in the Edo period and took off after the country opened to the West in the mid-19th century. Early breweries included Spring Valley Brewery in Yokohama, founded by American William Copeland around 1870, whose site later became part of Kirin’s history. Sapporo began in 1876 as a government-backed brewery in Hokkaido, with a German-trained brewer.
Four big companies, Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory, came to dominate. In 1987, Asahi Super Dry launched a “dry” lager with a clean, sharp finish and became a nationwide phenomenon. Tax rules based on malt content pushed brewers to create low-malt happoshu and malt-free “third beers.” Regulations that made small breweries nearly impossible were relaxed in 1994, and craft brewing, called ji-bīru (“local beer”), was born.
The beer culture
Beer is the default start to an evening. At an izakaya (a Japanese pub), groups often begin with “toriaezu biru,” meaning “beer for now.” Pouring for others and letting them pour for you is polite, and nobody drinks before the collective “kanpai!”
Presentation matters. Many bars are proud of their foam, and some pour in multiple stages to create a dense, creamy head. Vending machines and convenience stores sell cans everywhere, and seasonal limited editions, with cherry blossom designs in spring, are hugely popular.
The craft scene is thoughtful and precise, with breweries such as Hitachino Nest, Baird and Shiga Kogen experimenting with local ingredients like yuzu citrus, green tea, sansho pepper, sake rice and even sake yeast.
Signature styles
- Japanese Rice Lager: pale, very crisp lager brewed with rice for a light body.
- Dry Lager: highly attenuated, with an ultra-clean, sharp finish.
- Happoshu and “third beer”: low-malt or malt-free beer-like drinks shaped by tax law.
- Yuzu and citrus ales: bright, aromatic craft beers featuring Japanese citrus.
- Japanese Craft IPA and Session Ales: often balanced and refined rather than extreme.
Traveler’s tip
In Tokyo, explore craft beer bars in Shibuya, Ebisu and Kanda, then visit the Sapporo Beer Museum in Hokkaido. In summer, rooftop beer gardens on department stores offer all-you-can-drink deals. Always wait for everyone’s glass to be filled before taking the first sip.