Japan's Beer Buying Destinations: Where To Go?

If you're looking to buy beer in Japan, there are several options available to you. You can visit local liquor shops, convenience stores, or specialist beer shops, which often stock a range of Japanese and imported beers. Additionally, online shopping for craft beer in Japan is an option, with over a dozen online shops offering a variety of beers from various breweries, including imports. These sites often accept orders and payments online, making it convenient to shop from home. Some popular Japanese beer brands include Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo, and Suntory, which can be found at many retailers and restaurants.

Buying beer online in Japan

Japan has a relaxed approach to alcohol delivery through its postal system, making it easy to order quality craft beer from the comfort of your home.

Online retailers

Most breweries that bottle or can their beers also maintain online storefronts. Many without their own online stores sell through e-commerce sites like Rakuten or Amazon Japan. In addition, there are several liquor stores that specialize in craft beer with online shopping options and even discounts on shipping for larger orders.

Online shops

There are more than a dozen online shops that sell beer from various breweries, including imports. Orders can be handled online, with payment by credit card, bank or postal transfer, or cash on delivery.

Examples of online shops

• Hopbuds: A small Nagoya bottle shop run by an American craft-beer fan, offering more than 100 US craft beers, which can be ordered in English.
• Yokohama shop: Offers a good selection of popular US craft beers in English.
• Rakuten Ichiba Beer Site: Lists thousands of beer offers (cases, gift sets, and individual bottles). You can browse by clicking on the beer categories or search in katakana.
• Yahoo! Japan Shopping Beer Site: Similar to Rakuten Ichiba, with a smaller selection of beers that can be sorted according to price.
• Beer Festa - Beers of the Month Club: Six Japanese microbrews delivered to your door each month for 3,000 yen.
• Craft Beer Base: Offers custom-order packages of imported craft beers.

International options

If you're looking for a specific beer from outside Japan, you can try international online shops like Total Wine & More or GotoLiquorStore, which may have what you're looking for.

Beer shops in Japan

Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Japan, even more so than sake, the country's national alcohol. Beer is often ordered first at the start of a night out with friends or as an after-work drink. The Japanese even have an expression for it: "toriaezu beer."

Japanese beer is typically crisp, clean, and delicious, made using quality ingredients and fresh running water from the mountains. The country's top four beer producers are Asahi, Sapporo, Kirin, and Suntory. These brands offer a range of tasty beer products, from crisp lagers to bold red ales, which can be purchased in Japan and, in some cases, internationally.

Where to Buy Beer in Japan

In Japan, you can buy beer from local supermarkets, convenience stores, and even vending machines! Prices for single cans of beer start at a few hundred yen or a couple of dollars. Some stores may require age verification, so it's good to have a photo ID on hand if you plan to purchase alcohol.

If you're looking for craft beers, you may have better luck at specialty stores or online. Here are some options for purchasing beer in Japan:

• Local supermarkets and convenience stores: These stores offer a wide range of beer options, including popular Japanese brands such as Asahi, Sapporo, and Kirin.
• Vending machines: Believe it or not, you can buy beer from vending machines in Japan! This is a unique and convenient option for those looking for a quick beer fix.
• Specialty craft beer stores: If you're seeking craft beers, you may want to visit specialty stores or bars that offer a wider selection of interesting brews, including local microbrews.
• Online retailers: Several online shops sell beer from various breweries, including imports. Sites like Rakuten Ichiba Beer Site, Yahoo! Japan Shopping Beer Site, and Kiya - Belgian Beer Japan offer a wide range of Japanese and imported beers.

Whether you're looking for a crisp lager or a bold craft ale, Japan has plenty of options for beer enthusiasts. Remember to enjoy responsibly and always have a designated pourer to ensure everyone's glass is full!

Buying beer in Japanese restaurants

If you're looking to buy Japanese beer, you're in luck! Japanese beer is widely available and is the most popular drink in Japan. You can find it in most well-stocked liquor stores and online shops, and it is also available in many Japanese restaurants outside of Japan.

When it comes to buying beer in Japanese restaurants, you'll often find a few selections available. While the specific brands and varieties may vary depending on the restaurant, here are some common options you can expect to find:

Sapporo

Sapporo is one of the largest and most well-known Japanese beer brands. It claims to be the oldest beer brand in Japan, dating back to 1876. You can often find Sapporo in beer shops, Asian stores, and restaurants, including Thai and Japanese eateries. It is known for its crisp and refreshing taste, making it a perfect pairing for dishes like seafood tempura or teriyaki.

Kirin

Kirin is another popular Japanese beer brand that you can find in many restaurants. It has a smooth and balanced flavour, and it pairs well with a variety of dishes. Kirin Ichiban, in particular, is a well-loved rice lager.

Asahi Super Dry

Asahi Super Dry is the number one beer in Japan, and it's widely available in restaurants. It's a rice lager known for its refreshing, dry, and crisp taste. Asahi Super Dry pairs exceptionally well with Japanese dishes like sushi and seafood tempura.

Hitachino Nest

Hitachino Nest is a craft beer brand that offers a variety of unique beers. The White Ale is a perfect pairing for sushi, while the Red Rice Ale is a bolder option that goes well with heartier dishes like sausages or teriyaki.

Orion

Orion is a well-known craft beer from Okinawa. It is made in an American style and is widely exported, so you may find it in Japanese restaurants outside of Japan.

In addition to these popular brands, many Japanese restaurants may also offer seasonal or local craft beers. These can be a great way to explore new flavours and support small breweries. When ordering beer in a Japanese restaurant, don't be afraid to ask for recommendations or to try something new.

Japanese beer brands

Japan's commercial beers are impressive, with each brand standing out in its niche. The domestic market is dominated by the 'Big Four' breweries: Asahi, Kirin, Suntory, and Sapporo, with market shares of 37%, 34-36.5%, 16%, and 11-12% respectively. These companies have been in business for over a century and are well-versed in traditional European brewing methods. However, to cater to Japanese drinkers' preferences, they produce rice lager beers that are light, sweet, and have a restrained hoppiness.

Asahi

Asahi Breweries, established in 1889, is the most popular beer in Japan, with a 36.5% market share as of 2023. Asahi Super Dry, which was introduced in 1987, is its flagship product. This beer is known for its crisp, dry taste and refreshing finish. Asahi is credited with creating a new genre of beer that appealed to the younger post-war generation, saving the company from bankruptcy.

Kirin

The Kirin Brewery Company, founded in 1907, held approximately 35% of the Japanese beer market in 2023. Kirin beer is characterised by its balanced taste, subtle malt sweetness, and crisp finish. Kirin Ichiban Shibori, brewed using only the first press of the wort, is one of its most popular products. Kirin is one of Japan's oldest breweries, and its Yokohama brewery is the country's oldest operational brewery.

Suntory

Suntory, established in 1899, has the third-largest market share in Japan at around 16%. Its flagship product is "The Premium Malts", a premium beer brewed with 100% malt known for its balanced flavour and clean, dry finish. Suntory also offers a range of non-alcoholic beers, such as the Suntory All-Free Non-Alcoholic beer, which is calorie-free and purine-free.

Sapporo

Sapporo Beer, first brewed in 1876 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, has the smallest share among the Big Four at about 12%. Sapporo is known for its smooth, crisp flavour and refreshing finish. Its popular brands include Premium, Black Label, and Yebisu, which is more upmarket and known for its rich, complex flavour. Sapporo is also the brewer of Orion, a popular beer from Okinawa.

In addition to the Big Four, there are several regional and craft breweries in Japan that are gaining popularity, such as the Yo-Ho Brewing Company, the Far Yeast Brewing Company, and the Shiga Kogen Beer company.

Japanese beer types

Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in Japan and is widely consumed at homes and in drinking establishments across the country. Four companies dominate the market: Asahi, Kirin, Suntory, and Sapporo. The standard type of beer sold at bars and restaurants is light lager beers with an alcohol content of around 5%. In addition, regional craft beers have become popular in recent years.

Malt Beer

This is the standard beer with a regular malt content. Due to higher taxation, it costs more than low-malt and non-malt beers.

Happoshu

Happoshu, or "sparkling alcohol", is a low-malt beer with less than 50% malt content. It has a similar flavour and alcohol content to regular beer but has a lighter taste due to the reduced malt content.

Liqueur

Also known as "third beer" or "new genre", this is a carbonated beer-like drink that contains very little to zero malt content. It is made with pea, soy, or wheat spirits and is sold at a lower price than regular beer.

Japanese Craft Beer

The craft beer scene in Japan emerged in the mid-1990s when the government relaxed stringent brewing laws that had previously only granted licenses to large-scale brewers. Now, small-scale breweries are able to thrive, and craft beer has become increasingly popular, with hundreds of microbreweries selling high-quality regional beer domestically and abroad.

Rice Lager

While most Japanese beers are made with grains like hops, malt, barley, corn, oats, and wheat, some Japanese breweries also create rice lagers. These beers are light, dry, and crisp, similar to Budweiser and Coors. Examples include Kirin Ichiban, Asahi Super Dry, and Sapporo Premium.

Frequently asked questions