The first thing that popped in my head when I got an invitation to visit Sapporo was beer. Sapporo Brewery is known as the oldest brewery in Japan, named after the capital and largest city of the country’s northernmost island. Though bottled variants of the Black Label variety are now available around the world, nothing beats drinking fresh draft beer right in the town where it originated, right?
While most people immediately think of winter activities like skiing and visiting hot springs, I admit I was initially more excited about the prospect of visiting the hometown of Sapporo beer than experiencing snow for the first time. Sapporo is called the “City of Beer” and these are just a few of the beer highlights to expect.
Sapporo Beer Museum
Beer is deeply rooted in the history of the city, and it’s only fitting to find a museum dedicated to beer! My visit here was not part of our official itinerary, but we had a dinner scheduled with partners from Hokkaido Tourism at the adjoining Beer Garden and one hour free time for souvenir shopping in Ario shopping mall right before dinner, which I used to visit the museum instead.
The Sapporo Beer Museum happens to be the only beer museum in Japan. It was opened in July 1987 to give visitors a glimpse at the history of beer and brewing in the city, one of the precious cultural legacies of the Meiji Era. The iconic red brick building has a rich history stretching back over 100 years.
The structure itself has been selected as a Hokkaido Heritage site. Visitors to the museum can enjoy premium tours (with explanations from tour guides & special beer tasting) or free tours (no reservations required) at their own pace.
Free tours begin on the 3rd Floor at the Kettle for boiling beer wort while premium tours (JPY 500 for adults) begin at the Premium Theater where visitors can enjoy a special video introduction of the key players in the founding of Kaitakushi Brewery (Sapporo’s predecessor). Premium tours are available in Japanese only, so if you can’t speak the language, I suggest you do the free tour instead.
The 2nd Floor contains the Sapporo Gallery & Ad Collection where visitors can learn about the origin of Sapporo Beer and the beer industry in modern Japan. Sapporo was founded in 1876 under Kaitakushi Brewery. The exhibits on the tour include panels with summaries in English, Chinese (simplified) and Korean.
The 1st Floor contains the Star Hall, where visitors can enjoy soft drinks and drink beer shipped directly from the brewery.
- Sapporo Draft Beer Black Label – Y 200
- Sapporo Classic – Y 200
- Sapporo Kaitakushi Brewery Pilsner – Y 300
- 3-variety beer flight – Y 200
- Non-alcoholic beer – Y 200
The Museum Shop sells unique souvenirs and beer including Kaitakushi Beer (a recreation of the original Sapporo Beer), Sapporo Classic Chocolates with Fine Beer Jelly, six packs of Sapporo Classic, 6-packs of 135 ml mini beer cans of Sapporo, beer t-shirts, beer phone charms and other beer-related merchandise. I usually don’t buy a lot of souvenirs when I travel, but I ended up blowing all my pocket money here.
- Address: Sapporo Beer Museum, Higashi 9-chome, Kita 7-jo, Higashi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Business hours: 11:00 – 20:00 (no entry after 19:30)
- Premium Tours: 500 Yen for adults, 300 Yen for those under 19, free of charge for children under 12). Tours start every 30 minutes & last 50 minutes. Reservations required. Available only in Japanese.
- Free Tours: Free of charge. No reservation.
- Closed: 12/31. Services other than free tours unavailable on Mondays or the following day if a national holiday and during the New Year’s Holiday Season.
- How to get there by bus: Board the factory line (loop line No. 88) at Tokyu Department Store SouthExit and get off at the last stop (approximately 15-20 mins); Board the Sapporo Beer Garden ArioLine (Line NO. 188) at Sapporo StationNorth Exit and get off at the last stop (approximately 10-15 minutes)
- Subway: 15-minute walk from the Toho Subway Line “Higashi Kuyakusho-Mae” Station
Sapporo Classic
FUN FACT: “Sapporo Classic” is available only within Hokkaido and is rare throughout the rest of Japan and the world. This classic German Style Pilsner style beer is made specifically for Hokkaido to match the local climate and ingredients. It uses the famous “fine aroma hop” that is 100% malt with no other added ingredients. It’s very refreshing and easy to drink.
Sapporo Classic is served in various restaurants, bars and hotels around Hokkaido. It’s one of the most popular souvenirs to bring home, widely available in convenience stores, supermarkets and Don Quijote discount chain store around Hokkaido. It’s available in six packs and individual cans in two sizes – 355 ml and 500 ml.
- Sapporo Classic (300 ml) – Y 214
- Sapporo Classic (500 ml) – Y 287
- Sapporo Classic 6-pack (350 ml) – Y 1283
Sapporo Biergarten (Beer Garden)
Located right next to the Sapporo Beer Museum, The Sapporo Beer Garden is the best place to enjoy draft beer paired with local dishes. Their specialties include Genghis Khan (barbecued mutton and lamb cooked on an iron grill and served with seasonal ingredients) as well as all-you-can-eat sushi and crab. There are several unique dining halls and restaurants to choose from at the Beer Garden, whether you want to enjoy a round of casual drinks or have a more elegant dining space for business gatherings, special occasions and formal events.
- Kessel Hall – 550 seats
- Trommel Hall – 208 seat
- Poplar Hall – 1000 seats
- Lilac Hall- 76 seats
- Garden Grill – 200 seats
- Business hours: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm (last orders at 9:30 pm: Closed on
- Closed: 12/31
- Parking: Free parking for 200 vehicles
- Credit cards accepted
Japanese Beers
Japan is known for their four main breweries: Sapporo, Kirin, Suntory and Asahi. These four produce mostly easy to drink pale-colored light lagers with an alcohol strength of around 5.0% that you can enjoy with your meals any time of the day. Sapporo (the brewery) has a variety of beer styles ranging from your well-made Pilsner to their flagship Sapporo Draft that you can sample whenever you eat out. They also carry Yebisu, the Premium All-Malt Beer.
Another thing I love about the beer culture in Japan is you can buy beer from vending machines for those late night cravings or during sightseeing. How convenient!
Craft Beer in Hokkaido
Distinctive local craft beers are brewed and becoming more popular in various parts of Hokkaido, including Sapporo. Sapporo is the sister city of Munich and Portland, which are both famous for their craft beer scene. While in Niseko, I got to try Heartland Draft, a European Pale Lager style beer brewed by Kirin Brewery Company and the Weizen and IPA of North Island Beer, brewed by SOC Brewing. Their six main beers available throughout the year include a Pilsner, Brown Ale, Weizen, Stout, IPA and Coriander Black made with fresh coriander seeds for a spiced ale.
In the coastal town of Otaru, another unique beer to look out for is Otaru Beer, an authentic German-style beer. You can actually go on a beer factory tour at the Zenibako brewery, 30 minutes from JR Sapporo Station and try three main varieties of their beer (Dunkel, Pilsner and Weiss) and seasonal beers like Octoberfest beer and Rauch (smoked) varieties. Otaru Beer’s draft ales and bottled variants are only available within a 100 km radius of Otaru.
You can also luck out with some convenience store finds for unique beers aside from the usual ones, so be sure to check your neighborhood 7-Eleven or Family Mart. Yes, you can take home bottles and cans of beer as long as you don’t try to hand-carry them on the plane. Just wrap them carefully in your check-in luggage.
Beer Festivals and Events
Sapporo has some interesting beer events to look forward to. Every year, they celebrate the grand “Sapporo Summer Festival” from mid July to mid August, where beer is one of the main attractions.
Visitors can savor beer of leading domestic brewers while enjoying Hokkaido seasonal foods at the Sapporo Odori Beer Garden, one of Hokkaido’s most famous outdoor events.
Another summer beer event is the Sapporo Craft Beer Forest, which brings together craft beer from Hokkaido, as well as other parts of Japan and overseas in a forest and surrounded by nature. This unique beer event takes place at a ski area and allows visitors to enjoy a glass of refreshing beer from lunch time along with live music performances. Sounds like a great reason to go back, right?
Philippine Airlines now flies directly from Manila to Sapporo three times weekly. For flight schedules & other things to do there, check out my post: Travel Guide: Sapporo, Japan (Winter)