Sapporo Beer Garden

Beer Garden or Biergarten? No one seems to be able to make up their mind, but don’t worry about it too much. The important thing is the place itself, the very epicenter of Japan’s truly massive beer culture. In 1876 Seibei Nakagawa, recently returned from studying the brewer’s art in Germany, was appointed head brewer of Japan’s first beer company, and Sapporo was born.
Today, the Japanese drink more beer per capita than any other country in Asia, and the humble brew has left sake and other traditional Japanese spirits far behind in the affections of many people here.

Housed in a beautiful old red brick factory building, the Sapporo Beer Garden and Museum is the sort of place that can bring tears to a man’s eye. Great, beery tears of joy.

The museum tour itself is more interesting than you may imagine, especially if you remember to request an English language audio guide. But the real treat comes at the end when visitors are allowed to try free samples of some of the company’s product or, for a reasonable fee, drink as much of it as they can in twenty minutes. Sound like a challenge?

Leaving the museum, the Beer Garden (or Biergarten) offers a variety of dining options, but the most popular is the famous Genghis Khan Lamb, a Hokkaido specialty. Slices of fresh lamb are mixed with vegetables and spices and barbecued in a metal hotpot that looks like a Mongol warrior’s helmet! Delicious, and all the more so when washed down with all the fresh draft beer you can drink. Don’t miss it!
More Info.:
Odori Koen Park
William Smith Clark
Historical Village of Hokkaido
Sapporo

Matt Mangham

JR Sapporo Station====(8 min. by taxi or car)====Sapporo Beer Garden and Museum

Open Hours:
Museum 9:00 - 18:00
Beer Garden 11:30 - 22:00

Holidays:
Museum: Year-end and new year holidays
Beer Garden: December 31st

Sapporo Beer Garden and Museum: http://www.sapporo-bier-garten.jp/