Museum of Yebisu Beer
Ebisu Beer Temple in Tokyo
The Museum of Yebisu Beer, now YEBISU BREWERY TOKYO, is a tribute to said beer, made by Sapporo breweries. With an architecture greatly contrasting with its surroundings, the building is located in Yebisu Garden Place, in Ebisu district, Shibuya ward, in the south-west of Tokyo.
Beer 🍺 is a very popular drink in summer and Yebisu Beer, produced by Sapporo breweries, is one of the most consumed in Japan with Asahi and Kirin’s beers. Yebisu or Ebisu, whose portrait is displayed on the bottles, aside from giving its name to the area, is one of the seven lucky gods, that protects fishermen, merchants and brings prosperity.
Historical site of the Sapporo brand
Located near Joël Robuchon’s French restaurant, Yebisu Beer Museum occupies the site of a former brewery of the Sapporo brand, in a red bricks building that reminds of the late 19th century industrial architecture. The museum displays the usual history of the brands, old posters and advertising signs for Yebisu Beer, huge beer boats and every information about the brewing process. But all of this is only a pretext as the true highlight is the beer tasting.
Beer amateurs will be overjoyed exploring the cultural aspects the museum documents, but the place is essentially renowned and beloved for the beer tasting at the end of the visit. The museum offers an occasion to discover quality beers and sometimes limited editions at an affordable price.
Let us remind however that the legal drinking age is 20 years old in Japan, and serving alcohol to underage people is forbidden.
Excessive drinking put your health at risk. Alcoholic beverages should be consumed in moderation.
Renewal of the beer museum in 2024
Formerly officially called "Yebisu Beer Museum," the venue closed on October 30, 2022 for renovation works. It resumed operations since April 3rd, 2024 under its new name YEBISU BREWERY TOKYO and now displays:
- A history museum themed on Yebisu beer;
- An operating brewery, that can be observed behind glass windows;
- A taproom and bar, to taste the beers produced on-site. A numbered tickets system will help regulate visitors on busy days.
A guided tour of the brewery, called in English "YEBISU the JOURNEY", is also available, in Japanese only at the time of writing and upon online reservation.
Note that the new museum only accepts cashless payments (Credit / bank cards 💳, IC cards, payment apps).