photo by Dave
Hi there! Enjoying hot summer days in Japan, or have you had enough of it? If you like it or not, this boiling weather is going to last for a while and make you drenched in sweat just by breathing. The best thing you can enjoy during hot summer is what? Freshly poured super chilled beer, of course! In Japan, many hotels, restaurants or shopping complexes open beer gardens during summertime. You can find hundreds of beer gardens just within the central Tokyo and many of them offers great features such as night view, fancy atmosphere of historic buildings and more. This column will introduce you the best 5 beer gardens of Tokyo which are definitely worth visiting.
Hilton Tokyo Beer Garden
Held annually by Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku, this beer garden proudly offers a great view of the heart of Tokyo city from the spacious open-air dining area on the 7th floor roof top. Enjoy a superb city view in the daytime and sparkling city lights at night. The greatest feature here is a variety of meat dishes produced by the Meat Festival which is held by Food Nation who promotes Japanese food cultures. This year, Hilton Tokyo Beer Garden offers Asian featured beef, pork and chicken dishes. 2 hours standard plan with unlimited drink is available as well as VIP group plan which requires prior booking.
Hilton Tokyo Beer Garden (Japanese)
Address: 6-6-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku Tokyo
Phone: 03-3344-5111
Period: 9th June – 30th September 2016
Trading hours: 15:00～22:30
Tokyo Bay Party Cruise “Noryosen”
The Tokyo Bay Party Cruise “Noryosen” is the most popular cruising plan to enjoy food and beer with beautiful night view of Tokyo city. Amazingly, 1500 people get onboard this cruise ship every evening during its operating period. Departing from Takeshiba, it cruises for 2 hours around Tokyo’s major seaside spots including the Rainbow Bridge, Daiba and Haneda airport. Other than the standard free drink plan, the cruise offers special party plans with different dinner menu. If you come onboard wearing Yukata (a kind of Japanese kimono) on weekdays, you will get JPY1000 off. If you want to wear Yukata but don’t have one, drop by the rental Yukata shop which cooperates with the company. You can get full service of rental Yukata including dressing to experience Japanese summer and just drop off the Yukata and go at the end. Also, daily shows and dancing performance by Yukata dancers are there to entertain you. 2hours of fun time just flies away on the boat.
Tokyo Bay Party Cruise “Noryosen” (Japanese)
Address: Tokai Kisen Co. Ltd, 1-16-1 Kaigan Minato-ku Tokyo
Phone: 03-3437-6119
Period: 1st July – 10th October 2016
Trading hours: Departing Takeshiba 19:15 & arriving Takeshiba 21:00
Asagaya Beer Kobo
Operating under the concept of “the casual beer shop like a local balery”, this place is one of the five beer shops in Tokyo run by Beer Kobo. This shop proudly offers its original beers best at right after the production. it offers 3hours free drink and food plan with various snack menu which tastes best with beers such as fried chickens, thick-cut bacons and edamame beans. The best seats located on roof top. Just go upstairs and have seat to enjoy chilled beers. This shop is well known as a craft beer manufacturer in Tokyo. tables can be reserved except for the roof top.
Asagaya Beer Kobo (Japanese)
Address: 1-31-5 Asagaya-kita Suginami-ku Tokyo
Phone: 03-3336-0606
Trading hours: 18:00 – 23:00 (Mon-Fri), 15:00～23:00 (Sat, Sun & public holidays)
Meiji Kinenkan Beer Terrace “Sekirei”
The main building of Meiji Kinenkan was originally given to Hirobumi Ito, the first prime minister of Japan, by Emperor Meiji and relocated in the outer gardens of Meiji Shrine in the later year. Relaxing on one of the cane chairs tidily set in the leafy Japanese garden, this westernized Japanese style construction with a distinguish history makes you feel as if you have slipped back in time to the period of civilization and enlightenment in 19th century. This beer garden offers a variety of attractions including well-known brand of beers, Kirin, Yona Yona Ale and Heineken as well as the premium food menus produced by the four head chefs of Meiji Kinenkan, and evening shows of Japanese singing or dancing. By the way, this place is also known for exhibition of “Sazare-ishi”, the pebbles united to a mighty rock, which is sung in the national anthem of Japan “Kimigayo”. Try if you can find the rock while you wander around the garden.
Meiji Kinenkan Beer Terrace “Sekirei”
Address: 2-2-23 Moto-Akasaka Minato-ku Tokyo
Phone: 03-3746-7723
Period: 25th May – 14 September 2016
Trading hours: 17:00～22:30
Hanayashiki BBQ Garden 2016
Hanayshiki, Tokyo’s oldest amusement park located in the center of the old downtown of Tokyo. Visitors can enjoy beer and delicious meat on BBQ from late March until the end of November. Beers taste even better when you party with your friends in the fun atmosphere of the amusement park. Lunch and dinner course as well as kids menu are available and loved by a wide age range. The outdoor BBQ garden is fully covered with a roof, so no need to worry about wet weather. It is held for a lot longer than other beer gardens so that visitors can enjoy BBQ and beer after summertime ends.
Hanayashiki BBQ Garden (Japanese)
Address: 2-28-1 Asakusa Taito-ku Tokyo
Phone: 03-3847-8729
Period: 29th March – end of November 2016
Trading hours: 11：00～22：00
Gobble Gobble Ahhh
Other than these five shops with special features introduced in this column, there are heaps more beer gardens in Tokyo. Each shop has variety of food menu as well as great beers. This is because the Japanese love having great foods with drinks, and food menu is important for them to pick right beer garden. Anyway, what about having quick beers at the end of busy day with sightseeing, work or study while you stay in Japan?
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