Kyoto
May 13, noon-6pm
Craft Beer Festa Kyoto 2018
This one-day event will feature more than 35 breweries, including many from the Kansai area, a good mix of established brewers and up-and-coming small operations. DJs and live bands will be on hand all day to provide the musical soundtrack, and there should be a number of food vendors lined up along the 800-meter shopping arcade.
Sanjokai Shotengai, Sanjo Omiya Koen
Price: Free admission. Beer tickets Y400 each. Advance-purchase six-ticket discount booklets Y2000.
Yokohama
May 17-20 (Thu-Sun)
Belgian Beer Weekend 2018 Yokohama
Over fifty Belgian breweries take part each year, and 12.7 tons of Belgian fries are consumed at this very festive multi-city event.
Yamashita Park
Price: Y2900 for a “starter set” ticket book
Tokushima
May 18-20 (Fri 5-8:30pm; Sat 10am-8:30pm; Sun 10am-7:30pm)
Tokushima Craft Beer Festival
A bit off the beaten track of the beer festival circuit, this small festival will be featuring beers from thirteen breweries, including Umenishiki, Iwami Bakushu, and Mame Mame Brewery. There will be eight food booths, and a full schedule of live music every day.
Aibahama Park
A book of 30 food and drink tickets is Y3000 (most beer and food items require multiple tickets)
Saitama Shintoshin
May 23-27 (Wed 4-9pm; Thu-Sat 11am-9pm; Sun 11am-8pm)
Keiyaki Beer Festival Spring 2017
This major beer festival generally features well over fifty breweries and plenty of food stalls, and attracts huge crowds. It’s one of the best festivals in the Tokyo area, and is highly recommended.
Keyaki Hiroba
Price: Free admission, pay as you go
Okayama
May 25-27
Okayama Beer Festa
Twenty craft brewers from around the country, including a strong contingent from Okayama, are participating in this local, but Hawaiian-themed, beer festival.
Shimoishi Park
Admission price Y3800 (Y3400 in advance)
Nara
May 25 – June 3 (weekdays 4-10pm, weekends 11am-10pm; last order 9:30)
Nara Oktoberfest 2018
This popular multi-day outdoor event features lots of German food, beer and music. While there are many imports, beers from Yamanashi brewery Fujizakura are probably the best value for money.
Nara Park, Noborioji Enchi
Price: Free admission, pay as you go
Osaka
May 26-27 (Sat. noon-8pm, Sun, 11am-6pm)
Craft Beer Live 2018
One of Osaka’s major beer events, this festival focuses on Kansai breweries large and small. Thirty-four breweries are taking part this year, pouring more than 130 different beers, and nine local bars and restaurants, including Covent Garden, B&G Nicholson and Yellow Ape, will be running food booths.
Minatomachi River Place, Plaza 3 Open Space, 1-3-1 Minatomachi
Price: Y2800 for book of 7 tickets, Y400 discount with advance purchase; individual tickets Y400 each
Tokyo Ebisu
June 2-3
BeerFes Tokyo 2018
One of Japan’s longest-running craft-beer festivals, BeerFes gives you the chance to try over 100 kinds of beer for a single admission price.
Yebisu Garden Place – The Garden Hall
Tickets Y5200 (Y4800 in advance)
Gifu
June 2-3 (Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm)
Yanagase Beer Festival
Now in its fourth year, this popular local festival features sake and wine as well as craft beer.
Nobunaga Yume Hiroba
Y4000 for ten “coins” good for food and drink. Check the website for more information
Osaka
June 13-17 (Wed-Fri 4-10pm; Sat 11am-10pm; Sun 11am-9pm)
Belgian Beer Weekend 2018 Osaka
Over fifty Belgian breweries take part each year at this very festive multi-city event. In general the beers here are a better deal than the food.
Osaka Castle Park
Price: Y2900 for a “starter set” book of tickets
Akita
June 15-17 (Fri. 4-9pm, Sat. 11am-8pm, Sun. 11am-5pm)
Tohoku Jibiru Festival in Akita 2018
The first of three craft-beer festivals in Akita this year, the event features eleven Japanese craft breweries, including names like North Island, Iwate Kura and Aqula (who are the organizers). Last year the festival attracted 6,000 visitors.
Area Nakaichi
Price: Free admission, pay as you go.
Sapporo
June 22 – July 1 (weekdays 4-9pm; weekends 11am-9pm)
Belgian Beer Weekend 2018 Sapporo
The fourth stop on this year’s multi-city Belgian beer tour, this popular event lets you sample beers from more than fifty Belgian breweries, along with frites, sausages and other Belgian foods.
Odori Park (8 chome)
Price: Y2900 for a “starter set” ticket book
Sendai
June 29 – July 8 (weekdays 4-9pm, weekends 11am-9pm; last order 8:30)
Tohoku Oktoberfest 2018
This popular multi-day outdoor event features lots of German food, beer and music. While there are many imports, beers from Yamanashi brewery Fujizakura are probably the best value for money.
Nishikicho Park
Price: Free admission, pay as you go
Osaka
July 13-15
BeerFes Osaka 2018
One of Japan’s longest-running craft-beer festivals, BeerFes gives you the chance to try over 100 kinds of beer for a single admission price. Cheaper admission on Friday night; check the website for details.
My Dome Osaka
Tickets Y5000 for Saturday and Sunday sessions, Y4000 for Friday session (Y4600 and Y3600 if purchased in advance)
Tokyo Hibiya
July 13-22 (weekdays 4-10pm, weekends 11am-10pm; last order 9:30)
Hibiya Oktoberfest 2018
One of Tokyo’s several multi-day Oktoberfest events, this very popular outdoor event offers German food, beer and music. While there are many imports, beers from local Yamanashi brewery Fujizakura are probably the best value for money.
Hibiya Park Central Fountain
Price: Free admission, pay as you go
Ibaraki Tsukuba
July 14-15
Tsukuba Craft Beer Fest 2018
A beer festival for the whole family, Tsukuba’s popular annual event features live bands and DJs on two separate stages along with plenty of food and organic soft drinks. Last year there were nineteen breweries represented (including one US import), ranging from big names like Hitachi Nest and Echigo to smaller local producers. Check their website for more up-to-date information.
Tsukuba Center Plaza
Y500 admission.
Tochigi Utsunomiya
July 20-22 (Fri 3-9pm; Sat 11am-9pm; Sun 11am-5pm)
Tochigi Craft Beer Festa 2018
More of a regional beer festival than a Japan-wide event, Tochigi will be featuring around 40-50 beers from a handful of small Japanese breweries including Ushitora, Preston and Nasu Kogen, plus US imports from AQ Bevolution (Lucky Bucket, Left Hand, Heretic).
Utsunomiya Orion Square
Price: Free admission, pay as you go
Okinawa Naha
July 27-28 (Sat. 1-9pm; Sun. noon-5pm)
BeerFes Okinawa 2018
First launched in 1998 in Tokyo, the multi-city BeerFes is one of Japan’s longest-running craft-beer festivals. Extra beer tickets are available inside the venue, and there will be several booths selling food.
Times Hall first floor event space (Kumoji 2-2-2, Naha; two minutes from Kenchomae monorail stop)
Ticket price Y3000 for ten beer tickets plus a glass.
Nagoya
August 4-5
BeerFes Nagoya 2018
One of Japan’s longest-running craft-beer festivals, BeerFes gives you the chance to try over 100 kinds of beer for a single admission price.
Nagoya Congress Center
Ticket price TBA
Kurume
August 9-12 (Aug 9-10 4-10pm; Aug 11-12 noon-10pm)
Kyushu Beer Festival 2018 in Kurume
Kyushu’s largest craft-beer festival is making its third appearance in Kurume this year, featuring craft beers from all over Japan as well as food booths from local Kurume restaurants.
Kurume City Plaza Rokkakudo Hiroba
Free admission. Beer tickets are Y500 per glass; pay as you go for food.
Tokyo Hibiya
August 9-12 (Thu 2-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-10pm; Sun 11am-9pm)
Belgian Beer Weekend 2018 Hibiya Park
Japan’s biggest Belgian beer festival has expanded to a second Tokyo location this year, gathering at Hibiya Park.
Over fifty Belgian breweries take part each year, and 12.7 tons of Belgian fries are consumed at this very festive multi-city event.
Hibiya Park Central Fountain
Price: Y2900 for a “starter set” ticket book for beer and food.
Iwate Ichinoseki
August 24-26 (Fri 4-8pm, Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm)
Nationwide Jibiru Festival in Ichinoseki 2018
Now in its twenty-first year, this indoor-outdoor festival features local foods as well as craft beers from around Japan. Last year they offered more than 300 different beers from 84 breweries.
Ichinoseki Cultural Center
Price: Y2000 for a ticket book.
Akita
August 28-19 (Sat 11-8, Sun 10-4)
Craft Beer Festival in Akita 2018
Lots of craft beers and local foods at this lively regional beer festival. In past years more than fifty Japanese breweries have taken part.
Akita Agora Hiroba (in front of JR Akita Station)
Same-day tickets are Y1500 for four 200ml drink tickets, or Y400 for one. Advance tickets are Y1200 for four drink tickets.
Kobe
August 29 – September 2 (Wed-Fri 4-9pm; Sat-Sun 11am-9pm)
Belgian Beer Weekend 2018 Kobe
This is the second year that this popular multi-city event will be taking place in Kobe.
Over fifty Belgian breweries take part each year, and 12.7 tons of Belgian fries are consumed, along with sausages and other Belgian food.
Meriken Park
Price: Y2900 for a “starter set” ticket book
Yokohama
September 15-17
BeerFes Yokohama 2018
One of Japan’s longest-running craft-beer festivals, BeerFes gives you the chance to try over 100 kinds of beer for a single admission price.
Osanbashi Hall
Ticket price TBA
Tokyo Roppongi
September 19-24 (Wed-Fri 4-10pm; Sat 11am-10pm; Sun 11am-9pm)
Belgian Beer Weekend 2018 Tokyo
Running in Tokyo for five days this year, this is the biggest and most popular Belgian beer festival in Japan, featuring beers from more than fifty breweries and a wide selection of food.
Roppongi Hills Arena
Price: Ticket books Y3100 (Y2900 in advance)
Tokyo Aomi
September 28 – October 8 (weekdays 4-10pm, weekends, holidays 11am-10pm; last order 9:30)
Odaiba Oktoberfest Fall 2018
One of Tokyo’s several multi-day Oktoberfest events, this very popular outdoor event offers German food, beer and music. While there are many imports, beers from local Yamanashi brewery Fujizakura are probably the best value for money.
Cymbal Promenade Park Central Square
Price: Free admission, pay as you go
Kanazawa
September 29-30 (Sat 11-8, Sun 11-5)
Craft Beer Kanazawa 2018
Around 88 different beers from more than a dozen breweries will be available for tasting, including a few local brews from Toyama and Ishikawa. Some participants include Shiga Kogen, North Island, Minami Shinshu, Isekado and Minoh. More than a dozen food stalls will be serving everything from tandoori chicken, Czech-style garlic soup and Chinese dumplings to local Kanazawa dishes.
Shiinoki Geihinkan Ishi no Hiroba
Free admission, pay as you go (Y400 per glass).
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