Tama No Megumi is located in Haijima, West of Tokyo. Whilst it only takes around 45 minutes from Shinjuku on the Chuo line it feels like it is much further away when you arrive. Getting to the station I was surprised to see Fuji looming on the horizon and after arriving at the brewery it felt even further away from Tokyo. This is possibly one of the most beautiful settings around to enjoy drinking beer.
On site there are two places to drink beer and also a beer and sake shop where you can buy everything they currently have available. The ramen restaurant Zougura serves beer and also the breweries sake. We went to Fussa no Birugoya, the beer restaurant, which also serves their beer and sake along with pizzas, pastas and salads. They also do a nice cheese plate. There are 4 beers available on tap, three regulars, their Pale Ale, Pilsner and Munchener Dark, along with one seasonal. When we visited, this was their Maerzen. Along with this, they have their 500ml bottle conditioned Pale Ale (¥700) and a 500ml vintage 2004 version (¥1500). Tap servings come in either small (¥500) or large (¥800)(approximately US pint and half pint size I reckon) and you can get pitchers too. There were also 8 types of sake available.
For me, the beers were all solid. My favourite was the bottle conditioned Pale Ale which had just something extra that the others didn’t. I would be interested in returning in the summer to try some of their fruit beers that they seem to offer. I also had the Tama no Yorokobi Daiginjyo sake which was really good. The food was pretty good too, particularly the pizzas, and it was nice to get a cheese plate with interesting stuff on it, rather than processed cheese. Don’t be put off by my lukewarm beer reviews. They are definitely still nice and drinkable. They just paled a little next to the sake. I will definitely be heading back to explore the site a bit more as there is also a small museum showing the history of them brewing there. The whole experience was a great one, so definitely worth doing. Check out the pictures on their website to get an idea as my terrible photo doesn’t do it justice, (note to self, in future, take the photos on the way in, before the drinks…).
Japanese breweries on tap when I visited:
Ishikawa/Tama No Megumi
Opening Hours:
Fussa no Birugoya – 11.30 – 22.00 Wednesday to Monday (open Tuesdays too in Summer)
Zougura – 11.30 – 22.00 Friday to Wednesday, closed Thursdays
Sake Cellar (sake and beer shop) – 10.00 – 18.00 every day
Location/map
1 熊川, Fussa City, Tokyo 197-8623
Directions:
First of all, get to Haijima station and leave through the South exit. It is much too complicated to explain the route in words but don’t be put off. Just print off this map and you should be fine. Alternatively, their website suggests you should get a cab, but the walk is only about 15 minutes.
Telephone:
042-553-0171 (Fussa no Birugoya)
Links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Ratebeer listing