Loose ends/various places Part 9

Once again, it’s been a while since the last digest post and there are loads of places that are on my backlog list again. If you want to see all of the digest posts and find out a little bit about places that we are yet to make it to, please check the digest category on the right hand side or alternatively you can just click here. As with previous digest posts, an inclusion here doesn’t vouch for a place, but does just say that it looks like it might be of some interest. (Or in the case of some might mean I’ve been there and it was OK but not that exciting). Places will remain as a ? on the map till they have been visited. But hopefully in the brief write ups there will be enough to give you some idea of what they might be like.

Ajifu And Kurabi – Kawasaki

Slightly unusual pairing of Asian food and Craft Beer. Perhaps you might expect this in a restaurant but this is basically a shop that sells mainly Indian food items and has a couple of fridges of imported craft beer, leading heavily towards the US side of things. They had some really good vegetarian curries in packets, so I will probably go back again for those. Not sure the beer selection is really for me, but it will be for plenty of others.
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Akatsuki Growlers – Tomigaya
Trying to find info to add the Akatsuki place in Kyodo to this post I discovered this place not far from my house. It seems that the Kyodo one might have shut down. Maybe… Akatsuki seems to be a massive company with loads of money that makes beers in Iwate if I remember correctly. This place looks like a growler shop which is also a growler filling place. There seems to be quite a lot of taps of their own beers, some cans and some seating. Not sure about quality or pricing. Probably should pop in given that it’s so close.
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Antenna America Tokyo – Yaesu
No explanation needed here I guess. It’s an Antenna America branch that is in the basement shopping complex under Tokyo station. If you need any info, check one of these posts here, particularly the Yokohama station one as I think it’s pretty much the same thing going on here, albeit Tokyo is ‘significantly bigger’ apparently.
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The Bank – Kamakura
Small place in Kamamkura based in what used to be… you guessed it, a bank. Actually to be honest I’m guessing too, but it looks like it in the photos. Seems to be mainly focused on cocktails but a few people have told me I should add it so here we are. No idea really about the beer, but I’ve seen people checking in to Yorocco beers on tap there.
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Beer Brain Taproom – Kashiwa
10 taps of mostly their own beers and cans available too. Despite being next to the brewery, (I think), they’ve once again gone for the shed on wheels concept. I guess with that in mind, it’s not that necessary to go there from Tokyo where you can go to their original shed on wheels or their in a real building Harajuku taproom.
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Beer Kise – Shimotakaido
Fairly recently opened. Seems to have five taps of domestic craft. From their Instagram it looks like they have a few counters and some standing space. You can also find out which new stuff they have on tap by checking there. There is a perhaps interesting theme with their Instagram posts, but they don’t seem to update it that often so you may be taking a bit of a stab in the dark with regards to what they have on. No charge, which is a good thing!
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Beers Shop – Asakusa
Another new name for me, discovered whilst adding another place to this post. I guess it’s a beer shop in Asakusa! Has an online shop which makes sense as the opening hours are very limited. Specialises in imported beers.
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Beer Stand Abend – Ningyocho
Bar that seems to be located in a German bakery. Seems to be only bottles and cans judging by their Instagram. All Japanese stuff too. That’s about all I can work out. Instagram suggests that it sometimes has irregular holidays so better check that too.
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Beer Vista Brewery – Kiyosumishirakawa
Fairly new bar, rather than a brewery as the name might suggest. Eight taps of what looks like is usually Japanese craft. Bottles cans and food too. Just north over the river from Kiyosumishirakawa station, or just south from Morishita. Looks nice and there’s not a great deal of places in this area so I’ll definitely have a look next time I’m over that way.
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Caghiya Tap Room – Musashi Nakahara

Have now visited this place! Taproom and brewpub for what I thought was a brewery based in Kashimada, but it seems that their original location there is/was only a pub. Nine taps of their own beers. Fish burgers are their food speciality. Prices were pretty good, but at the same time, some of the beers are a bit rough and ready. Seems they have another bar in Musashi Kosugi and will be opening one soon in Jiyugaoka. These things were all quite surprising for me. Quite popular place when we were there but Musashi Nakahara is a bit of a beer desert so maybe that’s why.
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Cal time – Yoga
Newly opened place, the ‘Cal’ of which seems to probably be referring to California as the sign in one of their pictures has a Stars and Stripes on it. Seems like it has some taps but most Instagram photos are of cans. Selection doesn’t look particularly exciting, but people do seem to love these kind of places that serve US craft that you can also buy in plenty of other places.
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Chelas – Oyamadai
This is a craft beer and tacos place. 8 taps, the majority being domestic stuff and there seems to be some domestic and imported cans too. Seems to like some quite popular and trendy breweries. Daily updated tap list on their website. Not sure if they do vegetarian tacos. Will have to investigate and give it a go.
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Craft-Beer Beer-Ma – Kameido
Latest Beer Ma branch to open and it’s out east. Here are the posts on Kanda and Kita Senju. Looks like they don’t have that many taps (maybe four or five), but the usual draw with these places is the cans and bottles. Having a bit of trouble working out how big this place is from the pictures. Not as big as Kanda I think. But I suppose as well as being a bar it’s also a beer shop, so that might explain it. I’d guess that if you’re not in the east of Tokyo it makes more sense to go to Kanda, but I’m sure it’s a welcome addition for Kita-ku residents.
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Family Mart – Harajuku
Seeing as I have a couple of 7-11s on here it seems only fair that this Family Mart should get a mention. As far as I can remember the beers were mostly imports but there were a couple of fridges of them. Don’t expect this from every Family Mart. In fact, don’t expect this from any Family Mart apart from this one. And from a brief search I can’t find a social media presence. As far as I can remember it was pretty much all imports. But still, decent beer in a convenience store!

Grains & Grapes / Ushiku Brewing – Ushiku
Small booze shop and taproom for Ushiku Brewing the staff of which used to work at Chateau Kamiya (I think, or at least the person who formed the company did). Seems like they have six taps of their beer available. Doesn’t look like the biggest of places and I’m not sure of there’s any/much seating available. Used to really like Chateau Kamiya so want to give these guys a try some time.
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Heiwa Doburoku Brewery Kabutocho – Nihonbashi
A Tokyo based taproom and, if you judge by the name, brewery for the Wakayama based Heiwa Shuzo producer whose Wakayama places were mentioned in this post. I think it is the Doburoku that they make on the premises rather than beer, but still deserves to be put on here as the pictures look like they have plenty of their own beers on tap too.
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Honjo Ginza Brewing – Honjo
Had never heard of this place till I saw Zakkoku were taking part in a festival with them. Seems they have their own taproom in Honjo with six taps and a hand pump. Honjo is perhaps a little off the beaten track but the place is close to the station and I’m kind of intrigued.
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Irish Pub County Clare – Tachikawa
Total mystery. Had heard that they have 31 taps of craft beer. I am pretty sure that this is not true. Seems to be an Irish pub with four guest taps which are usually all imports and perhaps of limited excitement. It’s open really late though. I wonder if perhaps there are 31 taps but only 4 of craft, the rest being various macros. I dunno. Very confusing but I feel I’m getting some kind of closure by finally succumbing and putting it on a digest post. Approach with caution perhaps.
UPDATE: I went past here today hoping to check on the massive amount of taps but was disappointed to find out it’s on the second floor and a bit difficult to check without going in. I found a picture online that suggests that it does indeed have a lot of taps, but as only half of the menu was visible, I’m still not sure. Guess this update is pretty useless.
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Ise Kadoya – Shinbashi
There’s probably not a great deal to say about this place that couldn’t be explained better by reading on of the other posts on Tokyo Ise Kadoya bars here and here, so I’d suggest you check them and expect pretty much the same in this place. Although I feel like from the pictures it might be a bit less restaurant-like here. They probably still expect you to order food though, I’d guess.
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Kazo Bakushu Co. – Kazo
Another Saitama brewery I’d never heard of. They have a nice looking taproom with a patio. Sadly it’s quite a long way from the nearest station. Seems like they have five taps of their own beers on.
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Lou – Nakano
Coffee shop with some interesting beers on. Just two taps I think. Food and wine too. And of course coffee. They make a distinction between Cafe Time and Bar Time in their opening hours but I guess you can drink beer in the day time. I guess, but don’t blame me if you can’t.
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2 Hai Me No Beer – Nihonbashi
Booze shop and perhaps brewpub in the Nihonbashi Commissary fancy food court complex. Bit confused as their pictures make it look like a brewpub and they seem to have their own beer but I thought the brewery in this complex had closed. But maybe that was a different place? Seems to have beers on tap and lots of imported cans. Need to investigate this a bit.
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Noodle House Laundry – Yaesu
I guess mainly a noodle house but also a bar in the basement of Tokyo station’s Gransta Tower. 15 taps of beer and the prices look decent too. Lots of cans too. Bit curious how this place was not at all on my radar till recently. Hints of their tap list are posted quite regularly on their Instagram. It’s usually only the beers that have recently been put on. (Have just heard that it’s part of the Craftsman group which explains why its prices are quite good. But also the good prices don’t seem to stretch to all of even most of the taplist. It’s done in an iBrew style with stuff you’d expect to be more expensive being more expensive. No surprise about that I guess).
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Pilny Pijak – Takenawa Gateway
Czech restaurant with three taps of Czech beer (one of which seems to always be made by Kobo Brewing from Toyama). The others seem to always be Urquell and Kozel Dark. Given that it describes itself as a restaurant I would imagine that you’re expected to eat there. Prices seem a little expensive but the serving is 0.5l rather than US pint, so it is… 23cl bigger… There’s also a slightly complicated system that your second and third pints are cheaper and then your fourth is cheaper again. But still not exactly cheap. Looks fun, but there are definitely other places you can get these beers much cheaper, so if you’re going here, it’s probably for the food. Strange lack of any social media presence as far as I can see.

Rio brewing & Co Brewery & BBQ – Kashiwa
Bit of a mystery as the only photos I can find keep things enigmatic. Looks like it’s mainly the brewery building and a patio where you can drink and eat BBQ. Not sure if there is any seating inside at all. Much like with Beer Brain above, I think anyone living in Tokyo who wants to drink their beers might find that they don’t get much more out of the experience by going to the source in Kashiwa. Unless you really like BBQ.
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Shinobazu Brewery – Ueno
Brewpub in Ueno. Bit of a surprise. Must be an expensive location so I guess this place has a big company behind it. The taproom/restaurant specialises in lamb dishes, hence the brewery logo. Seems to have some seats on the second floor where you pour your own beers from a personal tap. All a bit confusing. Slightly suspicious about this place. Would usually imagine that it’s a fake brewery but they do seem to have the kit there judging by the photos. Added here because it’s a brewery, but be careful, I think.
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Tap And Tumbler – Ebisu
Sister pub to Tap & Growler and Tap & Crowler. Seems that they ran out of ideas for other takeaway options for the name. Tap & Pet Bottle, maybe? Expect the same kind of beers as the other places. This time the gimmick is that it’s one of those self service places, which are a lot of fun, but if you’re not good at pouring beers, (basically talking about myself here), you can end up with a glass of foam that you’ve paid slightly more than usual for. I have to admit, I quite like these PIY (pour it yourself, just trying to get that abbreviation going…) places and it’s a way that you can try lots of small amounts of lots of different beers. I have noticed in other places that do this that you pay a premium for pouring yourself, which is a little strange when you think about it. The other bars in the chain have always had a bit of a pricing issue, and I can’t imagine it’s going to be any better here. But it will probably be a fun experience.
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Tsuruse Craft Dining / Fujimi Brewing – Tsuruse
Looks really like a regular izakaya. Pretty much opposite Tsuruse station on the Tobu Tojo line. Fujimi Brewing has their brewery next door and this is the taproom it seems. But be sure to expect the izakaya vibe. Looks kind of fun. Seems like they don’t have that many taps of Fujimi beer on, but I’ll always put a brewery (or brewery taproom) on here so that’s why it has made it.
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Zakkoku Kobo Microbrewery – Ogawamachi
This is a place I’ve been to lots of times in the past, but have never added it here till now as I was always a little worried that it had strange opening hours, is a long way from Tokyo and was very small. Didn’t want anyone to go all the way and then blame me for not getting a beer. So with those warnings in mind, here it is. Zakkoku are one of my favourite breweries in Japan and they have some lovely beers available. The new taproom is a bit bigger than the old one, but not much bigger, Think they have about 10 taps on and bottles and merch to take away. This place really should have a listing of its own, so I’ll do that the next time I go there.
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