Kansai area craft beer bars - Craft Beer Bars Japan

Osaka

craft beer

Molto's Fukushima branch stands out among Osaka's many craft-beer bars for its excellent food - a selection of a dozen or so home-made artisanal sausages alongside a full menu of casual Italian cuisine. If you're just popping in for a drink the...

craft beer

Pogo - Beer bar: Fukushima

One of a growing number of craft-beer bars in the Fukushima neighborhood, this attractively appointed two-story bar offers eight taps dispensing both Japanese and imported brews. Service is friendly, music is above average, and there's some outdoor...

craft beer

Beer Belly - Beer bar: Higobashi

Minoh Beer is a craft brewery a bit north of Osaka city, and this centrally located taproom serves a line-up of their regular beers (including their excellent W-IPA) plus a few limited-edition special seasonal brews. They also offer nicely chosen...

craft beer

Garage 39 - Beer bar: Honmachi

The fifteen taps at this relatively spacious beer bar serve up a mix of Japanese and US craft beers, with US pints selling for Y950. The food is also good.

craft beer

Fujiyama - Beer bar: Kita-Horie

Billing themselves as a "meat beer bar," Fujiyama delivers on both food and drink fronts, with an excellent selection of craft beers alongside a meat-focused food menu. The bar's six taps dispense US craft beers from breweries like Knee Deep, Lost...

craft beer

Kamikaze - Beer bar: Kita-Horie

The 23 taps at Craft Beer Works Kamikaze serve mostly Japanese craft beers, with a few US imports as well. Food and service are good, but it can get crowded during busy times and seating can be cramped.

brewpub

Marca - Brewpub: Kita-Horie

Marca Cafe and Beer Factory usually serves five or six of their own beers and sometimes a guest beer. The limited food menu offers beer-friendly bar fare like pates and sausages, plus a canned-food selection. Beers come in three sizes, with a UK...

craft beer

Yellow Ape Craft - Beer bar: Kitahama

Thirty beers, mostly Japanese craft beers, are served on tap here along with bar snacks like pizza. The Y320 table charge includes a small appetizer.

craft beer

Hathor - Beer bar: Kyobashi

Kyobashi may be off the beaten track for Osaka craft-beer bar denizens, but this cozy neighborhood spot is worth checking out if you're anywhere nearby. There's a big tap list, including eight well-selected Japanese craft brews and seven mostly US...

craft beer

TNT Bar - Beer bar: Taisho

This extremely informal, charmingly scruffy bar has one of the most impressive selections of US craft beers by the bottle that we've seen in town, usually with more than 100 to choose from. Most bottles are in the Y900-1200 range, although you'll...

craft beer

Harenohi - Beer bar: Tanimachi 4-chome

Six US craft beers on tap plus nice Utsunomiya-style gyoza are served at this convivial beer bar. From the folks who brought us Q-Brick.

craft beer

Lingua World Cafe - Beer bar: Tanimachi 9-chome

The menu here promises sandwiches (grilled cheese, roast chicken), poutine (!) and craft beers, and while there are only a couple of taps, Lingua does offer an excellent selection of canned and bottled imports, and cans are just Y700. They also...

craft beer

Beer Belly Tenma - Beer bar: Tenma

Fourteen taps, including four hand pumps, all dispense beers from Osaka's Minoh Brewery at this spacious company-run taproom. The food menu is decent, with a wide range of tapas dishes. It's located around the corner from Stand Bar 1020 and many...

craft beer

Standing Beer Bar 1020 - Beer bar: Tenma

Located in a mini-shopping arcade just off a main shopping arcade in busy Tenma, this tiny standing bar has room for around six or seven customers at a time. The six taps represent Japanese craft beers in a variety of styles - hoppy beers, stouts,...

craft beer

B and G Nicholson - Beer bar: Tenmabashi

Oversized Utsunomiya-style gyoza (fried pork dumplings) are one of the draws at this cozy craft-beer bar, from the same management of the nearby Harenohi bar and the legendary (now defunct) Q-Brick. Well-chosen Japanese craft beers from breweries...

craft beer

Beer Stand Molto! - Beer bar: Umeda

A lively standing bar, conveniently located in the Hankyu Sanbangai station complex, Molto serves four craft beers on tap along with several dozen by the bottle. They also have around ten wines by the glass and tapas-style small dishes to go with...

Retail

Craft Beer Base - Beer bar: Umeda

This tiny standing beer bar attached to a retail liquor shop has only four taps, but they change fairly often. However the real reason to come here is their amazing selection of 200-300 bottled beers, including interesting US and European craft...

craft beer

Marciero - Beer bar: Umeda

The eight taps at this tiny bar here dispense a rotating selection of well-chosen craft beers, mostly from Japan, the US and Germany. Imperial pints are priced at Y1080. Open from 3pm weekends.

craft beer

Molto - Italian: Umeda

Craft Beer House Molto is definitely the highest craft-beer bar in Osaka, offering a fine view of the city from its 31st-floor location. There's a full menu of Italian food (budget around Y4000 at dinnertime), or you can just stop by for a beer,...

craft beer

Craft Beer Base Bud - Beer bar: Umeda 1-chome

A lively, very down-to-earth craft-beer bar, Bud offers an inspired selection from their eight taps - generally four brews from the US and two each from Japan and Europe. All pints are priced at Y1000 while half-pints are Y700. The very casual...

Kobe

craft beer

Hop Stand - Yakitori: Sannomiya

Craft beers from Rokko brewery are served with yakitori at this small bar. There are generally five or six craft beers on draft (along with three macros), served in four different sizes and priced at Y920 for around a UK pint and Y480 for a small...

craft beer

Starboard - Beer bar: Sannomiya

Formerly the Rokko Beer Diner, this brewery taproom serves beers from Rokko Brewery, Starboard, and a decent selection of guest beers - we noted Boundary Bay and Coronado among the breweries during our last visit. Glasses are around Y480 while US...

craft beer

New Munchen Kobe Taishikan - Beer bar: Sannomiya south

This charming Kobe landmark serves a full range of Sapporo beers, and a huge, 150-item food menu. The small brewery in the basement produced two craft beers - a somewhat fruity wheat beer and a Vienna-style beer that uses Saaz hops. English menus...

craft beer

Portside - Beer bar: Sannomiya south

Kobe Beer Hall Portside offers a good selection of beers from Rokko, Starboard and other breweries on tap, and several Belgians by the bottle. The food is also decent, with dishes like steamed mussels, spicy Moroccan kebabs (the chef is from...

Kyoto

craft beer

Komachi - Beer bar: Heian Shrine

Seven craft beers on tap and good food at this neighborhood craft-beer bar.

craft beer

Bungalow - Beer bar: Karasuma

One of the better places for craft beer in Kyoto (there isn't much competition), Bunglaow has ten taps devoted to Japanese craft breweries as well as a good menu of French and European bistro fare. There's no sit-down bar, just a standing bar area...

craft beer

Bakujun - Beer bar: Karasuma-Oike

This quiet bar has good food and craft beers, although the atmosphere is rather subdued. There are eight taps along with a selection of bottled beer (both Japanese and Belgian), with beers ranging from Y700-1100 per pint and a Y300 table charge. ...

craft beer

Before 9 - Beer bar: Karasuma-Oike

This stylish two-story bar, located in a converted machiya townhouse, serves both craft beer and artisanal sake. Kyoto Brewing Co, a local brewer, is well represented on the bar's eight taps, and there are also frequent beer-related popup events...

craft beer

Takumiya - Beer bar: Karasuma-Oike

Appetizing aromas wafting from the direction of the deep fryer are one of the charms of this lively craft-beer bar, although they occasionally clash with customers' cigarette smoke. Eight taps dispense Japanese craft beers, which are priced at...

craft beer

Ichi-ya - Beer bar: Kawaramachi

Ichiya's spacious dining room is definitely a cut above your average beer bar, with stylish modern decor, comfortable seating and an invigorating musical soundtrack. Launched in August 2016 by Kyoto's Ichijoji Brewery, the bar serves excellent food...

craft beer

Len - Bar: Kawaramachi

Located on the ground floor of a popular hostel, this budget-friendly cafe-bar offers a good selection of drinks, including draft beers from Kyoto Brewing and Baird (Shizuoka), a few types of sake, wine from Y2500 a bottle and lots of whiskey. The...

craft beer

AB - Cafe: Kyoto City Hall

This very fashionable cafe-bar and boutique serves gourmet coffee, meaty sandwiches, and a rotating selection of Japanese craft beers on draft from five taps. The beer selection leans heavily towards local brewery Kyoto Brewing; on a recent visit...

craft beer

Karr - Beer bar: Kyoto City Hall

'Good beer! Good ham! Good music!' reads the sign on the wall, and this is a manifesto we wholeheartedly endorse. Pub Karr is a cozy, friendly little spot, well suited to a group outing if you don't mind cigarette smoke. In addition to table...

craft beer

Tadg's Gastro Pub - Beer bar: Kyoto City Hall

One of Kyoto's hangouts for craft-beer aficionados, Tadg's offers eight Japanese craft beers on tap along with a good selection of US imports by the bottle. Bar snacks include fish and chips, mini-pizzas and some nice lamb chops.