Kansai area craft beer bars

Map of Kansai beer bars and retailers

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Osaka

craft beer

Fukushima Jihen - Bar: Fukushima

Formerly known as "Craft Beer Kitchen Pogo," the bar now offers both craft beer and hard cider on tap. The Italian food menu features big appetizer platters, pizzas, pastas and grilled meats and vegetables.

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.

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

Iiie Craft Beer - Beer bar: Shinsaibashi

Past the front counter with its 20 taps, beyond the huge refrigerators stocked with 300 different canned beers, the main dining area here is quite stylishly appointed and surprisingly spacious. There's also a minimalist standing-bar zone in front...

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 Y900-1,200 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

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.

craft beer

Bak Umekita - Beer bar: Umeda

Run by Osaka's adventurous Bak brewery, this Umeda outlet serves ten of the brewery's beers on tap along with a small food menu. It's a pleasant spot located inside the Grand Front Osaka's stylish and very lively sixth-floor restaurant complex.

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...

craft beer

Craft Beer Base Leaf - Beer bar: Umeda

Leaf is a bottle shop, taproom and restaurant run by the Craft Beer Base group to showcase their beers. Ten of their fifteen taps are devoted to CBB's innovative series of Osaka-brewed beers, with the five guest taps set aside for domestic and...

Retail

Craft Beer Base Mother Tree - Beer bar: Umeda

Originally known as Kansai's best retail shop for imported beers, Craft Beer Base have expanded their operations to include a restaurant, bar, on-premises brewery and bottle shop. These are all located in their three-story headquarters behind the...

craft beer

Craft Beer Market - Beer bar: Umeda

When Craft Beer Market opened their first branch in Tokyo they shook up the craft-beer scene with their low prices, wide beer selection, good food and overall mass appeal. Their first Osaka branch offers similarly low prices and an impressive...

craft beer

Craft Beer Market Whity Umeda - Beer bar: Umeda

It's hard to beat Craft Beer Market for price and beer selection. Offering thirty domestic and imported craft beers on tap, they charge just Y550 for a small glass and Y880 for a pint, plus a very reasonable Y300 cover charge after 3pm. The...

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.

restaurant

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 Branch - Beer bar: Umeda 1-chome

Located in the lively basement bar zone of Hanshin department store, this compact outlet of importer-turned-brewer Craft Beer Base is equipped with ten taps, seven of which are devoted to their own brews. The food menu is limited to bar fare but is...

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...

craft beer

WCB Umeda 1 - Beer bar: Umeda 1-chome

This outlet of Shizuoka's highly regarded West Coast Brewery is equipped with six taps dispensing their beers, plus a couple of fridges filled with canned and bottled product. The brewery is known for their innovative, high-quality seasonal beers,...

Kobe

restaurant

Hop Stand Harborland Mosaic - Yakitori: Harborland

This big second branch of Hop Stand yakitori restaurant has forty terrace seats and another forty inside. They serve several different craft beers from Rokko brewery plus a collection of fruit-infused beer cocktails. Like the original branch, the...

craft beer

Open Air Kobe Motomachi - Beer bar: Motomachi

Run by Kobe craft brewery Open Air, this central-Motomachi taproom serves a dozen of their beers on tap plus a big lineup of cans. They're open all day, and the spacious upstairs dining room serves a simple food menu with dishes like grilled pork,...

brewpub

In Tha Door Brewing - Brewpub: Rokko Island

The attractive setting and the excellent background music, mostly classic R&B and funk, are the biggest draws at this cozy brewpub located on Rokko Island. Regular beers are priced at Y730 and Y1120 for 300ml and 500ml sizes, respectively, and...

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...

restaurant

Mother Moon Cafe - American: Sannomiya south

This popular cafe-style restaurant serves "farm-to-table" fare, with heaping "one-plate" lunches. The buttermilk fried chicken is a specialty of the house, and is recommended. Japanese craft beers are served on tap, from Shiga Kogen and Minoh Beer...

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...

Kyoto

craft beer

Shalara - Beer bar: Gion

If you're wandering around Kyoto's Gion district near Yasaka Shrine and find yourself in need of a cold drink, this cozy brewpub offers craft beers and ciders for here or to go, and even has a take-out window facing the street for quick outdoor...

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

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...

Retail

Dig The Line - Beer bar: Karasuma-Oike

By far the hippest beer bar in Kyoto, Dig The Line offers a good selection of imported craft beers and ciders, excellent music (with regular DJ events), and comfortable seating both indoors and out. Ten taps are devoted to beer and cider, while the...

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...

brewpub

Ichi-ya - Brewpub: 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

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...

restaurant

Miyama 162 - Beer bar: Kyoto City Hall

This cozy dining bar offers venison, wild boar and other game dishes along with craft beer and craft whisky. Draft beers include four types from Kyoto Brewing, a local favorite, along with Yona Yona American Pale Ale.

craft beer

Craft Beer Market - Beer bar: Kyoto Station

Thirty beers on tap, reasonable prices and decent food - that's the formula that has made Craft Beer Market a popular drinking destination in Tokyo, Osaka and now Kyoto. Most beers are priced at Y550 for a glass and Y880 for a pint, with a small...

craft beer

Crafthouse Kyoto - Beer bar: Kyoto Station

A very attractive two-story bar-restaurant, Crafthouse offers excellent food and drink in a beautiful setting. Twelve taps dispense beers from well-regarded Japanese craft breweries like Two Rabbits (Shiga), Isekadoya (Mie) and Minoh (Osaka), with...

brewpub

Kyoto Beer Lab - Brewpub: Kyoto Station

This small brewpub offers eight of their own well-produced beers on tap. These often including creative varieties like Macadamia Brown Ale, Blueberry Cheesecake Sour, and Wasabi-Salt Gueuze. The food is fancier than average beer-bar fare -...

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