Tokyo Beer Map v13 (Click to enlarge)

The Beer in Japan guide to the good bars in Tokyo and Yokohama – Kanto –  the bars where you can find craft beers on tap or in bottles, or which have an excellent atmosphere. The bars I’ve written listing details about are listed in bold; other bars I’ve either still to write listing details for – those links open a new window with the bar’s own website.

Listings in italics below and in (brackets) on the map are off-licenses (liquor stores).
(NS) = Smoke-free bar.
(WIFI) = Free WIFI. Not many bars have free WIFI – if you’re travelling in Japan/Tokyo and need WIFI, this site can help.

So many bars – where should you start? Check out our recommendations.
In Osaka? See the Osaka listings.
Outside Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka? See Japan wide listings.
Want to know what’s on tap at some of these bars? Try Boozelist.

Yamanote Line stations

• Gotanda: Grafton
• Meguro: Black Lion
• Ebisu: What The Dickens, Irishmore, Billy Barew’s Beer Bar (Takadanobaba review)
• Shibuya: The Aldgate (NS) (WIFI), Bis Cafe, Hemel, The Griffon, Amusement, Belgo, German Farm Grill, Estadio (Kamo Soccer Bar), Craftheads (NS) (WIFI), Yamaya, Tokyu Food Show
• Shinjuku: In Shinjuku central, the Belgian bars Frigo and Little Delirium are your only real options – but if you don’t mind a short walk (or subway ride) to Shinjukugyoenmae, there’s Bamboo – the only bar with draught craft beer in Shinjuku (see the Shinjukugyoenmae listing below for Bamboo.) Frigo, Little Delirium, Hazelburn (a few UK bottles and UK draught beers), Billy Barew’s Beer Bar (Takadanobaba review), Brooklyn Parlor (WIFI), Shinanoya (usually has a few excellent bottles)
• Takadanobaba: Cafe Cotton Club, Billy Barew’s Beer Bar
• Mejiro: Tanakaya
• Ikebukuro: Beer Saurus, Ale House, Black Sheep, Vivo! (WIFI) (New location: Google Map – B1; 20 taps; pints are now available for 150 yen on top of the L size; typically 1100 yen for J-beer, 1400-1500 yen for imports), Sakura Cafe (only a few Japanese craft beers in bottles but relatively cheap; Not on map yet)
• Nippori: O’Connell
• Ueno: Warrior Celt
• Kanda: Maltan, Kura Kura (NS), Billy Barew’s Beer Bar (Takadanobaba review); Tail’s Ale House (Google map; Not on map yet)
• Tokyo: Bacchus, Towers Standing Bar (NS), Belgian Beer Cafe, Hasegawa (Yaesu shopping mall, North exit, Tokyo station)
• Shimbashi: Dry Dock (NS), Nagano Sake, Cooper’s Ale House (Not on map yet)

Non-Yamanote – West Tokyo

• Shinjukugyoenmae: Bamboo (Opening hours; Google Map – B1) (NS) (WIFI)
• Shimokitazawa: Ushi Tora (NS – Ushi Tora 2), Beer Rock
• Kichijoji: Bicke
• Yoyogi: Tanne
• Mejijingu-mae/Omotesando: Cafe Ano (WIFI – ask for password)
• Harajuku: Taproom (NS)
• Nakameguro: Hatos Bar, Taproom (NS) (WIFI)
• Sangenjaya: Pigalle (Google Maps) – new bar from Yamada-san of Cheers open June 20th. Rather generic taps but a few nice Belgian and German bottles (Radebergar Pilsner is very good). Hopefully they will have craft beer on tap as guest beer soon.
• Senzoku: Pangaea
• Jiyugaoka: Clan, O’Carolans, Speyside Way
• Mukogaokayuen: Craft Beer Moonlight (NS)
• Musashi Kousugi: McCanns
• Machida: Copa (coupon), Trafalgar
• Kokubunji: Gambrinus (NS)
• Kamishakuji: Asaya’s Bar
• Kanamecho: Cat & Cask (NS) Closed until mid August 2010
• Naka-Itabashi: Riverside
• Oyama/Itabashi-Kuyakusho-mae: Oasis 5
• Ogawamachi, Saitama: Craft Beer

Non-Yamanote – East Tokyo

• Tennozu Isle: TY Harbour
• Roppongi: Abbot’s Choice, Berndt’s, August Beer Club, Ginga Kogen (in the small back street behind the B hotel; not on map above), Belg Aube Belgian Beer Cafe (not on map yet)
• Nogizaka: Kimono Wine Bar (new location)
• Kamiyacho:  Brussels (English)
• Akasaka Mitsuke: Delirium, 82 Ale House, Belgian Beer Cafe, Bois Cereste
• Iidabashi: La Cachette
• Kagurazaka: Billy Barew’s Beer Bar (Takadanobaba review)
• Toranomon: Delirium
• Toyosu: Belg Aube Belgian Beer Cafe (not on map yet)
• Hibiya: Town Cryer
• Ginza: Bulldog (partial NS), JS Lennep, Baden Baden, Belgian Beer Cafe, Ginza Brewery, Houblon Belgian Bar
• Hongo Sanchome: Tail’s Ale House (Google map; Not on map yet)
• Ryogoku: Popeye (NS)
• Maihama (Tokyo Disney Resort): Harvestmoon Brewery Roti’s House

Yokohama Direction

• Yokohama:  Thrash Zone (NS), Cheers (NS), Green Sheep, Glass Dance Belgian Bar
• Sakuragicho/Bashamichi: Yokohama Brewery & Pivovar
• Tennocho: Pivo
• Kannai: Craft Beer Bar (NS), Rockwells (Izakaya)
• Ishikawacho: Green Charcoal Grill & Bar
• Fujisawa: Century Break
• Tsurumi: Great German Cook

The page is not meant to list every bar in Tokyo/Yokohama. Rowdy gaijin bars, meat markets, bars with rude staff, bars which have nothing more than Kirin + Guinness, etc are not included here. No bars have paid or offered any incentives to be included on this list.

Tokyo/Yokohama listings removed from BIJ

• Christon Cafe: No longer has good beer
• Cataratas: The only bar where I’ve had bad condition beer three times
• JHA Bar: Rude management, and the single beer I had was also in bad condition
• Failte: Dangerously undercooked food – I don’t want to send people where they could get food poisoning!
• Town Cryer, Kamiyacho: Closed