Located in Morioka, Baeren Brewery started making beer in 2001 using equipment shipped over from Germany, some of which is 100 years old. They also have their own beer pub, make the excellent Baeren Classic, and are about to start their Baeren Beer Series 2009 – three monthly deliveries of beer, starting September 2009. Check out the brewery yourself as Beer in Japan goes inside the brewery.

The only bar in Takadanobaba with good beer, Billy Barew’s is a small friendly place with over 20 years of history. Wish they had some Japanese craft beers here though…

Feel like making your own beer? It’s not so difficult – but how do you go about it in Japan? Where do you get equipment and supplies? This article is a brief introduction to the subject of homebrewing in Japan.

You’d expect to find a wealth of good bars in bustling Shinjuku, but not so. Frigo may not have hoppy IPAs and Japanese craft beers, but it has a great selection of Belgians, and some German beers too.

Good beer with decent food – but more importantly, the only bar in Kichijoji with craft beer that opens reliably. Bicke is worth seeking out, especially after a hot day in the nearby park.

Maltan is a relaxed basement bar with 6 or 7 beers on tap, a good range of Japanese bottles, and decent prices. It can get a bit smoky at times, but it’s still my favourite bar in the Kanda area.

There’s a void of decent bars around the north east of the Yamanote line. O’Connell is a standard Irish theme pub with the surprise of some decent Japanese craft beers on bottle and one guest tap.

A small hard to find bar under the JR tracks in Shimbashi, Dry Dock serves some excellent beers at reasonable prices, and always in good condition.

Just under 20 beers on tap with a killer Cornish Pastie and excellent British music to boot. And it’s smoke free. One of my favourite bars in Tokyo.

Two bars for the price of one in Shimokitazawa, with a combined total of over 30 different beers – but it’s Ushi Tora 2 that makes this place special.