The scorching heat of Japan's summers makes a drink of refreshing beer with friends almost like a seasonal rite of passage. Beer gardens are excellent spots to hold such events in, and many of such places pop up for a limited time during summer to cater to the trend.
The beer gardens highlighted in this article can be found in well-known Tokyo department stores and are thus conveniently accessible for all, but especially among those seeking out an informal place to wind down after a hard day at work or sightseeing!
Beer isn't the only thing on their menus, too. Great-tasting food is available as well, and in helpings generous enough to fill up stomachs that have been emptied by shopping and sightseeing.
Without further ado, let's see what beer gardens do popular hotspots like Ikebukuro, Shibuya, and Asakusa have to offer!
■Tobu Department Store: Two beer gardens in a department store directly connected to Ikebukuro Station
Ikebukuro Station is easily accessible from both Narita Airport and Haneda Airport, and Tobu Department Store is directly connected to it. There are two distinctly different beer gardens here that you can choose to visit. Tobu Department Store is well-known for its cosmetics and fashion items, so whichever beer garden you pick, you can absolutely find the refreshment you need after all that hardcore shopping!
●Aozora Craft Beer Garden: Rooftop restaurant on the eighth floor
This charming and popular beer garden with an all-you-can-drink option is opened for business again this year. The spacious design allows beer connoisseurs to enjoy the warm summer breeze while downing a glass of cool and refreshing beer, a blissful experience made possible by the beer garden's prime rooftop location.
Last year's wildly well-received "Aozora Craft Beer Garden BBQ Course" is making a powered-up reappearance. The course contains galbi (Korean BBQ ribs), pork back ribs, chicken neck meat, sausages, yakisoba (fried buckwheat noodles), and other delightful BBQ treats, making it an excellent choice for groups of family, friends, or colleagues having a get-together.
Needless to say, the course comes with edamame (boiled soybeans) as well, a side dish that is practically synonymous with beer drinking in Japanese culture. Thinking of switching things up and having your beer garden BBQ party in the day instead? Inquire in advance for a reservation and your wish may just come true. While you're here, don't forget to check out their collection of the hottest craft beer in town as well!
"Aozora Craft Beer Garden BBQ Course"
・Comes with all-you-can-drink option for two hours - 3,480 yen (tax included) per person
・Galbi, pork back ribs, chicken neck meat, sausages, yakisoba, edamame
・All-you-can-drink options: Draft beer, keg draft beer, highballs, sours, wines, cocktails, soft drinks
Open: Monday, April 1 – Sunday, October 27, 2019
Hours:
Monday, April 1 – Sunday, April 21
11 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (BBQ last starting time 6:00 p.m.)
Monday, April 22 – Monday, September 30
11 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. (BBQ last starting time 9:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, October 1 – Sunday, October 27
11 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (BBQ last starting time 6:00 p.m.)
*Lunchtime beer garden BBQ is available. Customers who made reservations before the day itself will be given priority.
●Fiery Bulgogi VS Soul Hotpot: Rooftop beer garden on the 16th floor
Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro's summer-only beer garden, Fiery Bulgogi VS Soul Hotpot can be found on the 16th floor of the building and seats up to 500 in an expansive area, making it a prime choice for those wanting to enjoy their beer at leisure.
The bulgogi or hotpot set meals here are especially popular among the female crowd. One of the beer garden's more unusual features is that family with minor children are welcome, so if you've been bringing the kids around on a shopping spree and want to feast on a hearty meal together, you can absolutely include this beer garden as an option.
Besides its child-friendly reputation, the restaurant also has special rates for ladies and offers a ladies' night out package that comes with free soft drinks when reservations are made online.
Choose between two types of toppings for your main meal: "Secret Spicy Sauce" or "Szechuan Sauce". For pints, this will be the first time the garden is serving Asahi Premium Draft Beer "Jukusen" and Tokyo Sumidagawa Bluing (Amber Time) in addition to their regular fare.
Fiery Bulgogi Pork Set (Per Person)
・Men: 3,500 yen
・Women: 3,300 yen
・Children Below 12: 1,500 yen
*Free-of-charge for children below five
Fiery Bulgogi Beef Set (Per Person)
・Men: 3,800 yen
・Women: 3,500 yen
・Children Below 12: 1,800 yen
*Free-of-charge for children below five
Soul Hotpot Set (Per Person)
・Adult: 3,800 yen
・Children Below 12: 1,800 yen
*Free-of-charge for children below five
Open: Wednesday, April 24 – Sunday, September 1
*Except Wednesday, August 21 as the department store will be closed.
*Closed on days with inclement weather.
・Hours: 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
*Final entry time is 9:00 p.m.
*Last order for a la carte and drinks is 10:00 p.m.
■Kawara Garden Tokyu Department Store Toyoko: Beer garden with a festive theme directly accessible from Shibuya Station!
Shibuya is one of Japan's busiest downtown areas, and the station bearing its name is a central hub of popular and beloved shops, from established names like Tokyu Department Store Toyoko to trendier shops that appeal to youngsters.
Right inside this department store is where you can find Kawara Garden - an interesting beer garden with a festive theme. The shop is set up by Kawara Cafe, an eatery known for its overall Japanese-style decor.
Because the beer garden is connected to the cafe, some also view it as a seasonal addition to the original shop. The festive mood created by the interior design is appealing to virtually everyone, and the menu is packed with items that reflect latest food trends.
To drive home the garden's festive theme, you'll be able to order food patterned after the usual outdoor street food fare being sold at actual festivals in Japan, such as roasted corn, hot dogs, yakisoba, spare ribs, mutton hot plate, and more! Now you can experience what a Japanese festival feels like right within Tokyo itself.
Spare Ribs & Roast Beef 10 Items (All-You-Can-Eat-and-Drink) Course
・Price: 4,800 yen per person (tax included)
・Duration: 2.5 hours in June and September, 2 hours in July and August (last order 30 minutes before closing time)
Spare Ribs & Roast Beef 10 Items (All-You-Can-Drink) Course
・Price: 4,300 yen per person (tax included)
・Duration: 2.5 hours in June and September, 2 hours in ・July and August (last order 30 minutes before closing time)
Food List:
- Chilled cucumber
- Edamame
- Hotdog
- Deep-fried takoyaki (octopus balls)
- Roasted corn
- Buttered french fries
- Spare ribs
- Roast beef
- Yakisoba
- Ice-cream
Jingisukan Hot Plate 9 Items (All-You-Can-Eat-and-Drink) Course
・Price: 4,300 yen per person (tax included)
・Duration: 2.5 hours in June and September, 2 hours in July and August (last order 30 minutes before closing time)
Jingisukan Hot Plate 9 Items (All-You-Can-Drink) Course
・Price: 3,800 yen per person (tax included)
・Duration: 2.5 hours in June and September, 2 hours in July and August (last order 30 minutes before closing time)
Food List:
- Chilled cucumber
- Edamame
- Hotdog
- Deep-fried takoyaki (octopus balls)
- Roasted corn
- Buttered french fries
- Mutton hot plate
- Yakisoba
- Ice-cream
・Until Monday, September 23
・Tokyu Department Store Toyoko South Wing Rooftop, Kawara Garden (access from West Wing 9F)
・Hours (Closed on rainy days)
Weekdays: 4:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Weekends and public holidays: Noon – 10:30 p.m.
*Last order: 10:00 p.m.
*Opens from 3:00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays during July and August
■Ekimise's Nairyo Halle Terrace Ekibia Skytree View: Directly connected to Asakusa Station with an excellent view of Tokyo Skytree
Asakusa Ekimise is a shopping complex with a good mix of retail spaces ranging from fashion boutiques to restaurants. The building's rooftop plaza, known as Asakusa Halle Terrace, is where the Nairyo Halle Terrace Ekibia Skytree View BBQ beer garden - AKA Asakusa Ekibia - is located.
Asakusa is a popular downtown district frequented by local and international visitors alike, and Asakusa Halle Terrace is a well-known hotspot for admiring the iconic Tokyo Skytree at a very close distance.
This makes the terrace one of the rare few places you can enjoy a night time barbecue with glittering city lights and the Skytree looming over you in the background. It's an experience that is bound to leave tons of great memories behind for your trip.
Ladies, if you make a reservation for a ladies' night out package online, you'll be given a free blackcurrant sorbet. For customers who visit the shop in jinbei (Japanese-style summer clothes for men) or yukata (Japanese-style summer clothes for ladies), the beer garden will have a special free treat prepared for you as well!
Ekibia BBQ Course (Casual)
1) Side dish set (shrimps boiled in salt water, smoked duck, rolled eggs, macaroni fries)
2) BBQ set (casual)
- Pork galbi (local)
- Bacon
- Beef galbi (US)
- Sausages
- Assorted vegetables
3) All-you-can-drink (120 minutes)
3,980 yen (tax included) *3,685 yen (tax excluded)
Ekibia BBQ Course (Standard)
1) Side dish set (boiled shrimps, smoked duck, rolled eggs, macaroni fries)
2) BBQ set (standard)
- Beef galbi (local/US)
- Bacon
- Pork galbi (local)
- Sausages
- Assorted vegetables
3) All-you-can-drink (120 minutes)
4,380 yen (tax included) *4,056 yen (tax excluded)
Ekibia BBQ Course (All-You-Can-Eat)
1) Side dish set (boiled shrimps, smoked duck, rolled eggs, macaroni fries)
2) BBQ set (all-you-can-eat)
- Beef galbi (local/US)
- Pork galbi (local)
- Bacon
- Sausages
- Assorted vegetables
3) All-you-can-drink (150 minutes)
4,980 yen (tax included) *4,612 yen (tax excluded)
・Monday, May 20 – Sunday, September 1, 2019
*Fully booked on Saturday, July 27, 2019 due to the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.
Weekdays: 5:00 p.m.. – 10:00 p.m. (last order 9:00 p.m.)
・Weekends and public holidays: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (last order 2:00 p.m.), 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (last order 9:00 p.m.)
Nairyo Halle Terrace Ekibia Skytree View (inquiries): 03-3842-5755 (noon – 9:00 p.m.)
- Area
- Category
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.
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