The Tokyo Traveler

The Japanese love their beer, the top five breweries in Japan shipped 216.72 million cases of beer, about 7.8 billion 350ml (12 oz) beers, in the first half of 2008. The top four brands, Asahi, Kirin, Suntory & Sapporo hold a combined 99.3% of market share based on the volume shipped.
Asahi Breweries tower over the other brewers with a 37.5% market share. Asahi Super Dry is the beer of choice in my home so it must be good! The Asahi Breweries Headquarters Building, one of the more unusual landmarks on the Tokyo skyline, is well worth seeing …read more

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In Tokyo, many bars and restaurants offer a service known as bottle keep to their regular customers. As the name implies, if you order a bottle of liquor and are unable to finish it, the restaurant or bar will label it with the Kanji or Katakana (if you are a foreigner) characters for your name and “keep” it for you until you return. It’s a great way for businesses to ensure a return visit from you as they have your alcohol!
To give you an idea of why this type of service is popular, consider that a typical …read more

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The Japan Craft Beer Association is hosting the 11th annual Great Beer Festival. What will you find there? Why, beer, and lots of it!
For Y4,800 (Y4,300 in advance) you can sample 1.7 ounce portions of 120 different micro brewed beers in the Garden Hall at Yebisu Garden Place. Beers are separated into 76 beer styles in 12 categories so you are bound to find one that you like! You might even get to taste the next big beer as all beers showcased at the Great Beer Festival are required to be on sale currently or within …read more

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Located in the Asakusa area and built in 1989 the 22 story Asahi Brewery Headquarters building is said to capture the essence of a sudsy glass of beer. The adjoining Asahi Super Dry Hall was designed by the noted French designer Philippe Starck and the “Flaming Ornament” on the roof is a symbol of Asahi Breweries’ dynamic heart according to the Asahi Breweries web site.
If you are craving a beer after seeing the building from a distance just head over to the Asahi Super Dry Hall where a variety of bars and restaurants can be found.

The “Flaming Ornament” is …read more

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