[Himeji City] “Himeji Hatoya Beer” Craft beer made by a long-established kamaboko shop

• Table of Contents
• Close to the station, underground mall, open from morning ``Himeji Hatoya Beer Gran Festa Store''
• Introducing the popular “Himehato Beer”
• Beer that the people of Himeji can be proud of
• Useful information
• basic information

Close to the station, underground mall, open from morning ``Himeji Hatoya Beer Gran Festa Store''

Hatoya Co., Ltd. was founded in 1946 in Himeji, a city blessed with seafood and mountain produce. As a kamaboko specialty store, we are a company that protects and develops the taste of Himeji.

What we value is ``conveying the flavor of the ingredients, enriching the food, and being safe and secure.'' “Himeji Hatoya Beer” was born in July 2022 as a new challenge to enrich food. We mainly sell bottled beer, which goes well with not only our famous kamaboko, but also with everyday meals. It is also known as a souvenir from Himeji.

The trademark is a design of the ``dove'' of the company name ``Hatoya,'' which is named after the peace symbol that symbolizes the wish for peace. It is nicknamed ``Himehato Beer,'' which brings food happiness from Himeji.

Himehato Beer is available at some restaurants in the city, but on June 21, 2023, the long-awaited directly managed store ``Himeji Hatoya Beer Grand Festa Store'' will open. This is a standing-style restaurant where you can enjoy a quick drink, located in an underground mall directly connected to the station, regardless of the weather.

Business hours are from 10am to 8pm. Since you can drink from before noon, it seems to be crowded with tourists, people who come to enjoy their holidays, a meeting place before heading out to a restaurant, and of course people looking for a drink on their way home.

The number of taps is 8. ``Himeji Hatoya Beer'' has a lineup of 6 types of original standard beers and 2 types of limited beers that change irregularly.

Prices start from 700 yen per cup for medium size and 900 yen per cup for large size. They also plan to create a drink comparison menu (currently in preparation on June 21).

Of course, the snack that goes with beer is Hatoya's classic kamaboko.

``Hatoya Minced Fried'' and ``Hitokuchi Tempura'', which are popularly known as ``Hatomin''. Only Hatoya products are sold in the store, but you are also welcome to bring in items purchased at other Festa stores.

Right in front of you are Maruei Shoten, which sells prepared foods such as yakitori and fried chicken, and Onishi no Tamagoyaki, which sells baby castella.

Introducing the popular “Himehato Beer”

The open interior of the store, located on an underground corner lot, has a bright and clean L-shaped counter. With the beer taps lined up in front of you, you'll be wondering which one to drink from. Yes, worrying is also a time of happiness.

If it's your first time, start with a standard beer. There are 6 types of standard beers.

Three types will be released from September 2022: “PALE ALE,” “IPA (India Pale Ale),” and “WEIZEN.” ``PALE ALE'' has a refreshing taste, ``IPA'' has a pleasant firm bitterness, and ``WEIZEN'' has a soft texture with a slight bitterness.

All of them go well with Hatoya kamaboko.

IPA and Hatoya's popular products. Snack on products you've been familiar with since childhood.

“Hime SAISON,” “Himeji WHITE,” and “Tono GINGER” were released in conjunction with the opening of “Himeji Hatoya Beer Grand Festa Store.” It's a name that will please tourists as well.

When you think of princesses in Himeji, you think of Princess Sen. ``Hime SAISON'' is a saison beer originating from southern Belgium that uses multiple hops to create a deep flavor, and is a beer with a crisp taste inspired by Princess Sen.

``Tono GINGER'' is a dark beer. This beer is inspired by the ginger soy sauce that is essential to Himeji's famous Himeji oden, and has a harmonious balance of bitterness and ginger spiciness. It seems that ``Jakoten'' goes well with dark beer.

“Himeji WHITE” is, of course, a white beer inspired by Himeji Castle. I had one cup.

A refreshing drink. And a pleasant bitter aftertaste. I was surprised at how easy it was to drink. It's a beer you can drink quickly and want to refill on a hot summer day.

In addition to bottled beer and Hatoya kamaboko products, the store also sells beer by scales.

Standard beer lineup. We also sell chilled bottled beer.

Beer that Himeji people can be proud of

The brewery is attached to Hatoya's head office building in Hojoguchi.

There is a kamaboko direct sales shop on the first floor, and like the Gran Festa store, Himehato Beer also sells bottled beer and scales (special containers for carbonated drinks).

The beer factory is on the second floor. Six sake storage tanks are lined up, and Himehato beer is brewed here.

The person in charge of beer production is Soichiro Nishikawa (from Tatsuno City). After drinking craft beers from all over the country, he developed a love for beer and decided to try his hand at brewing beer. That's why we are passionate about making delicious beer.

``I want to make beer that the local people of Himeji can be proud of,'' he says. Himehato beer from Himeji Hatoya Beer, Himeji's new specialty, goes well with Himeji's famous nerimono. I'm looking forward to seeing how it spreads from now on.

(Writer Takashi Tsukamoto)

*This article is information as of June 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may change.

Useful information

Baggage storage service

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basic information

Himeji Hatoya Beer Grand Festa store

Address: 188-1 Ekimaecho, Himeji City (Grand Festa 2nd Avenue)

Phone number: 079-223-7774

Business hours: 10:00-20:00 (last order at 19:30)

Closed: Same as Gran Festa closure

Access: 1 minute walk from JR/Sanyo Train “Himeji Station”, 1 minute walk from Shinki Bus “Himeji Station (north exit)”

Official site here

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