[Kobe City] "Kirin Beer Kobe Factory" Factory tour in search of delicious first squeezed sake!

• Table of Contents
• Take the Rugger Bus to the factory! On weekends, there is also a bus from Sannomiya.
• Discover the secret of its deliciousness with the "Special experience only available at the factory: Kirin Ichiban Shibori Deliciousness Experience Tour"
• Finally, a seminar on the deliciousness of Ichiban Shibori
• Get limited edition souvenirs at the Kirin Factory Shop
• basic information

Take the Rugger Bus to the factory! On weekends, there is also a bus from Sannomiya.

A tour of a brewery allows you to learn where and how delicious beer is made.

In Kobe, there is the Kirin Beer Kobe Factory, where the "Special Factory-Only Experience: Kirin Ichiban Shibori Deliciousness Tour" is held. The tour is held almost every day except Mondays and the New Year holidays, but we recommend making reservations early, especially on weekends. The Kirin Beer Kobe Factory is located in Kita-ku, Kobe City. It is about a 4-minute drive from the Rokko Kita Toll Road "Kobe-Sanda IC" or the Chugoku Expressway "Kobe-Sanda IC".

If you are traveling with a non-beer drinker, a car is convenient, but if you are going to taste beer, you should use public transportation. There are free shuttle buses (commonly known as lager buses) available from Kobe Electric Railway Sanda Station, JR Sanda Station, and Kobe Electric Railway Flower Town Station.

To get to the bus stop, go out the ticket gates at JR Mita Station, turn left (South Exit), and go down the stairs on the left side of the station south plaza. There will be a sign just past the bus stop.

From Kobe Electric Railway Sanda Station, exit the ticket gate and turn left. Turn left at the corner of the police box and you will come to the bottom of the stairs leading from the south plaza of the station. Go past the bus stop and you will see the sign.

On weekends and holidays, there is one bus from the Shinki Bus Kobe Sannomiya Bus Terminal to the Kirin Beer Kobe Factory. It departs Sannomiya at 10:40 and takes about an hour to get there. The fare is 670 yen one way.

If you are a foreign visitors tourist visiting Japan, we recommend using the Shinki Bus "Hyogo Amazing Pass." For 2,500 yen a day, you can use the Shinki Bus route buses as much as you like, so you can get a good deal on your trip to the Kirin Beer Kobe Factory.

Details of the discount bus ticket "Hyogo Amazing Pass"

"Hyogo Amazing Pass" purchase site

Once you arrive, complete the procedures and wait for the tour to begin. There are photo spots within the facility, so you can take your time and enjoy yourself until it's time to start your tour.

Discover the secret of its deliciousness with the "Special experience only available at the factory: Kirin Ichiban Shibori Deliciousness Experience Tour"

There is a place to relax near the meeting point before the tour begins.

Here's a brief introduction to the "Special experience only available at the factory: Kirin Ichiban Shibori deliciousness experience tour."

As you move around the factory on the tour, you'll have special experiences such as watching immersive videos, tasting malt, and smelling the aroma of hops.

There is also a tasting of the first and second wort (both of which contain no alcohol). The original footage and explanations will draw you in to see things you may or may not have already known about.

The factory tour allows you to see the various processes.

You can enter a room designed to resemble a beer can and get a sense of the size of the fermentation and storage tanks.

Finally, a seminar on the deliciousness of Ichiban Shibori

First up is a glass of beer. A Kirin Brewery Draft Master, who has passed rigorous training and certification within the company, will pour each participant a glass of beer.

It's so delicious that I can't help but exclaim, "Ah, I'm so happy."

Next is the tasting. Three types of Ichiban Shibori series are served in a glass. We are taught how to taste them to enjoy their flavor.

Soft drinks and other refreshments are provided for drivers and those under the age of 20.

On weekends, there will be a tasting experience session for the much talked about Kirin Home Tap. You can try pouring and tasting using the actual server, so it's recommended for those who are considering buying it. For more information, please see the official website.

Get limited edition souvenirs at the Kirin Factory Shop

After enjoying the experience tour, enjoy shopping at the factory shop. Most of the products are original Kirin Factory Shop goods. What's more, there are plenty of exciting products.

First, we were given the "Ichiban Shibori special glass" during the tasting. After enjoying the delicious beer, we wanted one too.

The most popular item is the "Kaki-no-tane Cheese Flavor (5 pack)" which uses Kirin Brewery yeast, a product exclusive to the Kirin factory, which we also tried during the tasting. It's a true favorite, with many people buying it to take home after trying it. It also makes a great souvenir.

There are also lots of other fun things, including merchandise, so please come and visit, look, buy, and enjoy.

There is a restaurant called "Oka no Ue Beer Restaurant" inside the factory, so you can dine there before or after the tour. Of course, you can also drink delicious Kirin beer.

The "Special experience only available at the Kirin Beer Kobe Factory: Kirin Ichiban Shibori Deliciousness Tour." Learn in a fun way and experience the deliciousness. It's a tour that will make you fall in love with beer more and more.

(Writer: Ryuji Tsukamoto)

*This article is current as of July 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may be subject to change.

basic information

Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. Kobe Plant

Address: 2-1-1 Akamatsudai, Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 078-986-8001

Reception hours: 9:00-16:30 (excluding holidays) Tour reception hours: 9:20-15:10

Closed: Mondays (open on public holidays, closed the following weekday), equipment inspection days, and New Year's holidays

Cost: "Special experience only available at the factory. Kirin Ichiban Shibori deliciousness tour" participation fee: 500 yen (free for those under 19)

Access: (Car) From Kobe, take the Rokko Kita Toll Road and exit at Kobe-Sanda IC, then it's about 4 minutes. From Himeji, take the Bantan Link Road and exit at Fukusaki JCT, then exit at the Chugoku Expressway and exit at Kobe-Sanda IC, then it's about 4 minutes. (Lugger Bus) Take the free shuttle bus from JR, Shintetsu, and Sanda Station, then take the Lugger Bus, which is about 15 minutes away. (Local Bus) Shinki Bus operates from Kobe Sannomiya Bus Terminal to the Kirin Beer Kobe Factory Line (Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays only, 1 round trip).

Parking: Available (100 spaces)

Official website :