Make Baseball Games Even Better: A Guide to Local Craft Beer at Stadiums Across Japan

• Table of Contents
• Japan’s Unique Stadium Culture: Vendors, Chants & Local Beer
• Classic Stadium Beers: 4 Fan-Favorite Brands to Try
• ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO
• Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi
• Belluna Dome
• ZOZO Marine Stadium
• Kyocera Dome Osaka
• MIZUHO PayPay Dome FUKUOKA
• Where to Buy Baseball Tickets: Tickets in Japan
• Enjoy Baseball Even More with Great Beer
• Related Articles

Japan’s Unique Stadium Culture: Vendors, Chants & Local Beer

When you step into a baseball stadium in Japan, the first thing that catches your eye is the sight of "sales girls" dressed in colorful uniforms and carrying large barrels on their backs.

The sight of these ladies carrying kegs weighing approximately 15 kg on their backs, breezily climbing up and down the stairs and pouring beer with smiles on their faces, is a sight that can only be seen at a Japanese ballpark. This hospitality of having ice-cold draft beer delivered to your hands while you are still seated in your seats has attracted a lot of attention from overseas.

Ono Karin (left) and Karin (right) work as vendors at MIZUHO PayPay Dome FUKUOKA.

Recently, in addition to the standard beers from major manufacturers, a growing number of "stadium-exclusive craft beers" that highlight the unique characteristics of each region have been released, adding even more enjoyment to stadium viewing for beer lovers.

In this article, Tickets in Japan , a website that handles baseball tickets, will introduce recommended beers at each stadium.

Classic Stadium Beers: 4 Fan-Favorite Brands to Try

Photo by Pixta

Japanese baseball stadiums offer a wide selection of internationally renowned national brands, which can be easily purchased from the many concession stands and vendors. To help you enjoy watching the game even more, we will introduce the characteristics of the major manufacturers you will often see at the stadium.

Asahi Breweries

The brand's signature product, "Super Dry," is known for its dry, crisp taste. It boasts a leading market share at many baseball stadiums and is synonymous with stadium beer in Japan. Originating in Osaka, the company has factories across the country, ensuring that fresh beer is always supplied to stadiums around the country. At the "Asahi Beer Museum" in Osaka(Suita) and the "Super Dry Museum" in Ibaraki, you can enjoy tastings and tours of the manufacturing process, which utilizes the latest technology.

Kirin Beer

It is famous for its "Ichiban Shibori" beer, which uses only the first-pressed malt extract, and its well-balanced flavor, which brings out the original aroma and flavor of the barley, is a perfect match for stadium gourmet. Founded in Yokohama, it now has nine factories across the country, including Sendai and Nagoya , so you can enjoy the taste of local ingredients from each region. Guided tours are held at each factory, and tasting the ingredients and learning how to pour the beer deliciously are popular.

Sapporo Beer

This brand is known for its rich flavor and satisfying taste, thanks to its careful selection of malt and hops. Many baseball stadiums serve everything from standard brands to the premium "Yebisu." As the name suggests, it originated in Sapporo , Hokkaido , and the "Sapporo Classic," a beer exclusive to the region, is a must-have at local baseball stadiums. The "Sapporo Beer Museum" in Sapporo is Japan's only beer museum, and is a tourist attraction where you can sample the beer while learning about its history.

Sapporo Beer Garden

542-1 Toiso, Eniwa City, Hokkaido 061-1405

Suntory

The creamy foam and gorgeous aroma of beers like "The Premium Malt's," brewed using natural spring water, are their biggest features. They are chosen by fans who want to feel a little more luxurious, even at the stadium. With their headquarters in Osaka and major breweries in Kyoto and Tokyo, they offer tours at each of their natural spring water breweries. Their tours, which allow you to learn more about their thorough commitment to ingredients, are highly popular with beer fans both in Japan and overseas.

ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO

© H.N.F.

ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO , a vast ballpark in Hokkaido , is the world's first stadium to have a craft beer brewery inside the stadium.

When it comes to Hokkaido's must-try beer, Sapporo Classic is the one to go for. This 100% malt beer is only available in Hokkaido. It's immensely popular as a local soul drink, and is even served at the brewery, making it a must-try drink for anyone visiting Hokkaido.

Local & Craft Beers You Can Try at the Stadium: Sora Shiba by Yona Yona Ale

© H.N.F.

At the brewery "Sora Shiba" located behind the center back screen, beer is brewed every day, even on days when there are no games. Their signature brand, "Play Ball! Ale," is a rare drink that can only be enjoyed here. From the rooftop of the restaurant, where brewing tanks are lined up, you can enjoy freshly brewed beer while watching the game.

Get ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO Baseball Tickets

Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi

© Rakuten Eagles

Located in Sendai, the stadium is known for its extensive lineup of craft beers, which it offers in collaboration with microbreweries from all over Tohoku.

Additionally, Sendai is home to Kirin Beer's huge manufacturing base (Sendai Factory). The beer served at the stadium is extremely fresh, delivered directly from this factory. The short transportation time means that the beer has less oxidation, allowing customers to enjoy the crispness and aroma that only beacons delivered directly from the factory can offer.

Local & Craft Beers You Can Try at the Stadium: Eagles Beer

It is developed as the team's original brand, and works with breweries in six Tohoku prefectures to offer a variety of styles.

For example, Eagles Beer Golden Lager, brewed in collaboration with Fukushima Prefecture's Michinoku Fukushima Beer, is a standard beer characterized by its light color and clean taste. On the other hand, Eagles Beer Ballpark IPA, a collaboration with Aomori Prefecture's Be Easy Brewing, is an extremely easy-to-drink beer with a fruity aroma and refreshing bitterness. As you can see, the local beers available at the stadium have a wide variety of characteristics and personalities.

Buy Rakuten Eagles Tickets at Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi

Belluna Dome

When it comes to beer in Saitama, the most famous is COEDO Beer, a leading Japanese craft beer brand based in Kawagoe that is now loved all over the world. COEDO is made by artisans using carefully selected ingredients (such as brands made with sweet potatoes) and meticulous brewing techniques, resulting in a sophisticated taste.

Meanwhile, the Belluna Dome, which is characterized by its semi-outdoor structure surrounded by lush nature, is attracting attention for its partnership with international craft beer brands, which is not seen at other baseball stadiums.

Local & Craft Beers You Can Try at the Stadium: Lions Elvis

The Belluna Dome is home to Els Craft, the official bar of BrewDog, the world-famous British craft beer brand. BrewDog operates its own bars around the world and is known for its innovative recipes and challenging brand stance. It is extremely rare for such an official bar to be permanently installed in a Japanese professional baseball stadium, making it a rare spot even within the country.

Unlike typical stadium beers, this beer has an "overseas style" flavor with a strong hop aroma and rich barley flavor that you can enjoy while watching the game. It has been adjusted to be easy to drink even for craft beer beginners, so it's also appealing for those who usually prefer lagers to try it.

Get SEIBU Lions Tickets at Belluna Dome

ZOZO Marine Stadium

© C.L.M.

Located next to Tokyo Bay and with a pleasant sea breeze blowing through, ZOZO Marine Stadium offers beer that has its roots in the local area of ​​Makuhari, where the stadium is located.

Also popular in this area is the local beer "Chiba Lager." It is characterized by its well-balanced taste, and is made with a lot of effort to capture the local flavor, using malt produced in Chiba in particular, and sometimes local specialties as a secret ingredient. While pursuing the "golden clarity" and "smooth throat feel" that are typical of lager beer, it also has the richness that you would expect from a microbrewery.

Local & Craft Beers You Can Try at the Stadium: Marines Beer

This is the team's original craft beer, developed in collaboration with Makuhari Brewery, located close to the stadium. The particularly popular Marines Pale Ale is made with a generous amount of American-style hops and features a refreshing citrus aroma. It has a crisp flavor that is perfect for drinking while taking in the open feeling unique to outdoor stadiums and feeling the sea breeze of Makuhari.

Buy Chiba Lotte Marines Tickets at ZOZO Marine Stadium

Kyocera Dome Osaka

© ORIX Buffaloes

Minoh Beer is a famous local beer in Osaka . Minoh Beer is made using unfiltered and unheated methods, allowing the yeast to remain live and fresh down the throat, bringing out the rich aroma of the original ingredients. Their signature Stout is characterized by its roasted malt aroma reminiscent of coffee and chocolate, and its smooth mouthfeel. It has won numerous gold medals at the global beer competition, the World Beer Cup, and its surprisingly dry and easy-to-drink aftertaste has made it a favorite with beer fans around the world.

Tips for Enjoying Beer at the Ballpark

Located in the urban area of ​​Osaka, Kyocera Dome Osaka is home to a lineup of brands from Japan's leading beer manufacturers, allowing you to enjoy the different flavors of each beer while watching the game.

Inside the stadium, you'll find a wide variety of stadium gourmet dishes, such as takoyaki and kushikatsu, made with plenty of sauce, that are unique to Osaka, the "city of gourmets." The combination of these richly flavored dishes with a well-chilled draft beer is the simplest and most classic way to enjoy a game.

Get ORIX Buffaloes Tickets at Kyocera Dome Osaka

MIZUHO PayPay Dome FUKUOKA

© SoftBank HAWKS

MIZUHO PayPay Dome FUKUOKA is a vast dome stadium with Japan's first retractable roof, and together with the adjacent entertainment complex "BOSS E ZO FUKUOKA," it forms one of the largest leisure areas in Kyushu.

Fukuoka's famous beer is "FUKUOKA CRAFT." This craft beer is brewed at a brewery in Daimyo, in the center of Fukuoka City, and is characterized by its fruity and sophisticated flavor, primarily pale ale. It is made to be refreshing and easy to drink, with consideration given to its compatibility with stadium cuisine made with the rich ingredients of Kyushu.

Local & Craft Beers You Can Try at the Stadium: Baridekappu (1 liter beer)

*This image is not an actual product image of "Baridekappu", but an image of a different beer sold inside the stadium.

This is a specialty menu item that symbolizes Fukuoka's love of festivals. It's not the brand itself that's unique, but the way it's served, with beer served in an extra-large 1-liter cup, roughly twice the size of a regular cup. The volume is impressive, making it one of the largest in any baseball stadium in Japan, and it's not only satisfying to drink, but also makes for great memories at the stadium and makes for great photos.

*Please check the official website for the sales period.

Buy SoftBank HAWKS Tickets at MIZUHO PayPay Dome

Where to Buy Baseball Tickets: Tickets in Japan

Book Official NPB Tickets on Tickets in Japan

Enjoy Baseball Even More with Great Beer

(Left) "Draft beer with a mug featuring the player's jersey number" (Right) "Hakata Guruguru Torikawa"

There are many ways to enjoy baseball stadiums in Japan, including the service of vendors who allow you to order from your seat in the stadium, and restaurants within the stadium.

Not only will you be excited by the game, but taking the time to choose a drink that can only be enjoyed in that place and at that stadium will make your baseball watching experience even deeper and richer. Secure your tickets through Tickets in Japan and experience the special "drink" that is unique to Japanese ballparks.

Related Articles