Sapporo Beer Museum Revisited 2023

Sapporo Beer Museum Revisited 2023

The first time we visited the Sapporo Beer Museum (サッポロビール博物館) was last April 17, 2022. During that visit, we toured the museum and learned about the history of Sapporo Beer. We revisited Sapporo Beer Museum last February 4, 2023. It was my 460th day here in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. What’s new about our revisit was that it wasn’t solely to check out the museum but to try the famed jingisukan in the Sapporo Beer Garden which is part of the museum. 

Sapporo Beer Museum 

(WINTER)

For those who missed out about the history of Sapporo Beer Museum, here’s some information about the history of the museum: 

Sapporo Beer Museum - Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture

Following the establishment of the Hokkaido Development Commission in 1869, the Meiji government actively promoted agricultural and industrial growth. In 1876, they recruited Murahashi Hisanari and Nakagawa Seibei—who had studied beer brewing techniques in Germany—to create the "Hokkaido Beer Brewery" as a model government factory. This brewery was located where the Sapporo Factory now stands. 

Welcome to サッポロビール博物館

Beer barrel sign (restored). What does it say?

One of the entrances to the Sapporo Beer Garden

Kabuto Chimney

After the Hokkaido Development Commission was dissolved, the brewery came under the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce and was renamed "Sapporo Beer Brewery" in 1884. By 1886, the brewery was acquired by Okura Kihachiro’s Okura Shokai (Okura Zaibatsu), and in the following year, it was taken over by Shibusawa Eiichi and others, who founded the "Sapporo Beer Company," now known as Sapporo Beer.

Photos inside Sapporo Beer Museum

The giant brewery Walt Pan

Sapporo Beer Garden

Trying out Sapporo Beer Garden's famed jingisukan

Sapporo Beer Garden's Kessel Hall

The Sapporo Beer Museum is housed in a historic brick building that was originally a sugar factory established in 1890 by Sapporo Sugar Co., Ltd., founded in 1888. The sugar company faced difficulties with raw material procurement and eventually went bankrupt. In 1903, the expanding beer factory purchased the brick building to use as a malt factory. After renovations, the building operated as a factory until 1965. 

Team Nicerio revisits the Sapporo Beer Museum

In 1966, to mark Sapporo Beer’s 90th anniversary, the facility was transformed into the Kaitakushi Beer Memorial Museum, and the Sapporo Beer Garden was added. Despite earlier plans for demolition, efforts to preserve the building gained traction, leading to the opening of the Sapporo Beer Museum in 1987. Although the Agency for Cultural Affairs offered to designate it as an Important Cultural Property, the company declined, preferring to manage preservation independently. The building underwent complete renovations in 2004 and 2016.

Sapporo Beer Museum Admission Fee

Heads up, there is a parking fee

It's FREE to enter and explore Sapporo Beer Museum but if you want the guided tour, you need to pay 500 yen. However, I highly recommend that you bring money as there are plenty of souvenirs worth buying in the souvenir store. Aside from that, the Sapporo Beer Garden is also next to the museum. You should try out its famed jingisukan. 

Sapporo Beer Museum Operating Hours

Sapporo Beer Museum is open from 11AM - 6PM. It's closed on Mondays (or the following day on Monday is a national holiday.)

Why visit the Sapporo Beer Museum?

The Sapporo Beer Museum is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in Japan’s brewing history and cultural heritage. Housed in a historic brick building originally constructed as a sugar factory in 1890, the museum offers a deep dive into the origins and evolution of Sapporo Beer, Japan's oldest beer brand. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits on the brewing process, sample a variety of Sapporo beers at the museum's beer hall, and enjoy the architectural charm of the preserved factory. The museum also hosts special events and exhibitions, making each visit a unique experience. Combining historical insight with tasting opportunities, the Sapporo Beer Museum provides a rich and engaging experience in the heart of Sapporo. 

Getting to Sapporo Beer Museum

 

To reach the Sapporo Beer Museum from Sapporo Station, follow these steps:

1. By Subway:

From Sapporo Station, take the Tozai Line (Blue Line) of the Sapporo Subway.

Travel towards Miyanosawa Station and get off at Kita-Juni-Jo Station (the 4th stop from Sapporo Station).

Take the 1st exit from the station, and you’ll be about a 10-minute walk to the Sapporo Beer Museum. Follow the signs and the pedestrian pathways to reach your destination.

2. By Bus:

From Sapporo Station, you can take a bus from the Sapporo Station Bus Terminal.

Take the Shiyakusho-mae Bus Stop route and alight at the Sapporo Beer Museum-mae bus stop.

The museum is a short walk from the bus stop.

3. By Taxi:

Taxis are readily available at Sapporo Station. The ride to the Sapporo Beer Museum takes about 10-15 minutes, depending on traffic.

4. By Foot:

If you prefer walking, it’s approximately a 30-minute walk from Sapporo Station to the Sapporo Beer Museum. Head east on Sapporo Station’s main street, and follow signs to the museum.

Ratings

Crowd

Cleanliness

Overall rating