Sapporo Beer Hokkaido Brewery

The Sapporo Beer Hokkaido Brewery in Eniwa, located about 30 kilometers south of Sapporo, is the working production facility and heritage center of Japan’s oldest beer brand, which traces its origins to 1876 when German-trained brewmaster Seibei Nakagawa established Hokkaido’s first brewery with the island’s exceptionally pure water and high-quality barley. This facility continues that tradition on an industrial scale while welcoming visitors for tours and tastings.

The brewery complex includes a museum chronicling Sapporo Beer’s 150-year history, with original brewing equipment, vintage advertising, and archival photographs documenting how beer became woven into Hokkaido’s identity. Guided factory tours observe the modern brewing process through glass-enclosed walkways, from the gleaming copper kettles of the brew house to the filling lines where millions of cans and bottles are produced daily.

The highlight for most visitors is the post-tour tasting room, where fresh Kaitakushi beer — brewed to the original 1876 recipe using traditional methods — is poured alongside the standard Sapporo Classic range. The brewery’s beer garden restaurant serves Jingisukan (grilled Hokkaido lamb) and local seafood dishes designed to complement the brewery’s flagship styles. A visit pairs well with nearby Lake Shikotsu or the Historical Village of Hokkaido in Nopporo Forest Park, making Eniwa a rewarding stop on any itinerary through central Hokkaido.