Ginza Lion
🍺 Tokyo’s Authentic Beer Hall
Ginza Lion is a beer garden located in Ginza district, at the center of Tokyo. With its English-mixed name, the Beer Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome is characterized by a friendly atmosphere and an Art Deco-inspired interior decoration preserved since 1934. Draft beer can be paired with Japanese and Western cuisines served in small dishes to share with friends.
Located in the historical center of Tokyo, Ginza Lion 7-chome’s brewery celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2024. It has been operating from day-one at the ground floor (1F) of a building that is now designated a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. Built in 1930, the 6-stories reinforced concrete structure was first the headquarter of the Dai Nippon Brewery, an organization gathering Japanese beer 🍺’s big 3 (Sapporo, Kirin et Asahi) of the time.
Then, the new Western concept of a beer hall was introduced in April 1934, at the beginning of the Showa era (1926 - 1989) under the name of Beer Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome. It came as a successor to the Yebisu Beer Hall, the 1rst beer garden in Japan, inaugurated in 1899 also in Ginza.
Japanese architect Eizo Sugawara (1892 - 1967) was in charge of the interior design. He decorated the walls with dark green and ocher ceramic tiles, and several glass mosaic murals. The large mural behind the counter is particularly mesmerizing, picturing joyful women collecting an abundant wheat harvest.
Ginza Lion’s building and Art Deco-inspired decoration are original, which is unusual in Tokyo. They were spared by WWII aerial bombings and fires 🔥 and requisitioned by the occupying Allies following the country’s surrender.
Therefore, well before the food, the place’s primary appeal is its old-fashioned, early 20th century Japan atmosphere, in a large room providing a laid-back yet refined ambiance. The whole 280-seats room is a non-smoking area, but a small closed space is available inside the bar for smokers.
The taste of draft beer
Nowadays, the Ginza Lion self-defines as the historical temple of draft beer in Tokyo. Elegantly suited bartenders master "The One-Stroke Pour," the traditional art of pouring the precious beverage in one go. The beer collar forms naturally as the beer is poured, which reduces its bitterness.
Ginza Lion is operated by the Sapporo Breweries company and its drinks menu includes:
- Sappporo’s lagers; as well as,
- Yebisu beer, ales and lagers; and,
- The non-filtered Shirohonoka beer, which is also one of Sapporo’s brands.
The German organic beer Edelpils is also on the list, as well as other alcoholic beverages, served in a glass, such as wine, nihonshu 🍶 and a few cocktails, some of which having a beer base.
Excessive drinking put your health at risk. Alcoholic beverages should be consumed in moderation.
The draft beer can be paired with a choice of dishes to share as appetizers, then eat at the brewery. Food includes:
- Simple and tasty Japanese cuisine, such as yakisoba fried noodles, karaage fried chicken, katsusando small breaded pork sandwiches and kushikatsu skewers;
- Western-style cuisine of German inspiration, with sausages, flammekueche, pretzels and various potato dishes; or of Italian inspiration with the popular Napolitan spaghetti and pizzas.
Slices of roasted beef, meat stew and greens are also available to eat at the bar.
For a proper lunch or dinner at Ginza Lion, a reservation can be made at one of the 3 restaurants available at the upper floors, with a choice among grilled meat specialties and Japanese fondues like sukiyaki and shabu-shabu.