When you think of a great place to enjoy a cold beer in Japan, "beer halls" always come to mind. But did you know this culture started in Ginza, Tokyo, and that Sapporo Beer is at the very heart of it?
It all began with a simple wish: “We want to bring people closer together. We want to create a place where everyone can forget their daily worries, laugh, and connect over a great beer.“
For over 120 years, Sapporo has been dedicated to this vision. Here is our story of creating Japan’s most beloved beer halls.
On August 4, 1899, the Yebisu Beer Hall opened its doors in Ginza, Tokyo. This was the first beer hall in Japan.
At the time, beer was considered a rare luxury item. To bring beer closer to the Japanese people, Kyohei Makoshi, the president of Japan Beer, came up with a brilliant idea to open a hall to promote Yebisu Beer. The main goal was to let everyone taste fresh, rich beer straight from the factory and experience its true quality.
The inside was a total contrast to traditional Japanese taverns. The interior featured a sleek nickel beer tap station, modern linoleum floors, and unique chairs and tables crafted from actual beer barrels. It was designed by Tsumaki Yorinaka, one of Japan’s leading modern architects of the era, making it an incredibly stylish and trendy spot.
At the time, a single bottle of beer was a massive treat, costing nearly five times more than a bowl of noodles or a cup of coffee. Yet, the beer hall was an instant sensation. It was packed from day one, and the staff had to put up a "Sold Out" sign every single evening.
Located on the second floor of a charming brick building, the cozy space was only about 1,400 square feet. Within a week, it was serving a massive 1,000 liters of fresh beer a day, welcoming an average of 800 customers. Some guests even traveled from far away by horse-drawn wagons just to get a taste. What started as a simple advertising project turned out to be a massive commercial successfully hitting two birds with one stone.
In 1918, Dainippon Beer opened the Ginza Beer Hall in Ginza 7-chome.
At the time, most beer halls in Japan were just temporary, simple wooden buildings. Even if the inside was decorated with nice paintings, the structures themselves were quite basic. The president, Kyohei Makoshi, wanted to change this completely. He dreamed of building a grand corporate headquarters with a truly luxurious beer hall on the first floor, a breathtaking "temple of beer."
His dream started to take shape when he visited a beautifully designed restaurant in Tokyo. Makoshi was amazed by its artistic style and immediately looked for the architect behind it. That architect was Eizo Sugawara.
Sugawara was a rising young talent inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, the legendary American architect who built Tokyo's Imperial Hotel. Sugawara believed that art should be a natural part of architecture. Deeply impressed by this vision, Makoshi asked Sugawara to design the new Ginza Beer Hall.
The construction took 14 months, and the grand building finally opened its doors on April 26, 1934. Today, this historic masterpiece is known as Beer Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome, and it welcomes guests just as warmly as it did nearly a century ago.
The interior theme of Beer Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome was "Harvest and Abundance." Eizo Sugawara chose this theme after listening to Kyohei Makoshi share his deep passion for beer halls. To Makoshi, a beer hall was not just a place that served great beer. He always said, “Pouring a perfect beer is important, but it is not enough. A true beer hall must be a place where people can open their hearts, forget their daily worries, laugh, and talk about a brighter tomorrow. That is the real power of beer.”
With this philosophy in mind, Sugawara designed a magnificent space in the heart of Ginza. It was designed as a space where people could enjoy a taste of modern Western culture while sharing good times together.
On April 26, 1934, the beer hall opened with great celebration. After a battle with lung illness, Makoshi passed away on April 20, 1933, just a year before the grand opening. Although he never got to see the completed hall with his own eyes, his beautiful vision lives on in every corner of the space today.
Japan’s Oldest Remaining Beer Hall “Lion Ginza 7-chome”
When the Ginza Beer Hall first opened on the ground floor of the Dainippon Beer headquarters, it was a true masterpiece. Built with exceptional craftsmanship and creative design, it received glowing praise from the public and top architects alike.
During World War II, countless beer halls across Japan were destroyed by air raids or torn down. Miraculously, this building survived the war completely untouched.
From September 11, 1945, to December 1951, the hall was taken over and used exclusively by the Allied Forces. After this period, it finally opened its doors back up to the public. Today, it proudly stands as Japan’s oldest remaining beer hall, still serving cold beers and creating happy memories just as it always has.
“Let’s build the greatest hall in the world! A true Japanese landmark that will last for generations.”
With this big dream, Makoshi, Sugawara, and their team put their hearts into every detail. To bring the theme of "Harvest and Abundance" to life, they decorated the entire hall with beautiful decorations of barley and grapes. Today, walking into the hall feels like stepping inside a beautiful, historic church. It is a truly special space filled with deep history and timeless beauty.
Inside the hall, you will find 12 beautiful glass mosaic murals. The largest one, right on the front, is a true historical treasure. It is famous for being the very first glass mosaic mural in Japan made entirely by Japanese artists.
This grand artwork tells a beautiful story. It shows women harvesting beer barley alongside rich, beautiful grapes, while an acanthus flower sits in the center to represent love and peace. If you look closely at the bottom right corner, you will see a blooming tritoma flower. This flower is the special "birth flower" for August 4, the exact day Japan's very first beer hall opened.
Beyond the murals, the entire room is a celebration of nature. The red brick walls represent the soil that grows rich crops. On both sides of the hall, the dark green tiles and tall columns look just like fields of barley reaching for the ceiling. Even the lights are inspired by beer bubbles, and the beautiful chandeliers are shaped like bunches of grapes. Every single corner brings the theme of "Harvest and Abundance" to life.
While the kitchen has been modernized over the years, nearly all the interior remains exactly as it was on opening day. For over 90 years, this space has been loved by generations of guests, and we are proud to still be open today.
On February 17, 2022, the Ginza Lion Building was officially designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. Also, as honored not just for its stunning architecture, but also for its historical value in keeping the rich history of Ginza alive.
At every Ginza Lion across Japan, the heart of our "Beer Hall Style" is a pure dedication to bringing out the full power of beer.
We never compromise on quality. From strict temperature control to our legendary, traditional "one-pour" technique, we treat every single glass with ultimate care. The speed and energy of our amazing staff are all for one simple goal: to serve you the freshest beer in its absolute perfect state. The lively, buzzing, yet completely comfortable atmosphere, where everyone in the room feels connected, is something you can only experience at Ginza Lion.
-Turning 20: The very first toast with my parents at Ginza Lion, the moment I fell in love with beer.
-.tarting my career: A toast with my boss after a long day, where we could finally open up and talk from the heart./p>
- Becoming a parent: Sharing a glass with my child, saying "Let’s make a toast," and looking toward their bright future.
- Overcoming hard times: A toast with close friends after a tough day, cheering each other to keep on trying./p>
- Remembering family: Gathering with relatives after my father’s memorial service, raising a glass of his favorite beer to turn beautiful memories into strength for the future..
“Beer is a true wonder for opening people’s hearts.”
This famous quote by Fukuzawa Yukichi, one of Japan’s greatest historical thinkers, perfectly captures the "power of beer" that Kyohei Makoshi truly believed in.
Known as the "Beer King of the Orient," Makoshi built Japan’s very first beer hall and laid the foundation for the country's beer culture. His incredible achievements easily earn him the title: "The Father of Japanese Beer Halls."
A place where people can connect beyond their backgrounds, and a space where everyone can talk about a brighter tomorrow, we promise to always be the home for these special toasts.
In 1999, to celebrate our 100th anniversary, August 4th was officially recognized as "Beer Hall Day" by the Japan Anniversary Association. It marks the day the very first beer hall was born in Japan.
Ever since our founding in 1899, Ginza Lion has been dedicated to sharing the "Joy of Living" through wonderful dining experiences. Today, we proudly celebrate over 125 years of history.
On August 4th, why not visit a beer hall and experience the true power of beer yourself? Come raise a glass, think of the countless toasts made throughout our long history, and let's celebrate together!
(Note 1) The headquarters for Shimbashi geishas, used for scheduling and training.
(Note 2) From "Western Clothing, Food, and Housing" in The Complete Works of Yukichi Fukuzawa.
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