Have you ever visited a real Bierkellar? On the 1st floor of the Sapporo Factory’s Renga-kan, housed in a full brickwork exterior and ever popular among tourists, is Bierkeller Sapporo Kaitakushi, managed by Sapporo Lion since the opening of the Factory itself.
Established in 1876 alongside Japan’s first brewery started by the Kaitakushi (Hokkaido Development Commission), the dining space is made up of not one, but three tunnels (!) and seats a total of 550. The whole space can be reserved for large parties, making this a godsend for event planners organizing reunions or company tours for groups visiting Sapporo. You only need to take one step into this extraordinary space to feel as though you’ve slipped back in time into a Meiji-era beer factory. Adding to this jovial atmosphere are the staff, decked in uniforms reminiscent of German beer halls. You could never forget a visit to a restaurant that’s this entertaining—and it’s great fun no matter how old or young you are.
On to the food: they serve a large variety of Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine, from lunch until dinner, and if you include their a la carte menu as well, you will be truly spoiled for choice by their seemingly endless number of dishes. Perhaps you might want to ask their friendly staff about which menu goes with the beer of your choice. Of course, all their food goes well with the ten varieties of beer they have on tap, including their very own microbrew (a must-try!), but you can always try different combinations to see which one you like the best, which is just another reason to keep coming back!
I also know that a lot of male patrons out there hanker for a taste of the Western-style restaurants from their childhood. That’s why they’ve got an extensive menu guaranteed to revive your memories, with familiar favorites such as spaghetti in meat sauce, omurice, pizza, and sizzling steak plates. You’ll feel like an excited child all over again. Speaking of which, they even have shoyu ramen on their menu, so those of you who like good old-style ramen should definitely give it a try.
Now, everything described so far might sound very touristy — and expensive. But at 1,000 yen or less for a lunch set, their very reasonable prices are what makes the Bierkellar so attractive. It’s why you’ll see a lot of locals, such as myself, coming in on weekdays for lunch breaks or other occasions. But be careful — if you plan to come in a suit or other piece of expensive clothing, or you have an important meeting after you finish eating here, do note that depending on what you order, you might walk off with clothes smelling faintly of rum! I once came here for a group meeting with work colleagues, and the “interesting choice” of location became quite the topic of excited conversation. They’re happy to cater for all kinds of parties and events, from welcome/farewell parties to even wedding receptions, so why not give them a ring to book your next event here?
Budget Regular: 2,500 yen Banquet: 3,500 yen
Lunch: 880 yen
Accepted Credit Cards
VISA, MasterCard, UC, DC, UFJ, Diners Club, American Express, JCB, Saison, MUFG
Seating Total: 550 seats Genghis Khan Corner: 180 seats Beer Hall: 360 seats Separate rooms available for groups of 30 or 60
Bookings available for 1 whole tunnel (seats up to 150) ◎
This post is also available in: Japanese