Yokohama is a city rich with beer history and culture. Japan’s first beer brewery, Spring Valley, was founded in Yamate in the 19th century. Its assets changed hands over the decades, eventually becoming Kirin, which is still based in the city (and which revived Spring Valley in the 21st century). Yokohama is also home to quite a few craft breweries and two American craft beer importers. One of the oldest Belgian beer bars in Japan (quite possibly the oldest) is located in Noge. Called Le Temps Perdu, it’s where owner Mitsuhashi Ikuo launched Noge Daidougei (the Noge Street Performance Festival). There’s a reason why, over the years, we’ve referred to Yokohama as Beer City Japan!
That legacy is enhanced all the more by Belgian Beer Weekend Japan (BBW), an annual festival that makes stops in major cities across the country, including Yokohama. This year’s iteration runs May 16th to the 19th in its usual home of Yamashita Park. There, you can expect live music, friendly crowds, savory food, and an amazing array of Belgian beer.
What’s so special about Belgian beer? A lot. This country, with a population smaller than Tokyo’s and a land area smaller than the greater Tokyo region’s (Kanto), has given birth to many of the world’s classic beer styles. According to statistics from BBW, there are roughly 430 breweries in Belgium producing over 1600 different beers. UNESCO even recognized Belgian beer culture as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016. Some of the beer in Belgium is famously brewed by Trappist monks in monasteries, following traditions hundreds of years old. Other breweries are equally as old and preserve unique brewing techniques that have stood the test of time.
Belgian beer is respected around the world for its high quality. If you like alcoholic beverages and have never tried any, this festival is your opportunity. Don’t drink at all? No worries; this is a family friendly event you can enjoy whether you’re drinking or not. So how does it work?
Entry is free. You can bring a blanket to spread out in the park, or belly up to one of the tables near the performance stage. Guests purchase an affordable “starter set” (¥3500 online before the event, slightly more after the start or at the venue). It comes with an original BBW glass required for drinking and ten tokens, which can be exchanged for beer or food (beer is 3~5 tokens, while food is 2~ tokens). You can purchase extra tokens as you please. The venue features rows of booths serving beer and food for you to choose from.
New to Belgian beer and have no idea where to start? Most of the booths are run by the importers themselves, who are of course quite knowledgeable about the beer. Otherwise, there is a free smartphone app called BBWalker (Belgian Beer Walker). It provides information on all the beer available with easy-to-understand flavor charts, and a venue map so you can figure out where to order beer that interests you. There are “Beer Cards” in the app which allow you to rate the beers, take notes, share via SNS, or create a wishlist.
BBW is celebrating fifteen years of operation this year. If you’re able to visit Yamashita Park for the festival, please do. You’ll see what all the excitement is about… hundreds of years of Belgian beer excitement, that is!