BEST Japanese Beer Brands: 12 Top Recommendations

Japanese Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic Japanese drinks, often enjoyed at izakaya, restaurants and casual gatherings. From famous brands like Asahi, Sapporo, Kirin and Suntory to a growing craft beer scene, Japan offers a wide variety of crisp, clean, and flavorful beers. 

Below is byFood’s essential guide to Japanese beer, including the top 12 beers you should try on your next visit to Japan. They all pair well with the classic Japanese drinking snack, kaki-pi — a mix of peanuts and crescent-shaped rice crackers. If you're drinking with a group, be sure to always pour Japanese beer for others before yourself, and make sure no one’s glass is empty!

There are many breweries across the country, but here are the essential beers you should try while in Japan. Use this quick guide to find the right beer based on flavor and drinking style — whether you are at an izakaya, in a convenience store, or on a night out.

Not sure which Japanese beer to order? From ultra-crisp lagers to rich, malty favorites, here is a more detailed discussion of each beer, proving that Japan’s beer scene has something for every taste.

In its iconic silver can, Asahi Super Dry was launched in 1987 and remains one of Japan’s most famous and much-loved beers. Brewed by Asahi, the Super Dry was Japan’s first dry draft beer. Known for its refreshing flavor, it's one of the Japanese beers recognized around the world and is available on tap at many restaurants and bars across the country.

In April 2021, after four years of development, Asahi released the Nama Jokki Can. This beer’s innovative packaging took Japanese social media by storm, and for a good reason. The Nama Jokki Can was specially designed to create foam similar to beer poured from a tap as soon as drinkers open the lid. Take our word for it, few canned beers taste this smooth.

In 1986, Asahi’s draft beer was instrumental in reviving the Japanese beer company to the point that it was nicknamed “Yuuhi,” meaning sunset in Japanese. However, the equipment used to brew this draft beer was later discontinued to focus production efforts on Asahi’s next innovative product, the Super Dry. But restaurants continued to sell Asahi draft beer, and so thirty-five years later, in 2021, the company announced it would bring the legacy beer back, this time in cans, under the “MaruF” label.

The MaruF series is most associated with Asahi’s recent “Otsukare nama desu” campaign. This phrase is a play on the Japanese saying “otsukaresama desu,” which means “thank you for your hard work,” but replaces “sama” with “nama” as a reference to draft beer. This Asahi beer is sought after for the comforting, nostalgic feeling it brings its drinkers.

Launched in 2002 by Kirin, the Tanrei Green Label Beer comes in a white can with iconic green labeling. It’s among the best-selling beers in the country and is well known as an affordable Japanese beer. With a low malt ratio, Tanrei Green Label offers richness and sharpness balanced by a premium taste. 

Premium beer is here! Suntory’s beer brand stands out by using high-quality brewing techniques to brew this malty, aromatic beer. The Premium Malts Beer features a refined foam and a rich flavor as a draft-style pilsner beer.

Asahi’s commitment to recreating a draft beer experience at home shows no limits. For a premium option, pick up a can of Shokusai Premium Draft Beer, a luxurious brew made with five varieties of hops, including rare hops from France. It’s best enjoyed chilled. 

Using the same technology as Asahi’s Nama Jokki, this beer delivers a light, flavorful foam as soon as you open the can. Saying “kanpai” with this beer in hand feels almost like a Champagne toast. With every sip, the beer’s aroma continues to develop, enhancing the overall drinking experience.

Light-bodied and aromatic while still packing a punch, Kirin Ichiban Beer is Kirin’s flagship brew. Crafted using only carefully selected ingredients, it pairs especially well with yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) thanks to its smooth and rich flavor.

In its signature royal blue can, Suntory Kinmugi Rich Malt Beer is characterized by its generous use of both aromatic and bitter hops. Balanced with gentle foam and medium carbonation, this golden-colored Japanese beer delivers a rich malt flavor.

Created by Sapporo Breweries in 1887, Yebisu Beer is a premium and award-winning brew whose name and logo are inspired by the Japanese mythological god of fortune. Yebisu makes an excellent session beer thanks to its balanced use of hops, subtle froth and rich malt flavor.

Loved in Japan for over 130 years, Kirin Lager has an intense flavor and is considered a classic Japanese beer. Its foam has a signature thickness and the beer is aged at a low temperature. This process gives the lager a slight astringency compared to standard beers, while remaining smooth and not overly bitter.

You can’t miss this brew from Hokkaido, marked by its iconic star. Sapporo Black Label Beer is a premium brew that packs a punch! Made from barley and brewed using a special technique to preserve flavor, it delivers a long-lasting malt taste. It's a popular Japanese beer around the world.

Produced by Kirin, Nodogoshi Nama is a low-gluten, happoshu-style beer from Japan. The term happoshu means a low-malt, beer-like beverage. Beer companies created drinks with a reduced malt percentage to qualify for lower tax rates, yet happoshu still offers a satisfying beer-like experience. Nodogoshi is also one of the most affordable options on the market.

A cult favorite born in Japan’s southern islands of Okinawa, Orion Draft Beer is mild with a crisp aftertaste. Developed in a semitropical climate, this Okinawan draft lager has a rich body that is well-suited for sipping on beautiful Japanese beaches or enjoying in bars across Japan.

Have you wondered how Japanese beer is different from European or American beer? What makes Japanese beer special is that rice is often used in the brewing process to produce pilsner-style lager beer. This is in contrast to how beer in many other countries is made with barley malt.

Japanese beer brands such as Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo achieve a lighter and cleaner flavor by incorporating rice into their recipes. These beers also tend to have a lower malt content and an alcohol percentage averaging around 5%.

It's believed that Japan was first exposed to beer by Dutch traders in the 17th century, but it was not widely available outside of the upper classes until the 19th century. After Japan opened to foreign trade during the Meiji Period, foreign brewers began contributing to local beer production and training Japanese brewers. Sapporo Breweries was founded first in 1876, followed by Asahi Breweries in 1889 and Kirin Brewery Company in 1907, among many others, enabling wide-scale mass production. Today, many microbreweries across the country produce limited-edition flavored beers each season.

Did you know? In recent years, beer gardens have become a quintessential summer activity. Read more about Japanese beer gardens.

One of the best ways to assess a beer’s quality is by its head, the layer of frothy foam. Beer lovers and bartenders in Japan have developed many tricks and techniques to achieve the perfect foam with every pour. Don’t believe us? Watch Shizuka learn how to pour the best pint.

Now that you know more about Japanese beer, let’s see which brands and variations are worth hunting down. 

With many major players in the Japanese beer scene, there is no shortage of Japanese beers to try. In Japan, the legal drinking age is 20, and beer can be purchased from local supermarkets, convenience stores and even some vending machines! Prices for single cans start at a few hundred yen, or a couple of dollars. Some stores may ask you to confirm that you are 20 years or older, so it is a good idea to carry a photo ID with you.

In Japanese, “bīru” is the word for beer. As a loanword, beer is written in katakana as ビール. “Nama bīru” refers to draft beer, written as 生ビール. If you want to order beer at a restaurant or bar in Japanese, you can use the following phrases:

• Nama bīru kudasai (“A draft beer, please”)
• Bīru ippai kudasai or Bīru hitotsu kudasai (“One beer please”)
• Bīru nihai kudasai or Bīru futatsu kudasai (“Two beers please”)
• Bīru sanbai kudasai or Bīru mittsu kudasai (“Three beers please”)
• Asahi kudasai (“Asahi, please”)

Get more tips on how to order at Japanese restaurants from our list of must-know Japanese phrases.

Beer in Japan comes with its own set of unwritten rules and traditions. Check out these related posts to learn more about Japanese beer and where to find it:

• Toriazeu Beer: Japan's Unique Beer-First Tradition
• What are Japanese Snack Bars?
• Top Tokyo Craft Beer Bars