Public Reference

Regional Coverage

Craft beer landscape across Japan's 8 major regions, with regional counts, prefecture spread, and representative brewery starting points.

Chubu

15 breweries

Central Japan including Nagano, Shizuoka, and Nagoya. Home to Yo-Ho (Yona Yona) and many pioneers.

6

Prefectures

5

Exporting

4.0

Top Rating

Prefectures: Nagano, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Niigata, Aichi, Toyama

Kanto

12 breweries

Japan's economic center including Tokyo, Yokohama, and Saitama. Most breweries per region.

4

Prefectures

3

Exporting

3.7

Top Rating

Prefectures: Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Kanagawa

Kansai

12 breweries

Cultural heartland with Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. Mix of historic sake breweries and new craft.

7

Prefectures

2

Exporting

3.8

Top Rating

Prefectures: Mie, Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga, Wakayama, Nara, Hyogo

Kyushu

7 breweries

Southern Japan including Okinawa. Tropical influences and unique ingredients like sweet potato.

5

Prefectures

1

Exporting

3.5

Top Rating

Prefectures: Okinawa, Fukuoka, Miyazaki, Kumamoto, Kagoshima

Hokkaido

5 breweries

Japan's northern frontier. Known for German-style brewing and use of pristine mountain water.

1

Prefectures

0

Exporting

3.6

Top Rating

Prefectures: Hokkaido

Chugoku

5 breweries

Western Honshu including Hiroshima and Okayama. Emerging craft beer scene.

3

Prefectures

0

Exporting

3.6

Top Rating

Prefectures: Hiroshima, Tottori, Okayama

Tohoku

4 breweries

Northern Honshu's rural heartland. Many sake breweries also produce craft beer.

2

Prefectures

0

Exporting

3.4

Top Rating

Prefectures: Iwate, Miyagi

Shikoku

4 breweries

The smallest main island. Local ingredients like yuzu and sudachi define the brewing.

4

Prefectures

0

Exporting

3.5

Top Rating

Prefectures: Tokushima, Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi