# Beer gardens and beer festivals in Tokyo 2027

When the evenings turn warm, Tokyo drinks outside. Department store rooftops become beer gardens, parks fill with Oktoberfest tents and craft beer stalls, and offices book long tables for a round after work. The list below is updated daily with the beer gardens and beer festivals that are open now or coming up.

## How the beer garden season works

The season runs from spring to the end of September. A few park beer gardens open as early as April, and most rooftop gardens open from late May or June and close at the end of September. July and August are the peak, when the heat makes a cold beer in the open air the obvious plan after work. Beer gardens open in the late afternoon and close earlier than bars, so think of them as the first stop of the evening.

Most beer gardens sell fixed-price plans rather than single drinks, often with food included. Beer festivals in the parks work the other way: entry is free or cheap and you pay for each glass. Both get busy fast on Friday nights and on weekends.

- → [Food & Drink events in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/food-drink.md)
- → [This weekend in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/this-weekend.md)

## Where to go: rooftops, parks and a mountain

Department store rooftops are the classic. [Keio Department Store](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E4%BA%AC%E7%8E%8B%E7%99%BE%E8%B2%A8%E5%BA%97%20%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF%E5%BA%97%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF%E5%8C%BA%E8%A5%BF%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF1-1-4) in Shinjuku runs a rooftop beer garden with a view over the towers of west Shinjuku, [Tobu Department Store](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%9D%B1%E6%AD%A6%E7%99%BE%E8%B2%A8%E5%BA%97%20%E6%B1%A0%E8%A2%8B%E6%9C%AC%E5%BA%97%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E8%B1%8A%E5%B3%B6%E5%8C%BA%E8%A5%BF%E6%B1%A0%E8%A2%8B1-1-25) in Ikebukuro has a loud and friendly rooftop barbecue garden, and [Lumine Est](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9F%E3%83%8D%E3%82%A8%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF%E5%8C%BA%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF3-38-1) in Shinjuku dresses its roof up as a beach resort. It is worth checking the rooftops of the big stores in Shinjuku, Ginza, Shibuya and Ikebukuro each summer, since line-ups change.

[Mori no Beer Garden](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%A3%AE%E3%81%AE%E3%83%93%E3%82%A2%E3%82%AC%E3%83%BC%E3%83%87%E3%83%B3%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF%E5%8C%BA%E9%9C%9E%E3%83%B6%E4%B8%98%E7%94%BA14-13) in the Meiji Jingu Gaien area has been running since 1984. It is a big outdoor barbecue garden under the trees, popular with office groups. Sekirei, at [Meiji Kinenkan](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%98%8E%E6%B2%BB%E8%A8%98%E5%BF%B5%E9%A4%A8%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B8%AF%E5%8C%BA%E5%85%83%E8%B5%A4%E5%9D%822-2-23) nearby, is a calmer summer terrace on a large lawn. For something different, [Beer Mount](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E9%AB%98%E5%B0%BE%E5%B1%B1%E3%83%93%E3%82%A2%E3%83%9E%E3%82%A6%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%85%AB%E7%8E%8B%E5%AD%90%E5%B8%82%E9%AB%98%E5%B0%BE%E7%94%BA2181) on Mount Takao serves a buffet with beer at about 500 metres up, with the lights of the Kanto plain below. Ride the cable car up and keep an eye on the time of the last car down.

- Rooftop gardens with a night view fill up first at sunset. Book the earliest slot for daylight, a later one for the lights.
- At Beer Mount, check the last cable car before you sit down. Walking down a mountain trail after beer in the dark is not a good plan.

- → [Events in Shinjuku](https://eventstokyo.com/en/shinjuku.md)
- → [Events in Toshima](https://eventstokyo.com/en/toshima.md)

## Nomihodai plans, booking and rain

Nomihodai means all-you-can-drink for a fixed price within a time limit, usually 90 or 120 minutes. Last orders come about 30 minutes before the end, and staff will tell you when. A typical plan covers draft beer, highballs, sours and soft drinks, sometimes with a barbecue or buffet. Premium or craft beers may cost extra, and some places offer a cheaper early plan if you arrive before a set time. At many places the whole table has to take the same plan.

Book ahead for Friday nights and weekends. Most beer gardens take online reservations, and walk-ins usually work on weekday evenings if you come early. Rooftops close in rain or strong wind, and the decision is often made on the day. Look for 雨天中止 (closed in rain) on the booking page, and check how a rain cancellation affects your reservation.

- The clock usually starts when you sit down, not when your first drink arrives. Order the first round right away.
- If the weather looks uncertain, call or check the store's site in the afternoon. Some rooftops have a covered section.

## Beer festivals: Oktoberfest, BeerFes and craft beer in the park

Tokyo's Oktoberfest series has several editions across the warm months: Odaiba around Golden Week, [Shiba Park](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E8%8A%9D%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B8%AF%E5%8C%BA%E8%8A%9D%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%924-10-17) near Tokyo Tower in September, and in recent years [LaLaport Toyosu](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%90%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%20%E3%82%89%E3%82%89%E3%81%BD%E3%83%BC%E3%81%A8%E8%B1%8A%E6%B4%B2%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B1%9F%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E8%B1%8A%E6%B4%B22-4-9) in autumn. German brewers pour by the glass under big tents, with sausages and live music. You pay a cash deposit on your first glass, bring the same glass back for refills, and get the deposit back when you return it. Outside food and drink are not allowed, and leaving bags on a seat to hold it is discouraged. The festivals usually go ahead in rain and close only in a storm.

[BeerFes Tokyo](https://beerfes.jp/), the Great Japan Beer Festival, has been held since 1998 and now takes place at [The Garden Hall](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BB%E3%82%AC%E3%83%BC%E3%83%87%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E7%9B%AE%E9%BB%92%E5%8C%BA%E4%B8%89%E7%94%B01-13-2) in Yebisu Garden Place in early June. Tickets are for a fixed session, and you get a tasting glass for unlimited small pours from dozens of Japanese craft breweries. Nobody under 20 is admitted, not even with parents. In late July and early August, Oedo Beer Matsuri brings more than 40 breweries to the [Shibahiro](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E7%94%BA%E7%94%B0%E3%82%B7%E3%83%90%E3%83%92%E3%83%AD%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E7%94%BA%E7%94%B0%E5%B8%82%E4%B8%AD%E7%94%BA1-20-23) lawn in Machida, with free entry and drinks paid one by one.

- At Oktoberfest, keep some cash for the glass deposit even if stalls take cards.
- BeerFes sessions sell out. Buy as soon as tickets open.

- → [Food festivals in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/food-festivals.md)
- → [Autumn festivals in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/autumn-festivals.md)

## Etiquette, rules and the heat

Wait until everyone has a drink and say kanpai together before you start. In a group the first round is often beer for everyone. When someone pours for you from a bottle or pitcher, hold your glass up a little, and keep an eye on other people's glasses so you can top them up. Staff may ask for ID, since the legal drinking age in Japan is 20, so carry your passport or residence card if you look young.

Cycling after drinking is a criminal offence, with penalties added in November 2024 for riding with alcohol in your system. Some areas also limit drinking in the street: in Shibuya, around the station, public drinking has been banned from 6pm to 5am all year since October 2024. Summer nights stay hot, so drink water between beers, bring insect repellent for park gardens, and check your last train.

## All events, soonest first

- **[Tokyo Beer Hall & Terrace 14: Tokyo Beer Wave](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/14tokyo-beer-wave)** — Ongoing · iiyo!! (Chiyoda) · Free entry

## Questions people ask

**When is beer garden season in Tokyo?**
Most beer gardens open from late May or June to the end of September, and a few park gardens start in April. July and August are the busiest months.

**Do I need to book a beer garden?**
For Friday nights and weekends, yes. On weekday evenings you can usually walk in if you arrive early.

**How does nomihodai work?**
You pay a fixed price per person and drink as much as you like within a time limit, usually 90 or 120 minutes, with last orders about 30 minutes before the end.

**What happens if it rains?**
Rooftop beer gardens usually close in rain or strong wind, often deciding on the day. Beer festivals in the parks usually go ahead in rain and close only in a storm.

**What is the drinking age in Japan?**
20. Staff may ask for ID, and some beer festivals do not admit anyone under 20 at all.

**Can I bring children to a beer garden?**
Many beer gardens welcome families and have cheaper plans for children. Tasting festivals such as BeerFes do not admit under-20s.

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Tokyo Events: https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/beer-gardens