Sapporo Beer’s Hokkaido factory is located in Eniwa and visitors can participate in the factory tour. The factory produces almost all the beer consumed in Hokkaido, including Sapporo Classic which is offered only in Hokkaido. Participate in the factory tour with a fully accompanied guide, learn the process of making beer, and sample the freshly-brewed Sapporo beer for free!

 

How to get to the factory?

You can reach by train from Sapporo. The closest station to the factory is Sapporo Beer Teien Station in JR Chitose Line. The reception is about 10 minutes walk from the factory. 


▲Find this sign and turn left.


▲The reception building.


▲Wait for the shuttle bus here near this sign.


The shuttle bus will take you to the starting point of the factory tour.


▲Wait for the start at the waiting hall.


▲I found Hokkaido Likers display! 

 

The tour starts with explanation of beer production

The guide starts the tour and takes the group to upstairs. First, we got to learn about ingredients of beer. The guide explained about ingredients briefly but thoroughly using displays. 


▲The guide explains about ingredients of beer


She said that Sapporo Beer has the specialist of ingredients called “Fieldman”. Fieldman goes to farms around the world and grows ingredients together with farmers. Sapporo Beer is the only company who practice this method to all wheat and hop used in producing beer. 

Then the group moved to the next area. The display of kettles and tanks. 


▲There are many kettles.


In front of the display of tanks, there were numbers written on the carpet. It was showing the size of beer tank! The orange circle was the same size as the tank we saw. Do you notice how large it is? 


▲The numbers on the carpet. 


Then, we moved to the area to see production lines. Be careful from this area, because taking pictures is prohibited in the production line areas.


▲You can’t take pictures from here!


In this area, you can see the actual beer production lines and short explanation videos. It was surprising to see the machine which packs 900 cans per minute. I participated in the tour on Saturday, and the factory was not operated, so going on weekdays is recommended!

 

Free samplings of freshly-brewed Sapporo beer!

The tour ends with free samplings of maximum two glasses of freshly brewed beer, “Sapporo Draft Beer Black Label” and “Sapporo Classic”. The guide recommended trying “Sapporo Draft Beer Black Label” first then “Sapporo Classic” to feel the difference of tastes more clearly. Free sampling also came with a small snack! 


▲The free sampling area with an amazing view. 


▲Sapporo Draft Beer Black Label and a small snack.


For those of you who do not drink, they offer non-alcoholic beer and soft drinks. 

While we are enjoying beer, the guide showed us how to do “Sando-tsugi”; it literally means “pouring three times”. It is the method to pour canned beer to make the froth fluffier and feel the aroma stronger. 


▲The guide showing us how to do “Sando-tsugi”.


▲Hokkaido Likers staff tried “Sando-tsugi”. How does the froth look?


I actually could feel the aroma stronger than drinking beer directly from the can. It is worth trying! 

There is also a souvenir shop. There are various Sapporo Beer related products so enjoy shopping after you enjoy the delicious beer!

▲The souvenir shop in Sapporo Beer Factory


▲Various Sapporo Beer related products such as the snack served with free sampling beer. 


And memorial photo spots. Take pictures here to show your friends and families!


▲Funny memorial photo spot! It looks like you are in a beer glass!


The tour will be conducted in Japanese, but you can get English, Chinese, or Korean pamphlets. 


▲Multi-language pamphlets.


The total tour was about an hour, and it was a fun experience to see the factory lines and learn about producing beer. The freshly brewed beer was amazing, too. I could not believe this tour was for free. There are also a Ghengis Khan restaurant and a park golf course and a biotope garden so you can enjoy the whole day here! 

Text, photo / Hokkaido Likers Editors Team