Asahi Beer Brewery and tour
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In Japan, summer is the time for beer. All over the countries you will find beer gardens popping up and Japanese people letting their hair down to relax with a big "jockey" or three of beer.
Ibaraki has a number of small local beer breweries, but it also has one of the biggest, Asahi Beer, in the southern Ibaraki city of Moriya. I was lucky enough to visit it a few weeks back and taste their freshly brewed "Super dry". It definitely lived up to its super name.
Anyone is able to visit the brewery and even better it's free.
Their tour includes a visit to the factory, a movie and then the all important beer tasting in their amazing beer garden 60 meters up in the air. (30 mins all you can drink).
Between June 28th and July 17th (9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.), Asahi is offering a special deal that allows you to try 4 types of beer: Asahi Prime Time, Asahi Super Dry, Asahi Kuronama and Asahi Premium Nama Jukusei.
Bookings are essential. Call 0297-45-7335 to book. A minimum of 2 people applies. It is possible to be collected from Moriya Station by the factory bus as you probably don't want to come by car, though designated drivers can drink as much orange juice as they like.
For more information,
Asahi website
While you are in the Moriya area, you may also like to visit the
1. Herb Harmony Garden in Jōsō
2. Ibaraki Nature Museum in Bando
3. Warp Station Edo in Tsukuba Mirai City
4. Peony Garden in Tsukuba
5. Great Buddha in Ushiku
6. Pumpkin Farm in Inashiki