Kirin Beer Factory

My readers know I am not a drinker or a connoisseur of alcohol, so why in the heck would I visit a beer factory? Well, two reasons: factory tours are hugely popular in Japan now, and they are free. I love free things, so when a friend invited to visit one, I didn't hesitate to go.

Kirin Beer is a major Japanese brewery with many factories in the country. This particular one is nicknamed "Beer Village" and is located in Yokohama area.

Map of the area:

The front sign of the factory:

Inside, we were led on a well organized tour, which included a film,  an explanation of the beer making process, the storage containers, etc. We were only allowed photos inside the factory in one location, so unfortunately I can't show my readers too much.

Beer vats:

This is a celebrity who appears in the ads for Kirin beer:

Near the end of the tour, everyone got excited in our group. Why? You get free beer for about 30 minutes!! ^_^ If you don't drink alcohol like me, you can select teas, lemon soda, etc. The guide will also explain the proper way to pour a can of beer. Here's how...

1) Hold the can about 50 cm above the glass. Pour.
2) When bubbles reach the top, stop. Wait for the head of the beer to subside.
3) When the head of the beer reaches 1/3 of the beer in the glass, pour more beer in the glass.
4) Wait for the head of the beer to reach 1/3 of the beer in the glass again. Pour in the remaining beer.

Due to adding oxygen, the beer supposedly tastes better. Give it a try and let me know. ^_^

After the tour, my friend and I explored around the grounds. We walked through a large garden...

Garden path:

I found a bench and pretended to be a drunk, passed out, business man.....
which you see a lot in Japan when taking late night trains!

all those beer fumes....

Near the end of the park is a large, German restaurant which serves beer and sausages. The place can be rented out for parties too. It looked really nice. We'll probably come back again. ^_^

Kirin Beer factory tour is by reservation only. Tours last only 30 minutes, with 30 - 40 minutes of drinking at the end. The tour is only in Japanese. Information and reservations can be made HERE. An English site which explains the basics is HERE. 

***Special Bonus***
Artist Adrian Storey photographed the phenomenon of business workers sleeping in the streets. This really does happen in Japan! You can see his photo collection HERE. (courtesy of CNN Go)