Minami Shinshu Beer Joins JR Central’s Inadani Beer Train
Minami Shinshu Beer (Ogna) will take part as a special lecturer in JR Central’s event train, “Inadani Sake School - Yotteho Shinshu Jibeer Edition.” The trip runs on August 8, 2026, and pairs tastings and brewer talk with views over the Ina Valley.
Hop BroToday's story is Inadani Sake Academy. JR Tokai is running an event train on August 8, 2026, with Minami Shinshu Beer joining as a special guest instructor.
MugiWhat, a beer school train!? I don't want a field trip, I want a tasting pass!
Hop BroAnd the star is Minami Shinshu Beer Ogna. It's known as Nagano's first craft brewery, with the brewery based in Miyada Village.
MugiWhoa, but what does Ogna mean? It sounds cute, but I'd fail that quiz immediately.
Hop BroThat's the fun part: a wordplay on Nagano. They rearranged the name and packed it with a real sense of place.
Hop BroThe train features three featured beers: Alps Weizen, Hoken-dake Ale, and India Pale Ale. Tasting them while watching the valley roll by is the whole hook.
MugiHold on, what is a weizen? That sounds less like beer and more like a finishing move!
Hop BroIn plain terms, it's a wheat-style beer. Alps Weizen has a fresh tang from wheat malt and a really fine, creamy foam.
MugiOkay, then India Pale Ale is the bitter one? And Hoken-dake Ale is in the lineup too, so this is basically a three-member band.
Hop BroExactly. The IPA brings firm bitterness, and Hoken-dake Ale sits nicely in the middle. Add the brewer's talk, and the tasting gets way more interesting.
MugiAnd there are station-side performances too? Hospitality at each stop and even taiko drums? This isn't transit, it's a moving festival!
Hop BroIt is a tour-only train, so a regular ticket won't get you on. You have to book through Hankyu Travel, Club Tourism, or JTB, and it leaves Ina-shi Station around 10:57.
MugiI'm already at start with Alps Weizen. Scenic views first, soft bubbles next, then a sharp IPA finish!
Hop BroAnd I'd slip Hoken-dake Ale in between and taste the whole valley with it. The closer August 8 gets, the thirstier this sounds.
According to Minami Shinshu Beer, the event train “Inadani Sake School - Yotteho Shinshu Jibeer Edition” will depart on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The planned service leaves Inashi Station around 10:57 a.m. and arrives at Iida Station around 12:26 p.m. A package that also covers the Iida-to-Toyohashi segment will be offered. Because this is a tour-only train, passengers must book through one of the travel products sold by Hankyu Travel, Club Tourism, or JTB.
Minami Shinshu Beer is known as the first craft beer brewery in Nagano Prefecture. Its brewery is based in Miyada Village, Nagano, and the Ogna brand reflects both the company’s local roots and its identity as a brewery shaped by the mountains and water of southern Nagano. On its official site, the brewery highlights a hands-on approach that covers everything from ingredients to brewing and shipping.
The three beers listed for the train’s special session are:
- Alps Weizen
- Hoken-dake Ale
- India Pale Ale
Among them, Alps Weizen is described as a wheat beer with a crisp acidity and fine, creamy foam, while the IPA is presented as one of the brewery’s more firmly bitter offerings. That range makes the lineup appealing for drinkers who want to compare styles while watching the scenery of the Ina Valley pass by.
Station-side hospitality and taiko performances are also planned, turning the journey itself into part of the experience. For craft beer fans, this is a neatly packaged local collaboration that brings together landscape, brewing culture, and tasting on one train. See Minami Shinshu Beer’s official notice for details.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroToday's story is Inadani Sake Academy. JR Tokai is running an event train on August 8, 2026, with Minami Shinshu Beer joining as a special guest instructor.
MugiWhat, a beer school train!? I don't want a field trip, I want a tasting pass!
Hop BroAnd the star is Minami Shinshu Beer Ogna. It's known as Nagano's first craft brewery, with the brewery based in Miyada Village.
MugiWhoa, but what does Ogna mean? It sounds cute, but I'd fail that quiz immediately.
Hop BroThat's the fun part: a wordplay on Nagano. They rearranged the name and packed it with a real sense of place.
Hop BroThe train features three featured beers: Alps Weizen, Hoken-dake Ale, and India Pale Ale. Tasting them while watching the valley roll by is the whole hook.
MugiHold on, what is a weizen? That sounds less like beer and more like a finishing move!
Hop BroIn plain terms, it's a wheat-style beer. Alps Weizen has a fresh tang from wheat malt and a really fine, creamy foam.
MugiOkay, then India Pale Ale is the bitter one? And Hoken-dake Ale is in the lineup too, so this is basically a three-member band.
Hop BroExactly. The IPA brings firm bitterness, and Hoken-dake Ale sits nicely in the middle. Add the brewer's talk, and the tasting gets way more interesting.
MugiAnd there are station-side performances too? Hospitality at each stop and even taiko drums? This isn't transit, it's a moving festival!
Hop BroIt is a tour-only train, so a regular ticket won't get you on. You have to book through Hankyu Travel, Club Tourism, or JTB, and it leaves Ina-shi Station around 10:57.
MugiI'm already at start with Alps Weizen. Scenic views first, soft bubbles next, then a sharp IPA finish!
Hop BroAnd I'd slip Hoken-dake Ale in between and taste the whole valley with it. The closer August 8 gets, the thirstier this sounds.
