The Ki

There’s a brewery and cafe that opened in August 2024 right between Nikko’s Tobu Station and JR Station. It’s "THE KICHI" - The Kichi.

Exactly. It’s meant to be a "base" for sightseeing in Nikko, and also to bring "kichi" - good fortune - to visitors. The owners are Hiroshi Hosoda and his wife Yukari, a couple in their early 30s.

They started by pouring six taps of beer from other breweries in Tochigi Prefecture, and in December 2024 they finally began brewing their own. They’ve also released three original canned beers.

First is Kölsch. It’s the flagship beer, with a rich malt flavor and a gentle citrus note like lemon. It takes the best of both lager and ale. Then Weiss, with a banana-like aroma and a crisp acidity. The American Pale Ale uses Cascade hops for citrus and pine aromas, plus a robust bitterness from British yeast. All are 5.5%.

The label features a Nikko landscape visible from the shop. Another interesting one is the collaboration beer with Wanavia, "Geppei ~Moonwalk~," which drew attention as the finale to a series with animal motifs.

The second floor has sofa seating, and it’s designed so you can drop by casually at the start or end of a Nikko trip. Since they also serve coffee as a cafe, it’s fine even if you’re with someone who can’t drink beer.