Narashino Craft Beer Muginoie

Muginoie is the kind of brewpub that makes you want to call it the ultimate local spot. The owner, Takahiro Imai, originally worked as a live stage lighting crew member.

At 25, he decided to pursue brewing, trained at Koenji Bakushukobo in Tokyo, and later gained experience at several locations through a company called Bakushu Kikaku. After that, he struck out on his own because he wanted to run a place where he could see customers' faces directly. He returned to his hometown in Chiba and opened near Yatsu Station in 2017.

What's more, almost all of the interior was handmade by Imai, the staff, and his family. They spent about a year finishing the space with wood, and it includes loft seating and box seats. The brewing area is only about four tatami mats in size, each batch is under 200 liters, and they make around 60 varieties a year.

The biggest defining feature here is that they don't make any bottles or cans at all. All of the roughly 10,000 liters they produce each year are served only at the shop and at local events. In other words, if you don't come here, you absolutely can't drink it.

"Yatsu Yuyu," a pale ale, is the most popular. It has a gorgeous aroma reminiscent of the flowers of Yatsu Rose Garden and a light, refreshing depth inspired by the wild birds taking flight over Yatsu Tidal Flat, so the flavor is deeply rooted in the local area. And "Muginokura" uses 100% American Simcoe hops, giving it a dried-fruit-like aroma.

"Yatsu Yuyu" and "Muginokura" both won double gold in the Japanese beer category at the 2025 Féminalise World Wine Competition. A four-tatami workshop winning world gold is pretty intense, isn't it?

It's a three-minute walk from Keisei Yatsu Station. The self-service setup makes it relaxed and unpretentious, so feel free to drop by casually. They also offer paid tastings starting from 50 cc, and with seven to eight beers on tap at all times, tasting side by side is fun too.