Ishikari Numata Brewery
- Address
- Numata Town, Hokkaido, 2-1-2 Hondori
- Area
- Hokkaido Numata Town
What kind of brewery is Ishikari Numata Brewery?
Hop BroHave you heard of Ishikari Numata Brewery? It opened in April 2025, and it's Japan's first publicly owned, privately operated craft brewery.
MugiWait, publicly owned and privately operated means the town paid to build it?
Hop BroExactly. And it's right next to JR Ishikari-Numata Station. The brewer, Shingo Murakami, originally ran restaurants in Tokyo, but after one closed because of urban redevelopment, he moved to Hokkaido.
MugiWhat? From running restaurants in Tokyo straight to becoming a brewer in a small Hokkaido town?
Hop BroHe's a very versatile person who had also worked in restaurant consulting, advertising agencies, and food service management. At an immigration fair, he came across Numata Town's booth, proposed a craft beer business, and the town got seriously on board. He joined as a regional revitalization cooperation member, and after his term ended, he stayed on as the owner and settled there.
MugiWow! So they launched the brewery hand in hand with the town. What kind of beer are they making?
Hop BroThe standout is the rice ale. It uses Numata Town's specialty, 'snow-aged rice,' as a secondary ingredient. It has no rough edges and is really easy to drink. They also suggest a red eye mixed with local tomato juice, and that kind of idea really feels like it came from a former restaurant owner.
MugiBeer made with snow-aged rice! And a tomato juice cocktail too, that's so stylish. What else do they have?
Hop BroAnother regular is IPA. This one is a classic style with a strong hop presence. The contrast with the rice ale is great. You can also drink it at three places in town and at Tonarie in Kitahiroshima, so even though it's still small-scale, it's steadily expanding.
MugiBeing right next to the station means you can step off the train and drink beer immediately, right? That's amazing! I want to go!
