Osaka

Osaka is Japan's food-obsessed second city — and its craft beer scene more than keeps pace with its legendary eating culture. Spread across neighbourhoods from the backstreets of Kitahorie and Namba to the soaring towers of Umeda and the laneway markets of Tenma, Osaka's craft beer bars are as diverse as the city itself. You'll find everything from single-brewery taprooms pouring award-winning local beers straight from the source, to multi-tap bars cycling through Japan's best microbreweries alongside US and European imports. The city has a particular affinity for Japanese craft beer — Osaka is home to Minoh Beer, one of Japan's most decorated craft breweries, and its taprooms in Tenma and Nishi are essential stops for any serious beer drinker. The Kitahorie neighbourhood, a short walk from Namba and Shinsaibashi, has emerged as a natural cluster for craft beer bars, with a handful of excellent spots within easy walking distance of each other. Whether you're arriving hungry after a day of street food in Dotonbori, looking for a quiet pint near Osaka Station, or hunting down a rare Japanese microbrewery release, Osaka's craft beer scene rewards the curious drinker.