by Jennifer Ruhl
FREE beer! Recently, some of my Japanese friends decided that I needed an afternoon to relax. We jumped on the FREE Kirin Beer Village Loop Bus (outside Yokohama's Bay Sheraton Hotel) and took a ride out to the Yokohama Kirin brewery. (The bus also stops at the Red Brick Warehouse in the Kannai/Sakuragicho area, running about once per hour from 10-6).
When I got on the bus, I was greeted by the beer-breath of several passengers already returning from their Beer Village excursion. During the ride, I was entertained by a video telling the history of beer in Germany (featuring some unfortunate haircuts).
Since it was my first trip to Kirin Beer Village, my friends signed me up for a free tour of the brewery. Nihongo only, but there are English signs along the way. It's kind of interesting, and some groups are allowed to taste-test the beer at various stages of production.
If you're more interested in the beer - just grab your coupons for 2 FREE beers at the Entrance, and head over to the beer corner! If the 2 free ones aren't enough to quench your thirst, head to one of hte restaurants to try Kirin's specialty beer, "Spring Valley" (only available at that restaurant!)
If you're interested in taking the "Kirin Beer Bus," make sure you get in line early - the bus only takes 40 passengers in total, so only about 20 people can get on at each stop (and Japanese friends WILL leave you behind if they make the cutoff without you!) Alternatively, you can get to the Beer Village from Namamugi Station (Keihin-Kyuko line). Here is the website for more information (in Japanese).