9 best outdoor beer bars and drinking terraces in Tokyo

For one of the best craft beer bars in Shibuya, make your way to the trendy backstreets of Oku-Shibuya (‘inner Shibuya’) for ØL Tokyo. A local offshoot of Oslo Brewing from Norway, this relaxed bar has a serene outdoor terrace tucked away from Shibuya’s maddening crowds.

On tap are about 20 craft beers – a mix of Nordic and house brews, imported labels and made-in-Japan ales. It’s easy to get lost in time here, as the La Cabina food truck parked out front can readily satisfy your hunger pangs with tacos and quesadillas, so that you can keep on trying the various craft brews available.

TY Harbor, a veteran among Tokyo’s brewpubs, has been around for more than 20 years. It produces a range of Californian-style ales and porters, and the attached restaurant serves up straightforward, decent New York-style fare.

The canal-side location is one of the few places where you can sit outside and drink on the waterfront, and the roof ensures a pleasant experience, even on rainy days. You’ll want to start off with the pale ale, a refined brew with a citrus flavour, but our seasonal favourite is the wheat ale, a light and fruity creation just right for those hotter days.

More than just a coffee joint, Quays Pacific Grill at Yokohama Hammerhead occupies a prime spot along the waterfront, complete with a spacious terrace boasting spectacular views of the city. The ground floor houses a roastery where those seeking a hit of caffeine can enjoy a cup of freshly roasted coffee. And if you head up to the second-floor brewery and gin distillery, you'll find drinks of a different kind. 

The on-site Number Nine Brewery offers five house brews on tap, including the #9 Hazy (cloudy and aromatic) and Hammerhead Ale (light and refreshing). You’ll also find two guest beers that are swapped out from time to time. Quays Pacific Grill’s food menu goes well with beer. Enjoy the likes of steamed mussels and smoked salmon alongside heartier options such as Texas-style barbecue ribs, pastrami sandwiches and pulled pork burgers.

Tokyo Torch Tower in Otemachi may still be under construction until 2027, but you don’t have to wait another three years to visit. Craft Beer Market opened in one of the complexes surrounding the main tower in 2022 and offers approximately 30 craft brews on tap including lagers, stouts, pale ales and fruit beers.

You'll also find some great food to pair with your beer. If you're looking for some bar snacks to share, we recommend the karaage fried chicken (from ¥630) or the falafel (¥480). There are also more substantial meals like curry (¥780) and spare ribs (¥1,080), just in case you're feeling really hungry.

This Roppongi bistro in Tokyo Midtown is perfect for relaxing outdoors, especially if you’re with a group. The open-air terrace can accommodate up to 92 people, while inside can seat 100. The menu has a range of grilled meats, including a special black beef from Iwate prefecture that has been aged for about six weeks, and can be prepared oven-roasted or grilled. There are chicken and pork dishes, too, plus cheesy Chicago-style pizzas and vegetable tapas to share.

Pair your meal with one of Rio's two Belgian beers. The fruity Uijin wheat beer in particular is light and refreshing, reminiscent of the staple beers offered in Japan, making it the easiest beer to pair with any meal. There’s another version called Uijin Yuzu Blonde, which is infused with aromatic yuzu citrus peels from Kochi prefecture. Both are available on tap.

An oasis in the office tower jungle of Otemachi, this rather descriptively named eatery bathes in natural light thanks to wall-size windows and a partially glass-encased terrace. Pub grub including fish and chips, pizza and pork chops is combined with a decent lineup of beers, including six varieties from the Kawagoe-based Coedo brewery.

We like the classy, citrus-flavoured Coedo Marihana, which goes perfectly with 14's beef tendon and kujo negi pizza, while the Coedo Shiro, a fruity wheat ale, is best paired with some blue mussels – these are actually steamed in the same beer. The terrace is always popular, so consider heading over from 3pm, which is when the restaurant starts serving dinner.

Housed in the Manseibashi Station complex, Hitachino Brewing Lab operates as a top-of-the-line bar with ten original beers on tap as well as a good selection of bottled beers. One of the best ways to get a taste for this brewery is by ordering the beer flight of three brews for ¥1,100.

The food menu, curated by Ibaraki-born star chef Noriyuki Sugie, mostly consists of classic Japanese pub grub such as potato salad (¥580), sausages (from ¥680) and cheese platters (¥980). For something more substantial, we recommend getting the saba (mackerel) or Ibaraki pork ham sandwich (¥900).

While there’s plenty of indoor seating, it’s worth asking for terrace seats by the river for a view of Akihabara.

Beer behemoth Kirin's craft venture is part of Daikanyama's Log Road complex and features one of the nicer terraces in the area. It offers a six-variety standard lineup, including the refreshing Daydream white ale made with domestic ingredients such as yuzu and sansho pepper, the crisp 496, and the rich, fragrant Afterdark.

You'll also find several seasonal brews and one-off 'experimental' beers, which can be anything from exciting to mind-boggling. Sample a selection of the beers on offer with the three- or six-glass flights priced at ¥1,000 or ¥1,800 respectively.

Step out of Okutama Station and you'll soon come across this traditional Japanese house with a pretty garden and a river running down in the valley just in front of the building. It's home to a beer hall that serves 10 kinds of home-brewed beers, including the fruity, moderately bitter Session IPA, plus two limited-edition varieties. The café also has its own hop field a 20-minute drive away, so it's all very local.

Having a glass in the garden while snacking on some beer-batter onion rings, listening to the sound of the river and admiring the trees around you will make your clock tick slower. Those visiting Okutama for rafting or hiking will want to keep Vertere in mind – even if it's only for a quick break while waiting for the train home.