Kirin Beer Fukuoka Plant Tour Review 2026: Tasting & Tips

As someone who dreams of visiting every beer factory across Japan,

I recently visited the Kirin Beer Factory in Fukuoka!

In this post, I'll share my firsthand experience on

the Kirin Beer Fukuoka Factory tour, beer tasting,

and even a peek at the souvenir shop.

How to get to the factory and make reservations will be covered in a separate post,

as it's quite a bit of information! I'll add the link below!

When I visited in August, the participation fee was 500 yen,

but from October 1, 2026, onwards,

the tour fee will increase to 1,000 yen.

Tour reservations open on the 1st of every month

for tours up to the end of the following month, so keep that in mind!

Kirin Beer Factory Tour Check-in

Kirin Beer Fukuoka Plant · 3601 Mada, Asakura, Fukuoka 838-0058, Japanmaps.app.goo.gl

I booked the first tour at 10 AM,

but since I was departing from Tenjin, I had to start moving by 8 AM,

which made it a bit tiring.

If you prefer a more relaxed start, I recommend a tour after 11 AM.

As you enter the factory, you'll immediately find the reception desk.

After stating your reserved name and confirming the important notes,

they'll give you a tour wristband.

The check-in was simple, as there was even a staff member who spoke Korean.

Although the factory tour is conducted in Japanese,

you can scan a QR code to view a Korean translation

on your smartphone and follow along.

Please note that once the tour begins, you cannot use the restroom,

so be sure to go beforehand!

Kirin Beer Factory Tour Begins

The tour began with a video on Kirin Beer's history

and the beer production process.

Afterward, we followed the guide,

listening to explanations about the brewing process and quality control.

In the next area, we got to see and touch the raw materials for beer:

malt and hops.

The hops didn't smell great, to be honest...

You can even try eating the malt,

it's nutty and delicious, but be careful – the husks tend to get stuck in your teeth 😓

Up to this point, the process was similar to the Suntory Beer Factory

I visited before.

Next, we got to see the fascinating process of malt being transformed into wort and explore the actual brewing facilities.

I couldn't help but wonder if all of that would truly become delicious beer, and all I could think was how amazing it would taste! 🫢

Here, you can even have the unique experience of directly comparing and tasting the first-extraction wort and the second-extraction wort.

It felt less like beer and more like a sweet beverage...?

With its subtle sweetness and savory notes, it tasted like a sweetened version of *nurungji-cha* (scorched rice tea) or barley tea.

We also briefly learned about the vital role yeast plays in the beer fermentation process.

Finally, the tour concluded after a short video summarized the captivating story of Kirin Ichiban Shibori one last time.

Beer Tasting

Honestly, what I was most looking forward to, even more than the beer-making process itself, was the beer tasting!

After the tour, you can head to the tasting area and savor fresh draft beer brewed right here at the factory.

Each person can enjoy up to three glasses, and for those who prefer, non-alcoholic beer and soft drinks are also available.

The tasting area is thoughtfully arranged with plenty of tables, so you're free to choose any spot you like.

Along with your beer, you can self-serve one complimentary snack per person.

The snack in the picture went so incredibly well with the beer that I just had to buy some at the souvenir shop!

The first one I got was the classic Kirin Ichiban Shibori.

Being draft beer straight from the factory, the foam was incredibly smooth and it was wonderfully refreshing – I felt happy from the very first sip.

Next up was the Kirin Ichiban Shibori Premium.

It had a slightly richer flavor than the regular Ichiban, and while it wasn't intensely bitter, it was incredibly smooth. Personally, the Premium was more to my taste.

And finally, the dark beer!

I don't usually drink dark beer, so this time only my boyfriend tried it.

He mentioned it was his first time having a dark draft beer, and that it tasted much better than the canned version. He described the flavor as a bit richer, with that unique bitterness of dark beer being quite appealing.

And just like that, after a delightful tasting of five glasses for two of us,

our enjoyable tasting session came to an end!

After finishing our beers,

we headed straight to the souvenir shop next door to have a look around.

From Kirin Beer merchandise

to actual beers, snacks, and factory-exclusive souvenirs,

they had a fantastic variety of products on sale.

What I coveted most, of course, was the Kirin beer glass.

There were designs similar to the glasses we used during the tasting,

and even special glasses said to enhance the beer's flavor!

As tempting as they were, I had to pass because my home already has way too many beer glasses 🥲

Since the snacks we had during the tasting were so delicious, I grabbed a pack,

and because I'm a magnet collector, I also picked out a Kirin Beer magnet.

Though many things caught my eye, I limited myself to just two purchases!

Our tour was complete, along with the delightful tasting!

Rather than just a simple factory tour,

there were so many hands-on experiences – seeing, tasting, and drinking firsthand –

that I enjoyed it far more than I expected.

Kirin Beer Farm

Opening Hours: 11:00~22:00

Last Order: 21:00

Across from the factory,

you'll also find a restaurant called Kirin Beer Farm.

Since there aren't many dining options directly around the factory,

it's a great place to stop for a meal before or after your tour.

When I visited, they were running a Summer Curry Fair,

so there was a fantastic array of dishes like Butter Chicken Curry, Hakata Wagyu Curry,

and more.

If you purchased the Kirin Garden coupon introduced in my post on 'How to Get to Kirin Beer Factory',

it also comes with a discount voucher for the Beer Farm.

If you plan to dine there, be sure to bring it along and use it!

Personally, among the four beer factories I've visited – Sapporo, Asahi, Suntory, and Kirin –

this one was the most satisfying experience.

Although the price will increase from October and it takes a bit of time to get there,

the chance to drink fresh, factory-direct beer for 500 yen per person

was an incredibly valuable and joyful experience.

If you're a fan of Japanese beer, I highly recommend visiting it at least once during your Fukuoka trip :)

How to Get to the Fukuoka Kirin Beer Factory Tourblog.naver.com

Fukuoka Kirin Beer Factory: How to Book Your Tour and Apply for a Factory Visitblog.naver.com