Yoko Kawakami
My Eyes Tokyo E/J Translator
Do you know that there are many Japanese companies which open their facilities to the public and have museums about their products? If you don’t, you might be missing a very interesting side of Japan.
Unfortunately, however, many companies have facilities/museums tours only in Japanese and not so many Japanese companies prepare facilities/museums tours in English or in other languages for foreign guests.
Even if there are tours in these languages, the tour information is somehow not so easy to find on their web pages or other media. We, at MET, are afraid that this means Japan’s losing the chance to introduce its own attractive side to the world. Can we call this fact Omotenashi, or Japanese hospitality, to foreign guests?
Here, in this series of articles, we would like to introduce these companies which prepare their own tours in English or other languages, so that you can try them without any sense of hesitation. The first company we would like to introduce is a beer brewery, which is a cool place to spend a hot and humid summer day!
Asahi Brewery (Ibaraki Prefecture)
Photo from web
Asahi Breweries, well-known by its mega-hit dry beer called “Asahi Super Dry“, offers English tours in their factory in Ibaraki Prefecture, near Tokyo. Here you can see the whole process of brewing beer. You can even touch the actual barley and hops. The most attractive point of this tour would be that you can try up to three glasses of fresh beer per person for 20 minutes FOR FREE! (but after watching a short movie and walking through the whole brewing processes.) For the people who don’t drink beer and children, soft drinks will be served. The tour will be about 90 minutes. Please note that a reservation is needed by PHONE for an English-speaking guide.
Reservations and inquiries:
Phone: +81-297-45-7335 from overseas or 0297-45-7335 from inside Japan.
Fax: +81-297-45-7761 from overseas or 0297-45-7761 from inside Japan.
Phone hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Address: 1-1-1 Midori, Moriya, Ibaraki 302-0106 JAPAN
*The nearest station: Moriya Station on Tsukuba Express Line (About 45 minutes from Akihabara station. Costs ¥830 )
*There are free shuttle buses from Moriya Station to the factory (*Reservations are needed!). It takes about 10 minutes from the station to the factory.
Tour hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Holiday: Year end and New Year’s Day, plus designated holidays.
For more information: See http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/brewery/language/english/
Photo from web
Before you go to facilities/museums tours in Japan
Please note that there are some points you need to be aware of:
● Do not forget to make reservations! Companies need time to prepare interpreters or other materials.
● Be punctual. The tour time is arranged in accordance with the facilities’ operation times.
● Follow the directions of the guides. At some places, you may not be allowed to take a photo or go into specific areas due to the company’s secret policy.
● Keep quiet while you walk through the facilities. Remember, the place is basically a working place for the people.
Yoko Kawakami
A cat lover who admires the power of humor. Also an organizer of an international karaoke club in Tokyo. Enjoy karaoke together at the Meetup group “Enjoy Karaoke Together“!!!
*Edited by Daniel Penso
*Produced by Chieko Tanaka (My Eyes Tokyo)
