The steamy Tokyo summer can be an unforgiving beast, but when the sun has left us, and the concrete starts to cool a little, the Tokyo summer nights are some of the best moments of the entire year. As the evenings get warmer and the days get longer, it’s time to embrace the city’s after-dark attractions and one of the best ways to do so is by getting out and exploring the diverse beer garden and outdoor bar scene. From pop-up bars on mountains to secret suburban gardens, here are some of the best outdoor drinking spots in the city. 

Shimokitazawa Cage, Shimokitazawa

Positioned just a short stroll from Shimokitazawa Station, underneath the tracks is where you’ll find Shimokitazawa Cage. This industrial-chic hangout was initially designed to be a temporary pop-up bar, but over the last few years, it’s become such an integral Shimokita institution. The space hosts a permanent restaurant serving Asian fusion fare, cocktails, and frosty cold beers as well as a rotating roster of public events, including market stands, record fairs and is also home to and the odd food truck or two. This eccentric corner of Shimokita is close enough to all the action to offer plenty of excellent people watching opportunities but still retains the authentically laid-back Shimokita vibe. 

Web: http://s-cage.com/

Petit Garden, Shimokitazawa

As its name suggests, this cozy drinking spot is a teeny-tiny beer garden tucked away in the back streets of Shimokitazawa. Flanked with lush green foliage, this oasis in central Shimokita feels intimate, but never too crowded. The bar serves a cross section of local and international brews, and if you’re feeling a little peckish following a long afternoon of boozing in the sun, the crew in the kitchen serves up plenty of beer snacks including pizza, cheese platters and Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.   

Web: http://www.petitgarden.net/ 

Beer Mount, Mt. Takao

It may be a little out of the way, but Mt Takao’s very own summer beer garden Beer Mount is well worth the journey if you have the time. Takao Beer Mount is technically the highest beer garden in Tokyo, at an elevation of 500 metres, and the view doesn’t disappoint; on a clear day, you can even see the glittering lights of Tokyo’s denser neighbourhoods. As is indicative of many beer gardens in Tokyo, this one runs on a nomihodai and tabehodai (all you can drink and eat) system. Two hours at the buffet and bar costs JPY 3,800 for men and JPY 3,600 for women, so it’s pretty possible to make your money back. The one thing to be wary of though is the bar shuts at 9 pm and the last cable car down the mountain leaves at 9:40 +pm, so don’t dawdle!

Web: https://www.urban-inc.co.jp/tokyotakao/shop/beermt/ 

Commune 2nd, Aoyama

Without question, Aoyama’s Commune 2nd is a failsafe Tokyo summer staple. Located within walking distance from Harajuku, Shibuya, Omotesando, and even Roppongi, this food truck park, open beer garden, community space hybrid is a summer must. The predominantly outdoor space is one of the very few vegan and vegetarian havens in Tokyo, making it perfect for those organising casual catch-ups with larger groups of people. As well as vegetarian-friendly food trucks there are plenty of offerings for the hardcore carnivore too, including burger and schnitzel stands. If you’re looking for somewhere to stop mid-way through the day for a caffeinated pick me up, or a comfortable place to unwind after a long week at work, Commune 246 ticks all the boxes.

Web: http://commune2nd.com/

Yanaka Beer Hall, Yanaka

A leisurely stroll from Nippori or Ueno Stations — on the JR Yamanote Line — sits Yanaka, a corner of Tokyo dripping with rustic old-world charm. This neighbourhood is dotted with plenty of well-maintained, untouched Showa-era homes, many of which have been turned into small businesses like retail outlets and cafes. Yanaka Beer Hall, though is one of the standout spots in the area. This charming little craft beer outpost also shares space with a bakery, event space, and gourmet condiment store. Order a craft brew from the outside window, and soak up this refreshingly relaxed side of the city.

Web: https://www.facebook.com/yanakabeerhall

Gado-shita, Shinbashi Yurakucho 

For those who want to go deep into Tokyo life and drink like a local, Gado-shita, aka “Salaryman Heaven”, is the place to go when the evening kicks into gear. Located between the train stations of  Shinbashi and Yurakucho, two of the most office-populated pockets of the city, Gado-shita is a strip of rowdy izakaya and smokey yakitori joints that flow out onto the street when the warmer months allow. It may be a little busier than some of the more refined beer gardens, but it’s an excellent place to enjoy a cheap frosty beer or two and chat with the Tokyo locals. 

Address:  2-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0006, Japan

Ginza Sky Beer Terrace, Ginza 

If you’re going to treat yourself to an evening drink or two, you may as well do it in style, and there’s not outdoor beer and cocktail garden glitzier than the Ginza Sky Beer Terrace.  Found on the 13th floor of Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan, also known as Tokyo Traffic Hall, this European-inspired garden oozes Ginza opulence with its Marunouchi skyline views, ambient golden lighting premium drinks like and sophisticated Asian-Western fusion cuisine. 

Web: https://www.kaikan.co.jp/branch/skylounge/ 

By Lucy Dayman 

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