Craft Beer Tourism in Japan- Quartet Brewing, Karuizawa, Aichi Prefecture
Located in eastern Nagano Prefecture, Karuizawa attracts many visitors, including international tourists, especially around the southern exit of the station where a popular outlet mall is located. However, the northern side, home to a historic villa district, also has a lively and charming atmosphere. About a 12-minute walk from the north exit of Karuizawa Station, you’ll find Quartet Brewing.
Quartet Brewing
Address: 1277-15 Karuizawa, Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture
From the north exit of Karuizawa Station, head straight north past the rotary and continue walking. You’ll soon spot the Karuizawa New Art Museum on your left. Along this road, there are a few cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops scattered here and there. True to its reputation as a villa area, the surroundings are uncluttered and ideal for a leisurely stroll. With few tall buildings, the road offers an open view, and on clear days, you can see the faint outline of mountains in front of you, adding to the sense of being immersed in nature.
Diagonally across from the Karuizawa New Art Museum, you'll see a banner that reads "Craft Beer" in the window of a building—this is Quartet Brewing, located on the ground floor.

As you step into the brewery, the first thing you notice is the brewing equipment in the back. When I visited on a Friday evening, I could see a brewer bustling around at work. To the left, there was a large refrigerator filled not only with their own beers but also selections from international craft breweries. On the right side, there was a row of taps and a counter. The interior mainly features high tables and high chairs, and a few groups of customers were already enjoying themselves when I arrived.


Since I still had work to finish, I couldn’t drink there, but I looked into the fridge to pick up some cans to go. A sign on the fridge indicated to ask the counter staff directly, so I turned to the counter and placed my order.

I chose the American IPA and Brillante Hazy IPA.
The staff efficiently pulled out two brand-new aluminum cans, rinsed them using a rinser to clean the inside, and filled them directly from the tap. The cans were a slightly larger 500ml size, compared to the more common 350ml. For some reason, that larger size made the price feel more reasonable—it might just be a psychological effect.

Quartet Brewing – Craft Beer Tourism Based in Karuizawa, Nagano
When people think of Karuizawa, many associate it with Yona Yona Ale, one of the pioneering craft beers in Japan, brewed by YoHo Brewing, which is also based in Karuizawa. While they operate two breweries in the area, neither is open to the public—though during the summer season, tours are held at their Saku facility.
Also nearby is Karuizawa Brewery, known for producing the Karuizawa Beer brand that can be found in supermarkets and tourist shops. This brewery is located just a five-minute drive from YoHo’s Saku facility and offers regular factory tours to visitors.
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