Ino-chan

[Ginza 7-chome] The oldest surviving beer hall in Japan
"Beer Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store"


Hello everyone. How are you going to spend the refreshing fresh green season?
In Japan, there has been a change in the environment surrounding the world. I feel like a real spring has finally come.
You may say that you have been able to make a toast with your friends without any worries.
So this time, I would like to talk about the beer hall that is perfect for your current mood.


※On May 8, 2023, COVID-19 infection shifted its position from "new influenza and other infectious diseases" to "class 5 infectious diseases." The government is no longer required to respond uniformly to basic infection control measures, and it is now based on the voluntary efforts of individuals and businesses.

A cafe born in the Meiji era

When I first took the Chuo-ku Tourism Test (hereinafter referred to as the test), the local test of Chuo-ku, I remembered the name of the cafe born in Chuo-ku during the Meiji era.

In March 1911, "Cafe Plantan" was first created in Ginza in March 1911, and "Cafe Lion" in August. It is up to this point in the official text of the test, "Chuo-ku Monoshiri Encyclopedia", but in December of the same year, "Cafe Paulista" continues. As a Beatles fan, I have known the name "Cafe Paulista" since childhood.
 
For more information about John Lennon, a member of The Beatles, and Café Paulista, please refer to this article.
 
Cafe Paulista, 'Paulista old, John & Yoko by Ginzo (August 2020)

There is another name of the cafe that appears in "Chuo-ku Monoshiri Encyclopedia", which can be walked on. It is "Maizon Konosu", which opened under the armor bridge in the summer of 1910 (1910), earlier than Ginza. In the certification, even in the question that answers this "Maison Konosu" correctly, the above three Ginza cafes may be the option. There were times when I asked the order of founding by mixing it with me.
 
Among them, if the question is, "Opening at the current Ginza 5-chome corner, the female salary brought food and sake and attracted many customers," the answer is "Cafe Lion". As a cafe problem that comes when you forget it, it has been frequently asked so far, so if you take the test, there is no loss to remember.
 
This "Cafe Lion" will eventually turn into a familiar Ginza Lion in the beer hall. The place where Cafe Lion was founded is now GINZA PLACE (Ginza Place), and the Lion Ginza 5-chome store continues to operate as the "Lion's Birthplace".
 
The relationship between "Cafe Lion", which was run by Seiyoken Tsukiji during the Meiji era, and Ginza Lion is familiar with this archive.

Cafe by CAM in Ginza (October 16, 2015)
Cafe in Ginza (2) by CAM (October 21, 2015)
Cafe in Ginza (3) by CAM (October 21, 2015)


Even though management and business type changed, many people have been called "Ginza Lion", and the brand called Ginza Lion was born.

Beer hall instead of beer hall

After briefly reviewing the history of Ginza Lion, from here we will focus on the beer hall lion in Ginza 7-chome among the Ginza Lion operated by Sapporo Lion Co., Ltd., and finally introduce the specialty menu.

 [Ginza 7-chome] The oldest existing beer hall in Japan, "Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store"

Ginza Lion Building
There are six-story Sapporo Lion restaurants on each floor with different business formats.


I came to Ginza Lion Building. This is the place where the Ginza Bear Hall, which opened in 1918 (1918), was located. The current building was built in 1934 (1934), and the Bear Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome store on the first floor is known as the oldest existing Bear Hall in Japan. The interior conveys the atmosphere of the time of construction as it is today (top image).

A 6-meter-high ceiling and a deep-colored tile are solid pillars with a strict taste. Surrounded by colorful murals, the space looks like a European cathedral.

 [Ginza 7-chome] The oldest existing beer hall in Japan, "Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store"

Mural with glass mosaic
For the first time, all glass mosaics were made by Japanese hands. It brings brightness and the spread of space to the wall without windows.

The first beer hall in Japan was the Ebi Jubiya Hall, which was created in 1899 (1899). It was located in Kitazume in Shimbashi, opposite the current Ginza Hakuhinkan (at that time, the Imperial Hakuhinkan Kan Factory). It is said that the interior was Yorinaka Tsumaki, who later worked on the decoration of Nihonbashi. I wanted to see the shop at that time with my eyes.

 [Ginza 7-chome] The oldest existing beer hall in Japan, "Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store"

High ceiling suitable for the name of the hall
It is said that the black soot is a remnant of a bonfire to warm up during the war when it was a beer hall dedicated to the army after the war.


The Sapporo Lion offers half-day draft beer at each chain store every year on August 4th, when the Ebi Jubiya Hall opened, as “Bear Hall Day”.
 
After this, we will introduce the Ginza Lion's specialty beer and the specialty menu that is all thought to suit beer one by one.

Ginza Lion's specialty menu

Ginza Lion's specialty menu [Ginza 7-chome] The oldest existing beer hall in Japan, "Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store".

Sapporo draft beer black label large jokki

The first drink is a long-selling brand that has a reputation for ease of drinking.

 [Ginza 7-chome] The oldest existing beer hall in Japan, "Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store"

4 fried LION chicken

I ordered the first one. When you come to the beer hall, it's a representative of what you definitely want to eat. You can order from 2 pieces.

 [Ginza 7-chome] The oldest existing beer hall in Japan, "Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store"

Stewed beer hall

It is different from the stewed izakaya, a stewed beer hall like beef stew. It's very confusing because it's placed in a bottle. It's Western style, but I'll also have chopsticks.

 [Ginza 7-chome] The oldest existing beer hall in Japan, "Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store"

Bitter hole sausage

When I look at the sausage with Za Worklaut, I feel that "I came to the home of beer." Depending on your preference, there was also a combination of 6 types of chorisa and sausage.

 [Ginza 7-chome] The oldest existing beer hall in Japan, "Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store"

Yebisu & Ebisu (half & half) large jokki

Next, from the Yebisu Beer brand, which has been loved for more than 130 years, the Yebisu Beer and the half & half of Yebisu Premium Black with a unique aroma.

 [Ginza 7-chome] The oldest existing beer hall in Japan, "Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store"

Stir-fry spaghetti Napolitan (small size)

Neapolitan of the coffee shop nor Napolitan of a Western restaurant, Neapolitan of the beer hall. It's the taste of beer.

 [Ginza 7-chome] The oldest existing beer hall in Japan, "Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store"

Ginza roast beef Japanese-style sauce

A limited amount of roast beef of Ginza Lion's specialty. When the announcement of the baking echoed throughout the hall, orders were received from people's tables all at once. You can choose the sauce from Japanese-style sauce or gravy sauce.

These specialty menus can be tasted at shops other than the Ginza 7-chome store, except for some of them. Ginza Lion from all over the country also have local menus, so it's fun to try out the unique menu of the shop.

"In the world's best building. To become Japan's leading beer hall that will remain until later generations."

Ginza Lion Building, 89 years after its completion. The time spent in the beer hall where most of the interiors are as they were at the time is exceptional. The historic and stately building became the registered Tangible Cultural Property last year. At that time, I was introduced on this blog, so I think readers will be new to my memory.
 
A toast to registration at Tangible Cultural Property! Mr. by Shinshin (April 30, 2022)
 

 [Ginza 7-chome] The oldest existing beer hall in Japan, "Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store"

Large glass mosaic mural in front of the store
Glass mosaics of about 250 colors are used, 2.75 meters long and 5.75 meters wide.

The Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome store just recently was featured as a "today's work" in a TV Tokyo program on the theme of art appreciation called "Niimi Giants" (broadcast on May 13, 2023).

The murals of 12 large and small glass mosaics, which the architect himself drew a sketch and commissioned a domestic glass craftsman to produce, are truly works of art. In particular, the large mural in front of the store is a symbol of the beer hall lion. The building with a chimney drawn in the distance is a beer factory that used to be in Ebisu. Please take a closer look when you visit the shop.

If you would like to see more about the inside of the store, we recommend this video.

Bear Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome store [HD] (YouTube)

It is a wonderful video with a sense of realism that conveys the liveliness of today along with the appearance at the time of construction and the atmosphere of the Showa era. Whether you're a first-time person, a gobusa, or a regular person will surely want to visit the shop.

Ginza Lion-related article

Store Information

Store Information [Ginza 7-chome] The oldest existing beer hall in Japan, "Viya Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome Store"

Bear Hall Lion Ginza 7-chome store
https://www.ginzalion.jp/shop/brand/lionginza7/

7-9-20 Ginza Lion Building 1F, Ginza, Chuo-ku

Check the event information of each store on Twitter!
Official Account of Sapporo Lion
https://twitter.com/GINZALION_PR

To make a reservation for each Ginza Lion store, please use "Search for Shops" from the official website.
https://www.ginzalion.jp/