7-Eleven’s Craft Beer Store in Yokohama Hammerhead, Japan

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‘Kanpai’ to the special 7-Eleven craft beer store in Yokohama, Japan!

A trip to any 7-Eleven Japan store is always a treat, but this particular 7-Eleven has hundreds of Japanese craft beers and international craft beers from all over the world (with plans to have over 1,000 different beers).

7-Eleven’s Craft Beer Store in Yokohama Hammerhead, Japan

Unlike any other 7-Eleven in Japan we’ve been to, Yokohama’s Hammerhead 7-Eleven is craft beer heaven, with row upon row of chillers chock full of craft beer. There is even branded brewery merchandise like pint glasses, Japanese beer mats and can coolers.

From what to find in the beer fridges to why this has become one of the most famous 7-Elevens in Japan and on social media, here is our ultimate guide to 7-Eleven’s craft beer store in Yokohama (Hammerhead), Japan:

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Table of Contents

7-Eleven’s Crazy Craft Beer

Given there are over 22,000 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan as of 2024, it is one of the largest sellers of beer in Japan. But most stores generally sell the mass manufactured beers like Asahi and Kirin, plus a small selection of craft beers.

However, the Yokohama Hammerhead 7-Eleven store has reinvented itself as a first port of call for Japan craft beer connoisseurs, stocking cabinets full of beautifully designed beer-cans; it is almost like it has become a Japanese museum of beer!

As such, this particular 7-Eleven has become famous on social media (some even calling it a crazy 7-Eleven) by focusing on beers – and yes, you can still get your normal Japanese convenience store staples like fried chicken / karaage and egg sandwiches but the focus here is craft beer (definitely our kind of 7-Eleven!)

It is also a fitting location as Yokohama is often referred to as ‘Japan’s city of beer’.

You might like – Guide to Japanese 7-Eleven stores or how to use 7-Eleven ATMS in Japan

The Story Behind 7-Eleven Yokohama Hammerheads

So how did this famous Japanese 7-Eleven dedicated to craft beer come about?

Well, part of the reason this 7-Eleven decided to rip up the rule book and focus more on beer was that this particular store relied very heavily on tourist trade from the nearby cruise terminal, with passengers frequently buying goods here as they went to and from their cruise ships.

The Hammerhead Yokohama 7-Eleven opened in 2019 and all was going well with trade until a global pandemic hit in 2020 and cruise ships stopped overnight.

Faced with a smaller number of foreign passengers and footfall in this store overlooking the harbour, operator Keitaro Nakayama decided change was needed – and that change was to be craft-beer (クラフトビール) or “ji-biru” (地ビール).

After closing for several weeks due to the pandemic, Nakayama reopened the store with a new found zeal and passion and decided to go big on craft beer.

This Yokohama 7-Eleven craft beer store is truly is a thing of beauty and a pleasure to walk around, choosing beer cans from multiple beer fridges.

7-Eleven Craft Beer Store in Yokohama Hammerhead, Japan

Ironically, Nakayama was not even a drinker before he stumbled on this ingenious idea to increase interest in the store and raise the profile of the Hammerhead 7-Eleven to local / domestic shoppers in Japan.

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A look inside the 7-Eleven craft beer store in Yokohama

Hammerhead 7-Eleven is a truly hoppy and hedonistic experience – as soon as you walk in, the first thing that hits you is that it is truly unlike any other 7-Eleven in Japan.

As well as wall to wall craft beer displays and chiller cabinets, you’ll see large neon brewery signs for such brands as Founders Brewing or Disco Ninja from the USA.

Whilst there are Japanese and European breweries represented (there is even a British cider and beer section marked with a Union Jack flag), many of the chiller cabinets are dedicated to USA craft beer brands (and the choice is epic).

Half the fun of exploring Japan’s biggest 7-Eleven beer collection is discovering beer brands and cool can designs that you’ve never seen or tasted before.

Our joy in finding a Japanese Two Rabbits Brewing DDH DIPA beer called ‘F- – – Its Cold’ with a rabbit in a wooly hat cannot be overstated enough (it tasted amazing too).

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Example craft beer breweries at 7-Eleven Yokohama Hammerhead

Based on our walk around the store, we’d say there must be over 500 different craft beers to browse, buy and enjoy (but obviously not in one sitting!)

As you’d expect from any beer shop, choices and selections vary all the time (which is half the fun to be honest as you are never too sure what to expect when you visit).

The beer fridges are separated out and there are around 10 fridges around the store dedicated to craft beer – the selection is organised by country of brewing origin plus beer types.

Japanese Craft Beers

Some of the Japanese craft beers included at the 7-Eleven craft beer store in Yokohama include:

Ramen Boy Beer from Fukuoka Craft Brewing, Japan (the cans look amazing)

Be Easy Brewing – Royal Milk Tea Shake and Oketa Hazy IPA

Udon Brewing Tsukimi Udon Hazy IPA

Number 9 Brewery, which is actually based next door to the 7-Eleven; they even brew a Hammerhead Ale (a New Zealand Style Pale Ale)

And yes, you can still buy the likes of Kirin and Asahi (but given all the amazing Japanese craft beers available here, you probably shouldn’t be buy the mass produced ones).

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International craft beers

Beers from all over the world are represented including strong Belgian beer, UK beer and Australian beer. The main focus seems to be American / USA craft beer breweries.

Some of the craft beer brands and ciders available including beers from

Moon Dog Craft Brewery from Australia (look out for their Cognac Barrel Ageds Truffle Imperial Stout called Jumping the Shark featuring a cartoon representation of Fonz from the Happy Days – ehhhhhhhh!)

Delirium Tremens from Belgium (strong !)

Samuel Smiths beers from the UK like oatmeal stout or apricot organic

Level Beer Dry Hopped Pilsner from Portland – we love the fact this can design features Pac-Man and is now on display in the country that gave ‘birth’ to Pac-Man

Crooked Stave Brewery from Colorado , USA

Lua Brewing from Des Moines, Iowa (their Burner Account includes a hint of Vanilla Sandwich Cookies).

Bale Breaker Brewery from Washington, USA

Vitamin Sea Brewing from Massachusetts, America

Revision Brewing from Nevada (gotta love their Disco Ninja)

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7-Eleven craft beer prices

The craft beer prices in 7-Eleven Japan Yokohama Hammerhead store varies, but 330ml craft beer cans start from around 500 Yen upwards (plus tax). This is around £2.60 / $3.30 USD / Euros) based on a can of Number 9 Brewery Hammerhead IPA.

To be fair, the Number 9 Yokohama brewery is literally next door to the 7-Eleven so the ‘transport costs’ must be cheap!

There are more expensive craft beers available like a larger can of West Coast Brewing Red Light costing 1,812 Yen – so the price range is quite varied and there may be more expensive craft beers available.

In terms of comparison, a large can of Sapporo Beer in Japan 7-Eleven costs around 275 Yen plus tax (as does say Premium Malts or Asahi).

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Beer Merchandise

7-Eleven Yokohama Hammerhead is also blessed with beer and brewery merchandise.

There are a couple of shelves to browse including branded pint glasses (as beer always tastes better in proper beer glasses).

From New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Can Sleeves (707 Yen) to various beermats (100 Yen), there are lots to browse and buy.

We had our eyes on the Belgian style brasserie beer glasses branded with Delirium Tremens and their pink elephant.

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Hammer-Decking

Yes, you read that right. ‘Hammer-decking’ – this is the term the Hammerhead 7-Eleven store owner has termed for craft beer fans who buy lots of beers in the store, bring their own beer glasses then head up to the upper levels of Hammerhead to enjoy them with a panoramic view of the ocean.

We are here for ‘Hammer-Decking’ and craft beer brews with views. It is also great to see that the fortunes of this one particular 7-Eleven have turned around due to the passion of the local population who love good beer (plus tourists seeking out Japanese craft beers).

Please also note 7-Eleven Japan does not sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 20 and age verification is in process.

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Where can I find the 7-Eleven craft beer store in Yokohama

7-Eleven Hammerhead Yokohama and its huge craft beer collection is located in the Hammerhead shopping complex, a 2 minute walk from the Cup Noodles Museum.

Yokohama is approximately 1 hour by train or car from Tokyo.

Whilst the special themed 7-Eleven in Yokohama is an easy day trip from Tokyo, we’d recommend spending a couple of days in Yokohama as there is lots to do there including many craft-beer related activities like the Yokohama Brewery, Revue Brewery and the Kirin Yokohama Brewery Village Tour.

The craft beer 7-Eleven Hammerhead is located in the port area of Yokohama very close to the Air Cabins cable car and Red Brick Warehouse.

By train

The Hammerhead 7-Eleven in Yokohama Is a short walk from either Minato Mirai Station, Bashamichi Station or the JR/Shieichikatetsu Sakuragicho Station.

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Other craft beer bars in Yokohama

There are lots of things to do in Yokohama including several breweries and craft beer bars. Our favourite Yokohama craft beer spots include:

Yokohama Brewery

The original Yokohama Brewery was high on our Yokohama hop hit-list and we had such a fun night working our way through the taps.

Located across two floors, Yokohama brewery has a cute and compact brewery bar on the ground floor plus a much bigger restaurant upstairs.

The original Yokohama Brewery was established in 1999 and such is the following, it even has a gift-shop and beer merchandise you can take home.

If you only go to one craft beer brewery in Japan’s city of beer, make it the original Yokohama Brewery.

Revo Brewing

A ‘review’ of Revo Brewing in Yokohama. Located in the basement area of our hotel (APA Hotel and Resort Tower Yokohama), the Revo Brewing taproom serves up a huge range of own-brewed craft beers plus has an industrial interior.