Hotel Nikko Tsukuba (Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture; General Manager: Satoshi Furusawa) will host a Makers' Dinner event on Saturday, August 8, 2026, as the first installment of a new series called "つくばのおさけでテロワールを愉しむ" (Savoring Terroir through Tsukuba's Drinks). The event pairs a brewery tour with a special French cuisine pairing dinner.
Tsukuba City is home to traditional sake breweries alongside distinctive wineries and breweries. This series brings together local producers for a combination of brewery tours and Makers' Dinners, allowing guests to experience the passion of the makers and the character of the local terroir through food and drink pairings.
The first event in the series focuses on つくばブルワリー (Tsukuba Brewery), Tsukuba City's first craft beer brewery, which opened in 2020. Participants travel by hotel vehicle to the brewery at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba, where they can explore the brewing process and learn firsthand about the brewery's approach to craft beer.
After returning to the hotel, guests enjoy a special five-course French dinner by Executive Chef 髙栖克之 paired with Tsukuba Brewery's craft beers. Chef Pâtissier Teruyuki Hirata will also present a creative dessert and craft beer pairing to close the evening.
The event features guest speakers 延時崇幸, brewer at Tsukuba Brewery, and ホップひろ (Hop Hiro), a Beer Navigator certified by the Beer & Spirits Advisor Association, who will share insights from the producer's perspective and the secrets of food and beer pairing.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026
Time: 2:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Reception from 2:15 PM)
Venues:
- Brewery tour: つくばブルワリー (Tsukuba Brewery), 2980-1 Tsukuba, Tsukuba City
- Makers' Dinner: Hotel Nikko Tsukuba, Main Building 2F, Restaurant Serena
Program:
- Tsukuba Brewery tour (complimentary shuttle service)
- Visit to Tsukuba Ham direct sales store "Tsukuba Jinya"
- Five-course French dinner paired with five craft beers (with commentary by Beer Navigator Hop Hiro)
- Discussion session with the producer and Beer Navigator
Price: ¥15,500 (tax and service charge included)
※ Non-alcoholic plan available at ¥14,000; accommodation set plan available at ¥26,000 per person (based on double occupancy) — all prices inclusive of tax and service charge.
Capacity: 30 guests
Cooperation: Tsukuba Brewery, Tsukuba no Osake Suishin Kyogikai
Reservations: Peatix (advance online payment) https://tsukutabi-osake2601.peatix.com
Guests
延時崇幸 — Brewer, Tsukuba Brewery
Drawn by a desire to build a community-rooted business that would be loved for generations, 延時崇幸 entered the world of craft beer. Through trial and error and dedicated study from scratch, he produces beer with a steadfast commitment to ingredients, water quality, and brewing methods. He opened Tsukuba City's first brewery in 2020, and in spring 2024 established a new facility to brew beer using the natural water from Mt. Tsukuba. His work connects people through "Tsukuba's beer," drawing on the bountiful nature and Ibaraki agricultural produce of the region.
ホップひろ (Hop Hiro) — Beer Navigator, certified by the Beer & Spirits Advisor Association
Pursuing the pairing of cuisine and craft beer, Hop Hiro works to spread the appeal of craft beer through social media outreach and restaurant event supervision. With an eye on regional resources and upcycling values, he continues to connect local communities and the future through craft beer.
About "Tsukutabi"
Launched in October 2022, "Tsukutabi" is a new venture by Hotel Nikko Tsukuba, built around the vision of providing a "Craft Life" — a lifestyle in which guests shape their own way of living, working, and enjoying leisure, free from the pressures of mainstream trends. The initiative brings together participating guests, local community members, and hotel staff to create value through travel experiences, learning, and regional engagement.
Official website: https://www.nikko-tsukuba.com/tsukutabi/
