Beer Gardens

“Nagoya not noted for being one of the “prettiest” cities in the world has a lot of concrete which heats the place up considerably during the summer months. With the station area a mass of new high rise buildings and few green areas, where to go  and escape the 36 degrees and sip a cool beer is an important question.  However, in amongst the towering constructions, the rooftops of many of the buildings seem more than just flat grey slabs:- Many of these roofed areas are home to the “Japanese Beer Garden”. In the traditional sense, the ‘Beer Garden’ suggests an outside setting off the back of an English style pub, open during the summer and comprising of a few wooden benches are chairs.  Not in Japan.  The ‘garden’ element is still a little confusing, as not a blade of grass can be seen (unless it’s plastic), but the ‘Beer’ element certainly holds true! For around 2 hours and 3500 yen you can usually eat and drink as much as you like in a lively setting with all manner of groups (company workers, students, families, rowdy foreingers etc) soaking up the atmosphere.   Below we have some details on where best to go!”