160904-0001 - Ginza Lion Beer Hall

The famed Lion Beer Hall (銀座ライオン) on the Ginza 4-chome intersection in Tokyo, ca. 1953 (Showa 28).

The forerunner for the beer hall at this location was Café Lion, established on August 10, 1911 (Meiji 44). It was turned into a beer hall on August 30, 1931 (Showa 6).

Café Lion was established only four months after the start of Café Printemps, also on Ginza, believed to have been Japan’s first café.

Cafés like this attracted an intellectual and cultured clientele.

Japan’s first beer hall was opened on August 4, 1890 (Meiji 32). August 4 has therefore been declared “Beer Hall Day” (ビヤホールの日) in Japan.