Japanese owner brings Pacific Northwest culture to downtown Tokyo taproom

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – A bar in downtown Tokyo serves Oregon-brewed beers, displays Portland Trail Blazers gear and features the famous PDX carpet, creating a slice of Portland 4,900 miles away.

Miyuki Hiramatsu owns PDX Taproom in Shibuya, where Portland Timbers fans gather and Oregon memorabilia covers the walls. The bar stocks 10 taps of Oregon beer and attracts customers who have lived in or visited Portland.

“Our customers are people who love Portland. Also who have experience Portland before, so those people come to my bar to feel like home,” Hiramatsu said.

Hiramatsu lived and attended school in Portland before returning to Tokyo, where she opened the bar 10 years ago. She makes regular trips back to the Pacific Northwest to meet with brewers and maintain her Oregon connections.

“I come to visit to talk to people and talk to brewers and to show my appreciation,” she said.

The bar’s guest book contains messages from visitors around the world, but mostly from Oregonians. Former Oregon Governor Kate Brown visited twice and left a note reading “Cheers to the best beers from Oregon. We love you,” signed “Governor Katie B.”

About 50 percent of the bar’s customers come from overseas, with most from Oregon, Hiramatsu said. Portland visitors often bring Trail Blazers and Timbers merchandise to add to the bar’s collection.

“I tell my customers what Portland is like,” Hiramatsu said. “I like everything about Portland.”

The taproom features stickers, maps, photos and other Portland memorabilia alongside the Oregon craft beer selection.