Sake Festivals in Japan: Celebrating the Drink of the Gods

Sake, revered as the drink of the gods, has a long and storied history in Japan. It is known as not merely a rice wine beverage but an integral part of the country's cultural and spiritual practices. Throughout the year, various regions in Japan celebrate their local sake with festivals that showcase the best of their breweries, attracting sake lovers from all across Japan and the rest of the world. Join us as we journey through some of Japan’s most exciting sake festivals!

Niigata Prefecture, renowned for its high-quality rice and pristine water sources, may also be called the “kingdom of sake.” The annual Sake no Jin festival, held annually in March, is one of the largest sake events in Japan, featuring over 500 varieties of sake from nearly 100 Niigata breweries.

During this two-day event, visitors can sample a wide variety of local sake, from crisps and dry varieties to rich and full-bodied brews. Beyond tastings, visitors can join informative guided tours of the brewing process, where they can gain firsthand insight into the precise methods used to create some of the world’s most premium sake.

Where to stay in Niigata: Hotel Nikko Niigata

For sake enthusiasts attending the Sake no Jin Festival, Hotel Nikko Niigata offers an ideal location. Situated in the heart of Niigata City, this upscale hotel is just a short distance from the festival’s usual venue at Toki Messe Convention Center. After a day of tasting, guests can unwind in comfortable rooms with panoramic views of the city and the Shinano River. The hotel’s proximity to Niigata Station also makes exploring other sake breweries in the region convenient.

Ikebukuro, a vibrant district in Tokyo known for its cultural diversity and bustling cityscape, hosts the Sake Fair. 2025 details are not announced yet, but this event promises to be a grand celebration of Japan’s beloved national beverage, sake.

The event is held around July at the Sunshine City Convention Center in Ikebukuro, renowned for hosting large-scale international events. The fair features an astonishing 1,700 brewers from 45 different prefectures across Japan, each promising to bring with them their finest sakes.

Attendees will have the unique opportunity to taste rare sake, some of which are not usually available on the market, and meet master brewers behind these creations.

Where to stay in Tokyo: Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro

For those attending the Sake Fair, Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro offers excellent accommodations. Located just a short walk from the Sunshine City Convention Center, the hotel provides luxury and convenience with its well-appointed rooms and top-tier services. Guests can enjoy the scenic views of Tokyo’s skyline, unwind in the elegant bar, and dine in several gourmet restaurants.

Set in the quaint town of Saijo in Higashihiroshima, just a short journey from Hiroshima City, the Saijo Sake Festival is a revered event celebrating one of Japan’s most iconic beverages. With its rich sake brewing heritage, Saijo is home to nearly a dozen breweries.

This festival, held annually in October, coincides with the Saturday and Sunday before Japan’s Health and Sports Day – a public holiday – drawing in an impressive crowd of up to 200,000 visitors over the two-day celebration.

The festival kicks off with a symbol of the sake breweries, which is paraded from Matsuo Shrine to the festival's main staging area, where it remains throughout the event. From there, attendees have the opportunity to sample 800 varieties of sake. Over the weekend, the event space transforms into a hub of free entertainment, including live concerts and family-friendly activities.

Where to stay in Hiroshima: Mitsui Garden Hotel Hiroshima

Perfectly positioned for festival goers, Mitsui Garden Hotel Hiroshima offers modern accommodations with easy access to Saijo’s sake breweries. The hotel’s sky lounge is the ideal spot to enjoy a pleasant afternoon or quiet evening, reflecting on the day’s tastings.