Product Description

About the Festival

The Saijo Sake Festival is one of Japan’s largest sake celebrations, attracting 100,000–200,000 visitors annually. Held in Saijo, a historic sake-brewing district in Higashi-Hiroshima, the festival features brewery tours, parades, live music, cultural performances, food stalls, and an incredible variety of over 900 types of sake from across Japan.

Festival Highlights

🍶 Sake Square (Chuo Park West)

• The ultimate sake tasting experience, featuring 900+ varieties.
• Entry: ¥1,800 (includes a souvenir sake cup and unlimited tastings).
• Additional charge for specialty drinks like sake cocktails.

🏯 Brewery Tours & Sake Making Experience

• Guided tours of Saijo’s 10 historic breweries.
• Learn about traditional sake brewing techniques.
• Free sake tastings at select breweries.

🎶 Live Entertainment & Cultural Performances

• Osaka-bayashi Parade: Traditional sake brewery symbol is carried from Matsuo Shrine to the main stage.
• Kagura Performances, Taiko Drumming, and Karaoke Contests.
• Women’s Shrine Procession: A unique parade featuring women carrying a portable shrine.

🥢 Local Food & Specialties

• Bishu-nabe: A famous local sake-seasoned stew (¥8,400 for a group of 4).
• Various food stalls with Japanese festival delicacies (food purchases require pre-bought festival tickets).

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-Friendly Activities

• Concerts and performances at Chuo Park East (free entry).
• Games and events for children at select breweries.

Important Festival Tips

✅ Entry to Festival Grounds: Free (except for Sake Square & brewery tours).
✅ Food & Drink Purchases: Must exchange yen for festival tickets (non-refundable).
✅ Re-entry Not Allowed: Bring essentials (water, snacks, etc.).
✅ No Outside Food Allowed (Unofficially Ignored): Many bring their own food.
✅ Seating: Officially not allowed, but many festival-goers bring tarps & portable chairs.

How to Get There

🚆 From Hiroshima Station: Take the JR Sanyo Line to Saijo Station (~30 minutes).
🚶 From Saijo Station: The festival area is a short walk from the station.

Online Sake Festival

For those who can’t attend in person, the online festival offers sake delivery from breweries across Japan, allowing sake fans nationwide to participate in tastings and live-streamed events.