Written by Aarohi Narain
Saijō-chō in Hiroshima has a lively culture of sake. Dive into it at this annual festival.
What happens?
Saijō-chō is known as one of Japan’s foremost sake capitals. Each October, the town hosts a massive open-air sake festival. There are food stalls, live performances, and more than 1,000 varieties of sake from breweries across Japan.
Not only that, but local breweries will also open their gates for tours and offer limited-edition sales.
Line your stomach with bishunabe, a sake-based hotpot unique to the area.
Tickets 2025
The Sake Plaza offers timed tasting sessions. Advance tickets cost ¥3,900 and include eight tastings, a souvenir cup, and water. Note that same-day tickets are only sold if sessions don’t sell out.
For sake hotpot, you’ll need to reserve a table. A table for four is ¥17,600, while a table for two is ¥9,900. Some sessions include a Happy Hour bonus with extra sake.
Prefer tea over sake? You can try matcha made with brewery water at the venue. Tickets are ¥600 in advance or ¥700 on the day.
How to get there
First, make your way to Hiroshima Station. From there, take the JR San’yō Main Line and get off at Saijō Station (around 40 minutes). The festival takes place in the vicinity of the station.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
