🏮 Sake Matsuri

酒まつり

Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima · Every year, 2 days on the 2nd Saturday and Sunday of October

Traditional performing artsFood stallsMikoshi

26 days to go
Rooms around Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima fill up while the festival is on.

Sake Matsuri is a festival held on the second Saturday and Sunday of October every year in the Saijo district of Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Centered on Saijo Central Park and Saijo Sake Brewery Street, it is a signature event of Saijo, a sake town, drawing about 200,000 visitors over the two days. Its predecessor was a merger of "Minna no Matsuri," which began in 1979, and the "Saijo Sake Matsuri," which the Saijo Sake Brewers Association had held since around 1972. In 1990, members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry made sake the symbol, and it developed into its current form. With the aims of community harmony and tourism promotion, it continues to showcase the region's attractions through sake. At the main venue, Saijo Central Park, the "Sake Hiroba" gathers famous sake from across the country, and the "5,000-Person Izakaya Hiroba" features kagura and citizen performances. On Saijo Sake Brewery Street, breweries along the road hold distinctive events such as brewery tours, tastings, and servings of Bishu Nabe. At the Higashihiroshima City Hall parking lot, the reservation-only "Bishu Nabe Venue" is popular, and the official website also lists children's programs such as the "Wakuwaku Kids Hiroba" and a "Sake Matsuri Concert" at the Higashihiroshima City Chuo Lifelong Learning Center, so families can enjoy it too. The nearest station is JR Saijo Station.

Getting there

JR West Sanyo Main Line Saijo Station is the nearest station. It is a 5-minute walk to the main venue, Central Park, and Sake Brewery Street is before the station.