The Sake Festival, held in Saijo over a weekend each October, is one of the largest sake events in Japan and turns the whole brewery town into a celebration. Its centrepiece is a huge tasting hall where, for a single ticket, visitors can sample from hundreds of labels gathered from breweries the length of the country — an extraordinary opportunity to compare regional styles side by side. Outside, Saijo’s own historic breweries open their courtyards, food stalls fill the streets between the red-brick chimneys, and stages host music. Hundreds of thousands attend, and it is by far the best time to visit Saijo.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima |
| Hours | A weekend in October, daytime |
| Admission | Streets free; tasting hall ticket required |
| Time needed | Half to full day |
| Best time | October; buy tasting tickets in advance |
What to Do
- A tasting hall with hundreds of labels from across Japan.
- Saijo’s historic breweries opening their courtyards.
- Food stalls between the red-brick chimneys.
- Music stages and a town-wide celebration.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with the Saijo brewery streets themselves.
- Pair with a return to Hiroshima city, about 40 minutes away.
- Read our Hiroshima overview .
Getting There
- By train: JR to Saijo Station — expect it to be extremely busy on the day.
- Do not drive: drink-driving laws are strict and the town is packed.
Tips
Buy tasting-hall tickets in advance, as they sell out and are much harder to get on the day. Absolutely do not drive — Japan has a zero-tolerance drink-driving law and the trains run frequently from Hiroshima. Pace yourself with water between tastings, eat from the street stalls as you go, and check the exact October dates, which shift each year.
