An autumn festival of sake culture, where breweries and people come together in Saijo
Sake Matsuri
The 2026 edition of Sake Matsuri has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/10 〜 2026/10/11Ended
- Season / frequency
- Held each year mainly on the 2nd Saturday and Sunday of October / Every year
- Location
- Around JR Saijo Station, centered on the east side of Saijo Chuo Park
- Area
- Hiroshima Prefecture・Higashihiroshima City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h 50 min–4 h 20 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Paid admission tickets are required for Sake Hiroba and the Bishunabe venue. See the ticket information for each venue for details on prices.
- Required number of participants
- Bishu-nabe seating is for 4 people per table.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Sake Matsuri celebrates the sake culture of Saijo, Higashihiroshima. Centered on Sake Hiroba and Sakagura-dori, it features a wide range of activities, from sake tastings and local cuisine to stage performances and events for children.
About Sake Matsuri
Sake Matsuri is a local festival themed around sake, held in the Saijo district of Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture.
A wide variety of events take place, centered on Saijo Chuo Park and Saijo Sakagura-dori, including Sake Hiroba, brewery events, and stage performances.
It is enjoyed not only by sake lovers but also by people who do not drink and by families.
Source: 酒まつり - Wikipedia
Festival highlights
The main highlights are Sake Hiroba, where you can compare sake brands from across Japan, and the events held by each brewery along Sakagura-dori.
Enjoy different events at each brewery, including brewery tours, tastings and sales, Bishu-nabe, udon, and brewery concerts.
The main venue also hosts drumming, dance, live music, kagami-biraki, and more, creating the lively atmosphere of a sake-brewing town.
An autumn festival of sake culture, where breweries and people come together in Saijo
What to expect
You can explore the venues around Saijo Station on foot, including the main stage at Chuo Park, Sake Hiroba, and the venues along Sakagura-dori.
At Sake Hiroba, you can compare different sake brands; at the breweries, you can take tours and enjoy tastings and sales; and at food venues, you can try dishes such as Bishu-nabe.
There is also a Wakuwaku Kids Plaza for children and a cultural exchange venue, offering activities for families.
How to take part
Sake Matsuri is an event that can be enjoyed not only by sake lovers but also by people who do not drink and by families.
General visitors can explore Sake Hiroba, the sake brewery venues, stages, and food stalls.
Events that involve taking part as a performer or participant, such as Sakemidare Bayashi and the Hime , may have separate application periods or capacity limits.
General visitors can go to the venues and enjoy the various events.
In 2026, participants for Sake Midare Bayashi were being recruited from individuals and groups representing schools and local communities. Applying through a dedicated form is required to participate.
Applications for carriers of the Hime Mikoshi have closed because the capacity has been reached.
Source: 酒みだればやしのご案内 – 酒まつり公式サイト / 【募集終了】姫みこし担ぎ手募集 – 酒まつり公式サイト
Location and access
- Venue and address
Around JR Saijo Station.
The main venue is the east side of Saijo Central Park.
- Train and bus
It is a 1-minute walk from the south exit of Saijo Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line to the venue.
From Higashihiroshima Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen, it takes about 20 minutes by bus bound for Saijo or by taxi.
- By car
The area around the station becomes part of the venue and gets crowded on the day of the festival, so visitors are advised to use the dedicated temporary parking lot for Sake Matsuri.
In 2026, Hiroshima University’s North No. 3 Parking Lot will be used, with free shuttle buses running to the venue.
- Parking
2026年の臨時駐車場は10月10日が8:30～20:00、10月11日が8:30～18:00で、駐車料金は1日1,000円です。
Source: アクセス – 酒まつり公式サイト
Event venue 広島県東広島市 西条中央公園を中心とするJR西条駅
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
It was announced that Sake Matsuri 2026 was scheduled to take place over 2 days, October 10 (Saturday) and the 11th (Sunday).
10月10日は10:00～19:00、10月11日は10:00～17:00です。
The main venue hosts stage performances and sake-related events, with different programs and closing times on each day.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Hiroshima Prefecture / Higashihiroshima City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Paid admission tickets are required for Sake Hiroba and the Bishunabe venue, and tickets may sell out.
In 2026, the venues were around JR Saijo Station, and traffic congestion was expected on nearby roads, so drivers were advised to use the designated temporary parking lot and shuttle bus.
Since many activities involve walking between Sakagura-dori and the various venues, it is a good idea to check the event hours and venue information before visiting.
Nearby attractions
For sightseeing near the festival venues, the Higashihiroshima Outing and Tourism website features Saijo Nonta no Sakagura Roadside Station, the historic site of Kagamiyama Castle, and Hiroshima Chuo Eco Park.
It also lists Sanyo Tsuru Sake Brewery and the historic Mitsujo Kofun Burial Mounds as attractions in the Saijo district.
If you visit alongside the festival, check each facility’s opening status and conditions of use.
Source: 2026酒まつり｜東広島おでかけ観光サイト「ヒガシル」
広島大学総合博物館
広島県東広島市の広島大学構内にある博物館
Origins and History of Sake Matsuri
There are several accounts of the origins and founding of Sake Matsuri.
The official website describes it as a festival formed by merging “Minna no Matsuri,” which began in 1979, with “Saijo Sake Matsuri,” which the Saijo Sake Brewers Association had been holding since around 1972.
Another account says that “Minna no Matsuri,” held in 1974, was developed in 1990 with sake as its symbol, so accounts differ on the year the festival was founded.
Official information
For information about dates, venues, tickets, applications, and access, see the official Sake Matsuri website.
The 2026 event information on the official website also includes a map and schedule for the day, as well as details for each venue.
The phone number for the Sake Matsuri Organizing Committee is also provided for inquiries.
Sake Matsuri at a Glance
Sake Matsuri is a Higashihiroshima festival celebrating Saijo’s sake culture through tastings, brewery tours, local cuisine, music, and traditional performing arts.
It was announced that in 2026 the festival was scheduled for October 10 and the 11th, at multiple venues around Saijo Station.
It is easy to reach by train; visitors arriving by car are directed to use the temporary parking lot at Hiroshima University and the shuttle bus.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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