Immerse yourself in a sake-tasting adventure this summer at one of Tokyo's premier sake festivals. Held three times a year, Washu Fes celebrates the culture and tradition of sake-making. For the festival's 31st edition, 53 breweries from around Japan will set up shop in Nakameguro, where you can sample over 250 varieties of sake. Some of the participating sake makers such as Asahara Brewery and Iwase Sake Brewing are based around the Kanto region, while others hail from faraway prefectures like Aomori or Kumamoto.
The theme of the 31st edition is 'Beat the summer heat with a refreshing cup of ice-cold sake', so expect a curated selection of summer sake and crisp sparkling varieties perfect for the warmer months – including everything from fruity ginjo-shu to unpasteurised namazake, plum wine and cloudy nigori sake. If you find something you like, you’ll be able to purchase full bottles of your favourite sake on-site.
Besides sake tasting, the programme will feature stage performances including a traditional chindon-ya street advertising band and a unique shamisen and Okinawan kachashi folk dance duet. Tasting tickets for residents of Japan are ¥3,600 on Rakuten Travel Experiences and ¥4,500 for tourists with foreign credit cards via Stripe. The ticket includes a tasting cup, a sake textbook, an original fan, a bottle of water and a pouch to carry the cup home. With limited space available, it's wise to arrive early (reception starts 20 minutes before opening).