The short version
If you have ever stood in a Japanese liquor shop wondering which bottle to pick, this event is the easy way to find out what you actually like. The 32nd Wa-shu Fes in Nakameguro (第32回 和酒フェス in 中目黒) runs on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026 on the open plaza in front of Nakameguro GT Tower, right next to Nakameguro Station.
52 breweries from across Japan are taking part, bringing more than 260 drinks. Sake is the main event, but shochu, liqueurs, craft sake and cider are on the list too. You buy a tasting pass in advance, and during your session you can try anything that is being poured.
Dates, sessions and venue
Each day is split into two sessions, and each session lasts 2 hours 10 minutes. Your pass is for one session, so choose the day and time slot when you book.
| Event | 32nd Wa-shu Fes in Nakameguro |
|---|---|
| Dates | Sat 7 November 2026 Sun 8 November 2026 |
| Session 1 | 12:00–14:10 |
| Session 2 | 15:00–17:10 |
| Capacity | 500 people per session 2,000 in total |
| Venue | Nakameguro GT Tower front plaza (中目黒GTタワー前広場) |
| Address | 2-1-1 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0051 |
| Access | Directly connected to Nakameguro Station (Tokyu Toyoko Line / Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line) |
| Ticket | Tasting pass, ¥3,600 (tax incl.) per session Advance tickets only |
Source: official event page. Checked on 16 September 2026.
What the ¥3,600 pass covers
The ticket is called a tasting pass (飲み比べパス) and it costs ¥3,600 including tax for one session. It is sold in advance only, so do not plan on buying at the gate.
- Free tasting of the drinks on offer, as much as you like during your session
- An original sake cup (ochoko) with the festival logo, yours to keep
- A 500ml bottle of chaser water (wa-ragi mizu)
The chaser water is a nice touch. Sipping water between sakes keeps your palate fresh and helps you pace yourself, which matters when there are 260-plus options in front of you.
What you can drink: the autumn theme
This edition’s theme celebrates autumn in full swing and finding your best glass of the season. In practice, that means a good chance to try the styles that only really show up this time of year:
- Hiyaoroshi: a seasonal sake released in autumn
- Aki-agari: sake that has matured over the summer
- Kanzake: warmed sake, welcome on a cool November afternoon
Beyond sake, the lineup includes craft sake, shochu, liqueurs and cider, so friends who are not big sake fans still have something to explore.
Food, shopping and stage shows
Buy the bottles you liked
Sake and related products are on sale at the venue, so you can pick up a bottle of whatever stood out. Delivery is also available, which means you do not have to carry heavy bottles home on the train.
Food booths
Food stalls serve dishes and snacks made with seasonal ingredients. According to the event information, popular items sometimes sell out early in the day, so if food matters to you, eat near the start of your session.
Live performances
The stage program includes shamisen, taiko drums and shakuhachi flute. A sake-savvy MC and guests in kimono walk around the venue introducing each brewery’s sake, which is handy if you would like some background on what you are drinking.
Participating breweries
This is the planned lineup. Names are kept in Japanese so you can match them to labels at the venue. The organizer says ticket details and exhibitor information are released in stages starting around two months before the event, so check the official schedule page for the final list.
Sake (45)
| Brand | Brewery | Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| 六根 | 松緑酒造 | Aomori |
| 一ノ蔵 | 一ノ蔵 | Miyagi |
| 美酒爛漫 | 秋田銘醸 | Akita |
| 六歌仙 | 六歌仙 | Yamagata |
| 郷乃譽 | 須藤本家 | Ibaraki |
| 徳正宗 | 萩原酒造 | Ibaraki |
| 来福 | 来福酒造 | Ibaraki |
| とちあかね | 白相酒造 | Tochigi |
| 開華 | 第一酒造 | Tochigi |
| 水芭蕉 | 永井酒造 | Gunma |
| 緒結 | 結島 | Gunma |
| 天覧山 | 五十嵐酒造 | Saitama |
| 力士 | 釜屋 | Saitama |
| 金紋世界鷹 | 小山本家酒造 | Saitama |
| 岩の井 | 岩瀬酒造 | Chiba |
| 上善如水 | 白瀧酒造 | Niigata |
| たからやま | たからやま醸造 | Niigata |
| 長者盛 | 新潟銘醸 | Niigata |
| 〆張鶴 | 宮尾酒造 | Niigata |
| 酔園 | EH酒造 | Nagano |
| 渓流 | 遠藤酒造場 | Nagano |
| 千曲錦 | 千曲錦酒造 | Nagano |
| 七笑 | 七笑酒造 | Nagano |
| 喜平 | 静岡平喜酒造 | Shizuoka |
| 花の舞 | 花の舞酒造 | Shizuoka |
| 富士正 | 富士正酒造 | Shizuoka |
| 國盛 | 中埜酒造 | Aichi |
| 四海王 | 福井酒造 | Aichi |
| 作 | 清水清三郎商店 | Mie |
| 三重の寒梅 | 丸彦酒造 | Mie |
| 宮の雪 | 宮﨑本店 | Mie |
| 玉乃光 | 玉乃光酒造 | Kyoto |
| 古昔の美酒 | 日本の古酒蔵 | Hyogo |
| 白鷹 | 白鷹 | Hyogo |
| 龍力 | 本田商店 | Hyogo |
| 稲田姫 | 稲田本店 | Tottori |
| 鷹勇 | 大谷酒造 | Tottori |
| 石見銀山 | 一宮酒造 | Shimane |
| 七冠馬 | 簸上清酒 | Shimane |
| 五橋 | 酒井酒造 | Yamaguchi |
| 鳴門鯛 | 本家松浦酒造場 | Tokushima |
| 仁喜多津 | 水口酒造 | Ehime |
| 幸姫 | 幸姫酒造 | Saga |
| 光武 | 光武酒造場 | Saga |
| 泰斗 | 千代の園酒造 | Kumamoto |
Craft sake, shochu, liqueurs and cider (7)
| Type | Brand / Maker | Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| Craft sake | 翔空 LAGOON BREWERY | Niigata |
| Craft sake | MIYOI 足立農醸 | Osaka |
| Shochu | 黒伊佐錦 大口酒造 | Kagoshima |
| Liqueur | Enju Ichido | Fukushima |
| Liqueur | 華世 根本酒造 | Ibaraki |
| Liqueur | SATONOWA 里和浸酒 多賀町大滝地域里づくり協議会 | Shiga |
| Cider | カモシカシードル醸造所 | Nagano |
Tips before you go
- Book early. Each session is capped at 500 people and tickets are advance only. Ticket sales details are being released on the official site, so keep an eye on sakefes.com.
- Pick your session wisely. Session 1 (12:00–14:10) is good if you want the food booths before popular items run out. Session 2 (15:00–17:10) suits a late start.
- Use the chaser water. Alternate sips of sake and water, and eat something along the way.
- Take notes or photos of labels. With 260-plus drinks, it is easy to forget which one you loved. Buy it on the spot or use the delivery service.
- Do not drive. The venue is directly connected to Nakameguro Station, so the train is the obvious choice.
Coming from outside Tokyo? An autumn rail pass or discounted Shinkansen fare can cut the travel cost. See our guides to the Aki no Norihodai Pass for three days of JR local trains and half-price Tokudane Special 28 Shinkansen fares. If you are flying in, check the JAL domestic flash sale guide for how those sales work. And for a cheap way to warm up after an afternoon outdoors, the Tokyo sento half-price coupon is worth a look.
FAQ
- Q. How much does Wa-shu Fes in Nakameguro cost?
- The tasting pass costs ¥3,600 including tax per session. Food and snacks are sold separately at the food booths.
- Q. Can I buy a ticket at the door?
- The event uses advance tickets, so you need to buy the tasting pass beforehand. Check the official website for sales details.
- Q. When are the sessions?
- On both 7 and 8 November 2026, Session 1 runs 12:00 to 14:10 and Session 2 runs 15:00 to 17:10. Each session is limited to 500 people.
- Q. How do I get to the venue?
- The venue is the plaza in front of Nakameguro GT Tower, directly connected to Nakameguro Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line and Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.
- Q. Can I bring my own food or drinks?
- No. Food and drinks other than soft drinks cannot be brought in.
- Q. Can I buy sake I like at the festival?
- Yes. Sake and related products are sold at the venue, and a delivery service is available.