Sasaichi Shuzo (笹一酒造), a sake brewery in Otsuki, Yamanashi, is opening its grounds on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, 2026 for the Sasaichi Shinshu Matsuri 2026 (笹一新酒まつり2026). It’s a chance to taste the first sake pressed this season alongside the brewery’s own 2026 Yamanashi Nouveau wines, right where they’re made.
Entry is free. If you want to drink, ¥3,000 (tax included) gets you a festival glass and 10 tasting tickets. Last year’s festival drew 3,200 people, the biggest crowd yet, so it’s worth planning the day before you go.
Festival at a glance
| Event | Sasaichi Shinshu Matsuri 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, 2026 |
| Hours | 9:30–17:00 (reception closes at 16:00) |
| Venue | In front of Sasaichi Shuyukan (笹一酒遊館), on the Sasaichi Shuzo grounds |
| Address | 26 Yoshikubo, Sasago-machi, Otsuki, Yamanashi 401-0024 |
| Organizer | Sasaichi Shuzo Co., Ltd. |
| Admission | Free (tasting needs a ticket) |
| Tasting | ¥3,000 (tax incl.) for a glass and 10 tickets. Age 20 and over only |
| Parking | Former Sasago Elementary School grounds, across the road from Sasaichi Shuyukan |
| Nearest station | JR Sasago Station, 5-minute walk |
| Inquiries | 0554-25-2008 or 0554-25-2111 |
The brewery says it is the only one in the Fuji-Misaka area that makes both sake and wine. Its sake uses deep groundwater from the Fuji-Misaka mountains and Yamanashi-grown rice, and its wine goes out under the OLIFANT label. Details on the brands are on the Sasaichi Shuzo official site.
Tasting tickets: what you get and what it costs
Entry is free, so non-drinkers and anyone just coming for the food don’t need to buy anything at the gate. Tasting works on tickets, which you swap for pours of any of the 21 drinks.
| Ticket | Price (tax incl.) | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Tasting set | ¥3,000 | Festival-only tasting glass + 10 tasting tickets |
| Extra tickets | ¥2,300 | 10 tickets |
| Extra tickets | ¥1,200 | 5 tickets |
| Student ticket | ¥2,500 | Student discount tasting ticket |
The 21 sakes and wines on pour
The headline pours are Sasaichi Hatsushibori Nama, the first sake pressed this season, and three 2026 Yamanashi Nouveau wines from OLIFANT. Everything else on the list comes from the brewery’s regular range.
| Type | Drinks |
|---|---|
| Sake (6) | Sasaichi Hatsushibori Nama (new) Yata Sasaichi (chilled or warm) Yata Sasaichi Junmai Daiginjo Sasaichi Yamahai Junmai Daiginjo Sasaichi Tokusen Junmai Daiginjo Sasaichi Yamahai Junmai Daiginjo Koshu Yamadanishiki 35% |
| OLIFANT new wine (3) | Koshu 2026 Muscat Bailey A 2026 Delaware 2026 |
| OLIFANT wine (7) | Koshu bottle-fermented sparkling Koshu Sur Lie Muscat Bailey A barrel-aged Muscat Bailey A rosé barrel-fermented Chardonnay barrel-fermented Syrah barrel-aged Petit Verdot barrel-fermented |
| Nigori wine (3) | Aka (red), Shiro (white), Yuzu |
| Moromi wine (2) | Aka and Shiro (new) |
Don’t skip the moromi wine (もろみわいん). It’s still mid-fermentation, so it’s lightly fizzy and sweet, at just 2% alcohol, and you can only drink it at this festival. The brewery says it’s all-you-can-drink during the event, which makes it the easy pick for anyone new to wine.
Five Yamanashi restaurants and the Dan pairing
Five well-known Yamanashi restaurants set up stalls on both days, with support from local radio station FM FUJI. Each cooks a one-off menu designed to pair with Dan, the brewery’s top sake, which has won a platinum award at an international sake competition and has been served in ANA international first class. This year a ramen restaurant joins for the first time.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | About |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese NIGRAT | Modern Chinese | Kofu. Seasonal Chinese cooking with a food-as-medicine focus |
| LA MAISON ANCIENNE | French | Old farmhouse in Makioka-cho, Yamanashi City. Vegetables picked by the chef at local farms |
| Teppanyaki Nakazawa | Teppanyaki | Basement hideaway near the south exit of Kofu Station |
| ristorante koen | Italian | Run by a sister and brother from Yamanashi. Wood-fired oven and open counter kitchen |
| Muku -tsugane- (first time) | Ramen | Old farmhouse in Tsugane, Hokuto. Dishes with sake or wine, finished with a bowl of ramen |
Bottles you can only buy here
For sake fans, the shopping may matter more than the tasting. Several Dan bottlings that are normally hard to find go on sale at the festival. Prices weren’t included in the announcement, so check the official Dan page or ask at the venue.
| Bottle | Why it’s special |
|---|---|
| Dan 光拝, Dan 清澄 and Dan Yamahai Junmai Daiginjo | Offered at the Chinka-sai fire festival of Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine. Sold only at the festival venue |
| Dan Yamahai Junmai Daiginjo Bizen Omachi | Top award in Category II at the 17th Omachi Summit. Usually sold only through specialist retailers (award release) |
| Shumei celebration Dan Junmai Daiginjo | Marks the release of the film Shumei. Comes with a card of Takashi Murakami’s stage curtain artwork. A limited special edition adds a folding booklet (product release) |
If you’re buying several bottles and are still sorting out which card to use in Japan, our guide to credit cards for foreigners in Japan covers the first one to get. Payment methods at the venue weren’t listed, so check with the brewery if you plan a big purchase.
Stage, café, lottery and souvenirs
- Stage talks: On day one, DJ Maya Watanabe from the FM FUJI show Bumpy visits. On day two, Miss SAKE Yamanashi 2026 Sakurako Yamada gives a talk. Talks between the brewery and the restaurants are also planned.
- Festival-only dessert: The brewery’s SASAICHI KRAND CAFE serves the Sasaichi Sake Lees Cheesecake Sundae Special on both days only, made with a new cheesecake ice cream flavor.
- Lottery: From November 7 to 23, the Sasaichi Shuyukan shop runs a lottery with one draw for every ¥3,000 you spend.
- Souvenirs: A black towel with the brewery’s crest debuts this year in limited numbers, and festival-only lucky bags (福箱) go on sale.
- For non-drinkers: Brewing water, soft drinks and an amazake (sweet rice drink) corner.
| On-site shop / café | Hours |
|---|---|
| Sasaichi Shuyukan (shop) | 9:30–18:00, open every day |
| SASAICHI KRAND CAFE | Weekdays 11:00–16:00 Weekends and holidays 10:00–16:00 Last order 15:30, open every day |
The brewery also sells online through its official online store, handy if you can’t make the dates.
Getting there and parking
- By train: JR Sasago Station, then a 5-minute walk. The brewery asks anyone tasting to come by train.
- By car from the Tokyo side: about 15 minutes from Otsuki IC.
- By car from the Nagano side: about 15 minutes from Katsunuma IC.
- Parking: the former Sasago Elementary School grounds, across the road from Sasaichi Shuyukan.
Tips for a smooth day
- Arrive well before 16:00. Last entry is an hour before the 17:00 finish.
- Drink by train, not by car. If one person in your group is driving, they can still enjoy the food, amazake and soft drinks.
- Spend tickets wisely. With 21 drinks and 10 tickets in the starter set, start with the new-season pours and add a 5-ticket top-up (¥1,200) if you want more.
- Grab the limited towel early. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
- Keep your phone charged. For a long day out, a free power bank rental through d VALUE PASS and ChargeSPOT can help.
- Same weekend in Tokyo? If you’re planning more autumn outings, see our guide to the Musashino Art University Festival.
FAQ
- Is entry to the Sasaichi New Sake Festival free?
- Yes. Entry is free. You only pay if you want to taste: ¥3,000 (tax included) gets you a festival glass and 10 tasting tickets.
- Can I buy more tasting tickets?
- Yes. 10 extra tickets cost ¥2,300 and 5 extra tickets cost ¥1,200 (tax included). A student discount ticket is ¥2,500.
- Who can taste the sake and wine?
- Only people aged 20 and over. The brewery asks anyone tasting to come by train.
- What time should I arrive?
- The festival runs from 9:30 to 17:00 on both days, and reception closes at 16:00.
- How do I get to the festival?
- JR Sasago Station is a 5-minute walk away. By car it is about 15 minutes from Otsuki IC or Katsunuma IC, with parking at the former Sasago Elementary School grounds.
- Is there anything for people who do not drink?
- Yes. Five Yamanashi restaurants serve food, and there is brewing water, soft drinks and an amazake corner.
Information is based on Sasaichi Shuzo’s announcement of October 22, 2026 (press release). Details may change, so check the brewery’s official Instagram or call before you go.
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