Every year on the first weekend of June, “Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!!,” where local sake from across Bitchu comes together, is held.
In 2026, the first day was sunny, with temperatures climbing to nearly 30°C, while the event was held on the second day amid strong rain and wind. But people crossed the prefectural border—and even came from overseas—to attend, looking forward to this event, which drew more than 5,000 visitors.
I heard that event-exclusive sake, available only on these days, would also be on offer, so I attended both days and am reporting on what it was like.
The information presented is current as of the article’s publication in August 2026. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the 6th “Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!!”?
“EnJoy Bitchu Local Sake Fest SAKEbe!!” (hereafter, “EnJoy”) is a paid tasting event designed to introduce local sake from Bitchu to local residents and give them a chance to enjoy it.
For two days, Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2026, 16 breweries and distilleries from Kurashiki and across the Bitchu region, along with 16 food vendors, gathered at the plaza of Geibunkan Hall in Kurashiki City. Shops selling cakes, crepes, coffee, sake cups, and more also took part.
The event ran from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first day and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second. Admission was free on both days. There was also a stage program, so visitors could enjoy the music while savoring delicious local sake and food.
See the image below for details about the vendors.
![[Held June 6–7] The 6th Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!! — Two days when Bitchu’s sake breweries and food gather in Kurashiki are back again this year](https://media.kuratoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/14165859/S__213450759_0-485x323.jpg)
Event Highlights
More than 4,000 people visited on the sunny first day, and many families were among them. The next day, rain fell steadily from the morning, and at times strong winds made for stormy weather—but the weather was no concern for the sake-loving visitors.
From the start until the event ended, enthusiastic local-sake fans made repeated trips between the food stalls and the sake and snack booths, enjoying the event with friends and bringing the venue to life.
16 sake breweries, 16 food vendors, and sweets
Outside Okayama Prefecture, there are areas where sake breweries are clustered within walking distance of one another. But the existing breweries in Bitchu are spread far apart, making it impossible to visit them all in a single day.
Also, depending on the size of a brewery, some carefully produce limited quantities of sake, so there are many labels that are hard to find at liquor stores.
However, EnJoy is a rare event that brings together 16 breweries, mainly from the Bitchu area, at the plaza of Geibunkan Hall in Kurashiki City.
Another nice feature is that the sake is served in portions of about two ounces (approximately 60 ml), allowing visitors to sample a variety of local sake in small amounts.
There were also food vendor booths beside the breweries, making it hard to resist ordering something to go with the sake.
It was hot on the first day, so I cooled off with chilled Chinese noodles from Mogami Hand-Stretched Noodles. Although it specializes in somen, this shop in Kamogata, Asakuchi City, offers all kinds of noodles, including udon and soba.
I was glad to discover local flavors not only in the sake but also in the food, and ended up buying noodles for chilled Chinese noodles to enjoy at home, too.
The next day was cold and wet, so I warmed up with lu rou fan, a Taiwanese braised pork rice dish.
A lottery enjoyed by adults and children alike
There was a lottery corner at the information tent.
It cost 500 yen per try. Drawing a red ball won a handmade sake cup, while a white ball won an assortment of dagashi (Japanese snacks).
Visitors could choose a favorite from a variety of one-of-a-kind sake cups made of materials such as pottery and glass. I heard that some regulars come back each year, win one cup at a time, and take them home.
The dagashi included a selection of snacks that would go well with local sake.
From an adult’s perspective, the red ball—which was rarer—seemed like the winning draw, but for the children, the white ball and its dagashi seemed like the real prize. As a result, the children were delighted when someone drew a white ball, while the family often cheered when someone drew a red one.
Since everyone ends up smiling no matter which ball comes out, the lottery is fun for the whole family.
Sake cups were also on sale beside the information tent.
They were made by artists who are students at Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts or are affiliated with the university. Each handmade piece had its own colors and shape, and visitors could take their time picking them up and admiring them while also enjoying exchanges with the artists.
Music performances that liven up the venue
Music seems to bring an extra spark to a space where people are enjoying delicious drinks and food outdoors.
At EnJoy, the following groups took turns performing on the outdoor stage as part of the music program on both days.
- Saturday, June 6
NO ALCOHOL,NO LIFE
Niimi Wind Ensemble - Sunday, June 7
Mizushima Wind Orchestra
Kurashiki Citizens’ Wind Orchestra Green Harmony
While performing sophisticated pieces, they also played anime songs and J-pop that children could understand. At times, the children enjoyed dancing along with the performers, and the whole venue came together in excitement.
From the Writer
It was two days of early-summer outdoor fun for adults who enjoy sake and children who love music and food, with many families in attendance.
It was also common to see not only visitors but also sake brewery representatives among the vendors and performers taking breaks to visit the various stalls, chatting cheerfully over a glass of delicious local sake.
It was an exciting two days, looking ahead to the future development of local sake culture in the Bitchu region, home to more than half of Okayama Prefecture’s breweries. Okayama has the sixth-largest number of sake breweries in Japan.
Enjoi Bitchu Local Sake Festival SAKEbe!! Information
| Name | Enjoi Bitchu Local Sake Festival SAKEbe!! |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, June 6, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Sunday, June 7, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Location | 1-18-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free admission |
| Website | Official Instagram |
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