Every year, on the first weekend of June, the "Enjoi Bichu Sake Festival!!" is held, where local sake from Bichu gathers in one place.
In 2026, the temperature on the first day rose to nearly 30 degrees under clear skies, while the second day was held amidst strong rain and wind. However, looking forward to this day, participants came from across the prefectural border and even from overseas, making it an event that gathered over 5,000 people.
I heard that there would be limited edition sake available only for this event, so I participated for both days and will report on the day's events.
What is the 6th "Enjoi Bichu Sake Festival!!"
The "Enjoi Bichu Sake Festival!!" (hereafter referred to as "Enjoi") is a paid tasting event aimed at introducing and allowing local people to enjoy Bichu's sake.
On June 6 (Saturday) and 7 (Sunday) in 2026, 16 sake breweries and distilleries from the Bichu region, along with 16 restaurants, as well as shops selling cakes, crepes, coffee, and sake vessels gathered at Geibunkan Hall in Kurashiki City.
The first day was from 11 AM to 5 PM, and the second day from 10 AM to 4 PM, with free admission on both days. There was also a stage program, allowing attendees to enjoy music while swaying to the rhythm with delicious local sake and food in hand.
For details on the vendors, please check the image below.
Event Overview
On the clear first day, over 4,000 visitors came, many of whom were families. The next day, it rained continuously from the morning, and at times the wind was strong, making for rough weather, but for the sake-loving attendees, the weather was irrelevant.
From the start until the end of the event, enthusiastic sake fans enjoyed the event with their friends, frequently moving between the food booths and the sake and snack booths.
16 Sake Breweries and 16 Food Vendors, Plus Sweets
While there are regions outside Okayama Prefecture where sake breweries are clustered within walking distance, the existing sake breweries in Bichu are spaced apart, making it impossible to visit all of them in one day.
Additionally, some breweries produce limited quantities of sake with great care, so there are many brands of sake that are hard to find in liquor stores.
However, Enjoi is a rare event where 16 sake breweries centered around the Bichu area gather at Geibunkan Hall in Kurashiki City.
Moreover, the sake served is about 2 ounces (approximately 60ml), allowing attendees to taste various local sake in small amounts, which is a delightful point.
Next to the sake breweries, there were food vendor booths as well, making it tempting to order food that pairs well with the sake.
On the first day, it was hot, so I enjoyed cold Chinese noodles from Mogami Tenobe Somen to quench my thirst. Although they are a somen shop, they also handle various noodles such as udon and soba, and are located in Kamogata, Asakuchi City.
Not only the sake but also the food allowed me to encounter local flavors, and I ended up purchasing noodles for cold Chinese noodles to take home.
The next day, it was chilly due to the rain and wind, so I warmed up with Taiwanese Lu Rou Fan (braised pork rice).
Fun for Both Adults and Children with the Garapon
At the main tent, there was a Garapon corner.
For 500 yen per try, if a red ball comes out, you receive a handmade sake vessel, and if a white ball comes out, you receive a set of traditional Japanese sweets.
You can choose your favorite from various unique handmade sake vessels made of ceramics and glass, so there are regular customers who win one each year to take home.
The traditional sweets are items that seem to pair well with local sake.
From an adult's perspective, the red balls seem to be the rarer prize, but for children, the white balls with sweets seem to be the prize. Therefore, when a white ball comes out, the children are overjoyed, and when a red ball comes out, the families are delighted, which was often seen.
Regardless of which one comes out, the Garapon brings smiles to everyone, making it enjoyable for the whole family.
Sake vessels were also available for sale next to the main tent.
The creators are students and related artists from Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts. You can take your time to carefully examine each handmade piece, which varies in color and shape, while also enjoying interactions with the artists.
Music Stage to Liven Up the Venue
Having music in a space where delicious sake and food are enjoyed outdoors seems to enhance the atmosphere.
At Enjoi, on both days, the following groups performed alternately as part of the outdoor music program:
- June 6 (Saturday)
NO ALCOHOL, NO LIFE
Niimi Wind Ensemble - June 7 (Sunday)
Mizushima Wind Orchestra
Kurashiki City Green Harmony Wind Orchestra
While performing authentic pieces, they also showcased anime songs and J-POP that children could understand, allowing the children to enjoy dancing along with the performers, creating a scene where the venue was united in excitement.
Conclusion
It was a two-day outdoor event in early summer that both wine-loving adults and children who enjoy music and food could enjoy, with many families in attendance.
Not only the visitors but also the sake brewery representatives and stage performers were often seen enjoying conversations with delicious local sake in hand as they visited various stalls during their breaks.
It was an exciting two days, looking forward to the future development of the local sake culture in the Bichu region, which gathers more than half of the sake breweries in Okayama Prefecture, the sixth largest in the country.
Data for the Enjoy Bichu Local Sake Festival SAKEbe‼︎
| Name | Enjoy Bichu Local Sake Festival SAKEbe‼︎ |
|---|---|
| Date | June 6 (Saturday) 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM June 7 (Sunday) 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Location | 1-18-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free admission |
| Website | Official Instagram |
