As the saying goes, “Where there is pure water, there is fine sake,” and the Takahashi River Basin is home to many sake breweries.
Apparently, Bitchu sake even appears in the ancient Man’yoshu poetry anthology.
The event “Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!!,” where Bitchu’s historic local sake comes together in Kurashiki, was held again in 2024. Here’s a report on the first day.
The information presented was current when this article was published in July 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the 4th Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!!?
Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!! is an event for savoring local sake, held under the theme “Let people drink it. Let people know about it,” to help local people discover the delicious taste and appeal of sake from Okayama Prefecture’s Bitchu region.
The 2024 event was the fourth, and is held every June. This year, it was held over two days, Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9.
![[Held June 8 (Sat.) and 9 (Sun.)] 4th Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!! — Bitchu’s sake breweries gather in one place. A local sake event that locals especially should experience](https://media.kuratoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/23003743/IMG_2674.jpg)
On the day, a total of 37 vendors gathered at the Geibunkan Hall plaza: 34 sake breweries, craft beer and food vendors from the Bitchu region, plus three sweets vendors.
Please see the image below for details about the vendors.
The venue on the morning of Saturday, June 8
I went to the venue as soon as the event began on its first day, Saturday, June 8.
There were already many visitors at 11 a.m., and within just 30 minutes, nearly 80 percent of the dining area was full—a sign of the event’s popularity.
According to the event staff, visitors included not only people from Kurashiki City but also people involved in sake and sake rice who had come from other regions, including Kanto.
There were also musical performances on stage, creating a space where visitors could enjoy spending time at the venue with sake and snacks.
Try local sake with ease
Since it’s the “Bitchu Local Sake Festival,” of course you’ll want to savor some sake.
At Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!!, you can sample sake at every brewery for around 300 yen per cup, so you can easily try any sake that catches your eye on the signs or bottle labels.
When you order sake at a restaurant, it’s usually served in a small ochoko cup or as a one-go serving. Sake has a high alcohol content and takes time to drink, but at this event, a small amount was poured into a plastic cup.
For people who don’t usually drink sake, the amount and price may have seemed manageable—“I could drink this much”—while those who regularly enjoy sake had the chance to sample a variety of kinds they hadn’t tried before.
KAMIKOKOROSHUZO CO., LTD. Sparkling sake “Shuwashuwa”
I started my tasting with the sparkling sake “Shuwashuwa” from KAMIKOKOROSHUZO CO., LTD..
In recent years, sake enjoyed in wine glasses has been attracting attention. “Shuwashuwa” seems perfect for that kind of occasion. It’s crisp and easy to drink, with a low alcohol content, so I think it’s an approachable choice for sake beginners.
Horetsu Shuzo Junmai Ginjo Nama Lily
Next was Junmai Ginjo Nama Lily from Horetsu Shuzo, recommended to me by Nakahara Kazuo, owner of Bitchu no Jizake Bar Suiyobi in the Bikan Historical Area, who organized “Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!!”.
I’ve liked sake since my student days, but I don’t have much specialized knowledge. So, whenever I go to an izakaya, I ask the owner for recommendations.
I’ve been going to Bitchu no Jizake Bar Suiyobi since shortly after moving from Kanto to Kurashiki in December 2023, so this time, too, I asked Nakahara to choose a sake he thought I’d like.
Lily is a slightly dry yet refreshing drink. As I admired its lovely label, I was told, “This sake was made as a gift to celebrate the brewery owner’s daughter’s wedding,” which made sense.
Many sake labels are stylish, but a charming label like this might make it easier to give as a gift to women and people new to sake.
Kikuchi Sake Brewing Co.,Ltd. Koji amazake
Finally, I tried koji amazake from Kikuchi Sake Brewing Co.,Ltd.. Amazake made only with rice koji is non-alcoholic, so everyone from children to adults can enjoy it. It was also sunny and hot that day, making amazake a great choice for preventing heatstroke. Its rich sweetness from the rice koji made it a drink I’d like to keep stocked in my fridge this summer.
Enjoying “Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!!” for all ages
“Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!!” is a sake event, but it also offers plenty of food to go with the sake and sweets to refresh your palate.
Sato Beni Shoten’s “teppanyaki grilled chicken” is a menu item available only at its festival stall. You can add as much of the shop’s “Fukiya no Beni Daruma” condiment as you like, and it seems like a good match not only for sake but also for beer.
Families were lined up at 36’s Crepe. Many families attended, as pregnant women who can’t drink alcohol and children could also enjoy delicious sweets.
Choosing a vessel to pair with sake
Sake vessels were also on sale beside the main tent. There was a wide selection, from pieces made by students at Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts to works by professional artists.
As with the food and drink stalls, the makers who created the sake vessels are standing at their booths, so you can meet the makers and buy their work directly.
They also shared tips on choosing sake vessels and enjoying the pieces, saying things like, “The color changes depending on how the light hits it,” and “This is the student work section, but some pieces by professors are mixed in. Please take a look and see if you can spot the differences.”
Student work in particular is reasonably priced, so you could buy a sake vessel to go with a sake you like and enjoy Japanese sake at home, too.
From the Writer
With each edition, more people are taking part in Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!!
In 2024, the event welcomed approximately 5,500 visitors in total over two days before closing.
The venue was packed with visitors of all ages and genders. The lively atmosphere made it clear that not only the vendors, but also the event staff and participants look forward to this event every year.
The two days offered a chance to get to know Bitchu local sake, not only for sake lovers, but also for those hoping to enjoy sake in the future and those who cannot drink alcohol.
The festival is also scheduled to be held in the years to come, so if you get the chance, be sure to attend Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!!
4th Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!! Information
| Name | 4th Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!! |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, June 8: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Sunday, June 9: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Location | 1-18-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Free admission |
| Website | Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!! Facebook page |
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