[Held June 6–7] The 6th Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!! — Two days when Bitchu’s sake breweries and food come together in Kurashiki are back again this year.

Do you have a favorite local sake?

Of the approximately 30 sake breweries in Okayama Prefecture, about half are in the Bicchu region, making it the heart of sake production in Okayama Prefecture.

A perfect event for anyone who wants to try a variety of sake from local breweries and find a favorite will be held for two days, Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2026, at the plaza of Geibunkan Hall in Kurashiki City.

What is the “6th Enjoy Bitchu Jizake Fes SAKEbe!!”?

“EnJoy Bicchu Local Sake Festival SAKEbe!!” is a paid sake-tasting event where local people can discover and enjoy sake from Bicchu.

For two days, Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2026, 16 breweries and distilleries and 16 restaurants from the Bicchu region, including Kurashiki, will gather at the plaza of Geibunkan Hall in Kurashiki City, along with shops selling cakes, crepes, coffee, sake cups, and more.

Please note that the event hours differ: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first day and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second day.

Admission is free on both days.
There will also be stage performances, so you can enjoy the music while savoring delicious local sake and food.

One more participating brewery this year!

This year, Marumoto Shuzo in Asakuchi City, which took a break from participating last time, is returning, and HOIDA CRAFT, founded in 2024 in Mabi, Kurashiki City, will be participating for the first time.

HOIDA CRAFT plans to sell liqueurs and amazake made with plenty of local fruit, so there will be more drinks that are easy to enjoy even for people who don’t usually drink much sake.

See the image below for details about the vendors.

At the food and drink booths, you may only enjoy sake served in tasting cups. Please take home any bottles you purchase.

New paid dining seats!

The entire food and drink area is covered by tents, making it a comfortable place to eat and drink even in strong sun or rain. Starting this year, paid seats will also be available for 40 people per session, allowing guests to dine in a more relaxed setting.

• Saturday, June 6
  Session 1: 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
  Session 2: 2–5 p.m.
• Sunday, June 7
  Session 1: 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
  Session 2: 1–4 p.m.

The price is 1,000 yen per person, including one glass of local sake (free for elementary school students and younger). Seats are available for groups of two or more.

If you wish to use the seats, pick up a numbered ticket at the paid seating entrance 15 minutes before the start of your session.

Interview with event founder Nakahara Kazuo

We asked event founder Nakahara Kazuo about the highlights of this year’s event.

The 5th festival, held last year, reportedly drew around 7,500 visitors.

Nakahara (surname only)

Thankfully, the number of participants increases every year.
At first, we expected it to be an event for adults who love sake, but recently we’ve seen many people coming with their whole families, including children and pets.

Since it’s an outdoor event, people can bring their pets, and there are plenty of stage activities and food, so it seems children can enjoy themselves too.

I think sake tastes best when you drink it happily and have a good laugh, so it’s a real pleasure to see families enjoying the event with smiles on their faces.

We’re also very grateful that people who come back every year seem to invite friends who haven’t been to the event before.

What are the highlights of this concert?

Nakahara

This year, we’re offering paid seating for the first time, in response to the many requests from visitors.
If you’d like to enjoy food and drink in a more relaxed setting, please make use of it.

Some breweries are also preparing limited-edition sake available only at this event. There will also be original food items available only on the day, making this an event where you can enjoy food you won’t find anywhere else.

Do you have any recommendations for how to enjoy the event?

Nakahara

Sixteen breweries from the Bicchu region are taking part, so you’re sure to find one from your hometown or neighborhood. We want as many people as possible to discover that delicious sake is made right here in their local area.

You can also buy bottles of the sake you enjoy during the tasting to take home, so please continue supporting your favorite brewery after the event.

The event ends in the early evening on both days.
There are many wonderful restaurants along the way from Geibunkan Hall in Kurashiki City to JR Kurashiki Station. Some of them serve local sake from Bicchu, too, so we recommend stopping at a few places for drinks on your way home.

Do you have a message for our readers?

Nakahara

This event lets you enjoy your time at the venue while supporting local sake from Bicchu.
We hold it in the hope that more people will learn about and take pride in their local breweries.

Tastings start at 300 yen for 60 cc. It’s an easy-to-enjoy amount even for people who don’t usually drink much sake, so please feel free to come along.

We look forward to welcoming you.

From the Writer

I’ve looked forward to attending this event every year since the 4th festival.

Of course, you can enjoy delicious local sake and food, but another great thing is being able to talk directly with the brewers and learn about their recommended ways to enjoy their sake.

There are also plenty of sake cups by artists, including students from Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, on display at the venue. Thinking about how to enjoy the sake you’ve bought is one of the pleasures of the event.

Since June is a month without public holidays, why not enjoy the local flavors by having some delicious sake over the weekend, starting at lunchtime?

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