Achi Shrine, located in the center of Tamashima, Kurashiki City, has been watching over the Tamashima area since 1658.
An event will be held at the historic Achi Shrine where you can enjoy delicious sake while spending a relaxing time in the shrine's grounds. It is said that local restaurants that are rarely seen at events will be participating.
What kind of content will the food and drink festival held at the shrine entail?
We would like to introduce the "Sake Offering Festival" (kenshusai), which is a first for Achi Shrine.
What is the Sake Offering Festival?
The Sake Offering Festival is an event that will be held at Achi Shrine on November 24, 2025 (Monday, public holiday).
With the theme of "Thanking Nature and Enjoying the Present Era", you can enjoy carefully selected sake and food from local restaurants. On that day, a ritual to offer sake to the gods in gratitude for nature's blessings is also planned.
Seven stores will participate, featuring establishments that are rarely seen at events.
- Tamashima Bar BRUNO
A casual bar loved by locals, mainly dealing in natural wines. - Goike Bar
A long-established bar in Tamashima that offers rich and high-quality sake. - GRAPE SHIP
A winery that produces natural wines using Muscat of Alexandria. - Nanda Meat Shop
An old-fashioned butcher shop that raises calves on its own farm with great care. - Kurashiki Sake Shop Tokichi
A wine shop in the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki that handles carefully selected wines. - Kimuraya
A restaurant offering a variety of international cuisine centered on creative Chinese and ethnic dishes. - GJG ESPRESSO STORE
A coffee shop where you can enjoy flavorful coffee roasted in-house.
On the day of the event, you can purchase non-alcoholic drinks as well. Additionally, a children's event corner will be set up, making it a festival that families can enjoy together.
The Sake Offering Festival is the first of its kind at Achi Shrine. How was this food and drink event organized by the shrine?
We interviewed Fukuda Masatoshi, the chief priest of Achi Shrine, and Nagao Kotaro, who operates together with him at Tamashima Bar BRUNO.
Interview with the Organizers
What motivated you to hold the Sake Offering Festival?
Fukuda (no honorifics)
Historically, many festivals have been held at shrines to thank nature for its blessings.
Restaurants handle seafood and agricultural products, delivering them to many people in various forms. I wanted them to know that there is a ritual to thank nature, and I hoped this would be an opportunity for them to feel closer to the divine virtues, which led to the collaboration with local restaurants.
Moreover, shrines used to be places where people gathered in the community. However, recently, there have been few opportunities to visit other than for worship, and I personally feel a bit lonely about that.
Therefore, I planned an event to connect people in the community, with the hope that the shrine would once again become a gathering place for people. I hope everyone enjoys the new encounters with restaurants.
I thought it was rare for a food and drink event to be held at a shrine. How did you two come to collaborate?
Fukuda
I am a fan of Tamashima Bar BRUNO and often visit the place with friends, which led to my interaction with Nagao.
Nagao is a wonderful and trustworthy person, so when I mentioned, "I want to try doing something like this at Achi Shrine," he encouraged me by saying, "Let's do it."
Nagao (no honorifics)
I thought the Sake Offering Festival was a regular event held at the shrine, but I was surprised to learn it was the first time. It felt like we were realizing the idea that Fukuda brought to me together.
How were the participating restaurants selected?
Nagao
I wanted restaurants that are close to the shrine and have a strong sense of community to participate.
For example, restaurants in the Kurashiki area near Achi Shrine have visitors who come for one-day visits and those who wish for the shrine to be a spiritual refuge.
Restaurants that value the community, including the shrine, and resonate with the organizers' intentions gathered for this event.
Additionally, I have also invited restaurants and sake shops that I personally respect.
What is the meaning behind the name 'Sake Offering Festival'?
Fukuda
Originally, there is a ritual called "Sake Offering Festival" at shrines.
It is a ceremony where tea is prepared and offered to the gods. We decided to name it the "Sake Offering Festival" after changing the offering from tea to sake.
While it is common to offer sake in rituals, I think it is rare for a shrine to hold an event that prominently features sake in a casual festival setting.
What are the highlights of this event?
Fukuda
We hope you will enjoy a calm atmosphere unique to the shrine, experiencing a different vibe from summer and autumn festivals.
Additionally, Achi Shrine is located in a place where the sunset is very beautiful. Please enjoy the beautiful sunset along with delicious food.
Nagao
Each store offers carefully selected sake and dishes, so I hope you enjoy the flavors from various establishments.
Can those who do not drink alcohol enjoy the event?
Fukuda
Yes. We will also have non-alcoholic drinks available, so those who do not drink alcohol and children are welcome to come.
On the day of the event, we will also have a children's event corner with the help of the regional revitalization cooperation team.
What kind of experience do you want participants to have?
Fukuda
Since this festival is held in a special place like a shrine, I hope everyone can enjoy a peaceful time savoring sake in a calm atmosphere.
Finally, please give a message to the readers.
Fukuda
The stores participating this time are local establishments that I personally frequent as a fan. They are not only great in taste but also have wonderful people.
We will do our best to ensure you have a fun time, so please come and join us. I hope to share a joyful time with everyone, including the vendors and staff.
Nagao
The Sake Offering Festival is an event filled with community spirit, featuring restaurants that resonate with the organizers' intentions. They are all valuable establishments that rarely participate in events.
Since the creators' desire to "make the locals enjoy" is gathered here, please be sure to taste the unique flavors at the Sake Offering Festival.
Conclusion
You may not have many opportunities to visit a shrine outside of worship or sightseeing. Through this interview, I felt compelled to support Achi Shrine's efforts to become a place of relaxation for the community.
This event is not just a fun occasion to drink alcohol, but it is unique to Achi Shrine in that it properly expresses gratitude to the gods.
The seven participating stores are said to offer menus filled with care, so I hope to aim for a complete visit to all of them.
For the latest information about the event, please check Achi Shrine's Instagram.
Data of the Sake Offering Festival
| Name | Sake Offering Festival |
|---|---|
| Date | November 24, 2025 (Monday, National Holiday) From 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM |
| Location | 1-12-1 Chuo-cho, Tamashima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Website | Haguro Shrine Instagram |
