The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (日本酒造組合中央会), the nation's largest industry body representing approximately 1,600 beverage makers—including sake, shochu, awamori, and mirin producers—has released its "Japan Sake Event Calendar for March 2026." The calendar highlights sake-related events and topics taking place in various regions of Japan throughout the month.
Yakimono World "Tokai Local Sake Gathering" – Local Sake from Aichi, Gifu, Mie & Shizuoka
Date: March 5 (Thu) to March 9 (Mon), 2026
10:00 AM–5:00 PM (last day: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM)
Venue: Port Messe Nagoya, Exhibition Hall 1 (3-2-1 Kinjo Futo, Minato-ku, Nagoya, Aichi)
Organizer: Yakimono World Executive Committee (Aichi Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, Mie Prefecture, Nagoya City, Chunichi Shimbun, TV Aichi)
Official Website: https://yakimonoworld.jp/
Held within the Yakimono World ceramics fair, 15 sake breweries from Aichi, Gifu, Mie, and Shizuoka offer local sake available by the glass, as well as a popular three-sake comparison set. Brewery owners, brewers, and staff are on hand to explain the sake in detail, and visitors can purchase their favorite bottles to take home.
Admission: Advance ticket: ¥800 / Door ticket: ¥1,200
Ticket Purchase: Pass Market – https://yakimonoworld.jp/ticket/
Niigata Sake no Jin 2026
Date: March 7 (Sat) and March 8 (Sun), 2026
Session 1: 10:00 AM–1:00 PM (tasting starts 10:30 AM) / Session 2: 2:30 PM–5:30 PM (tasting starts 3:00 PM)
Venue: Toki Messe Exhibition Hall (6-1 Bandaijima, Chuo-ku, Niigata City)
Organizer: Niigata Sake no Jin Executive Committee (Niigata Prefecture Sake Brewers' Cooperative, Niigata Prefecture Sake Brewers' Association, Niigata City)
Official Website: https://www.niigata-sake.or.jp/sakenojin/
First held in 2004 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Niigata Prefecture Sake Brewers' Association—modeled after Munich's Oktoberfest—Sake no Jin has grown into one of Japan's largest sake festivals. Niigata's sake breweries gather under one roof bringing their finest offerings, and a single entry ticket grants access to approximately 500 varieties of sake. Food booths serving Niigata regional cuisine and a merchandise booth offering event-exclusive goods are also available.
Tickets: Sold out due to high demand.
Fushimi Sake Fes
Date: March 14 (Sat), 2026
Session 1: 9:40–11:00 AM / Session 2: 11:15 AM–12:35 PM / Session 3: 12:50–2:10 PM / Session 4: 2:25–3:45 PM / Session 5: 4:00–5:20 PM
Main Venue: Gekkeikan Showa Warehouse (300-1 Katahara-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto)
Organizer: Fushimi Sake Brewers' Association; Supported by: Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City
Official Website: https://www.fushimi.or.jp/sakefes/
Fushimi Sake Fes returns in 2026, giving visitors the chance to enjoy premium sake from 18 Fushimi breweries in a special venue. Alongside the main event, multiple kura-biraki (brewery open days) and local happenings take place in the surrounding area, making it a full day of sake culture in the historic Fushimi district of Kyoto.
Capacity: 1,000 per session (5,000 total)
Admission: ¥2,000 per session (includes 4 sake vouchers)
Ticket Purchase: Official sales page (STORES) – https://kyoto-fushimi-sake.stores.jp
Shin SAKE SQUARE 2026
Date: March 20 (Fri/Holiday) 11:00 AM–7:00 PM, March 21 (Sat) 11:00 AM–7:00 PM, March 22 (Sun) 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
Venue: Yaba Park (3-26 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi)
Organizer: Aichi Prefecture Sake Brewers' Association / Gifu Prefecture Sake Brewers' Association Federation / Mie Prefecture Sake Brewers' Association / ZIP-FM
Official Website: https://zip-fm.co.jp/shinsake26/
This inaugural outdoor event celebrates the sake heritage of three Tokai prefectures. Aichi has been a center of sake brewing for over a thousand years and currently ranks seventh in Japan by production volume with around 40 breweries. Gifu benefits from pristine water flowing from the Northern Alps through the Nagara and Kiso rivers. Mie, historically known as "Miketsukuni" (Land of Food Offerings) centered on Ise Jingu, produces fragrant, deeply flavored sake thanks to the water resources along the eastern Kii Peninsula. The event showcases freshly pressed sake—"shiboritate" and "hatsushibori"—brewed from locally grown new-harvest rice.
Admission: ¥3,000 (advance starter set ticket) / ¥3,600 (door starter set ticket)
Ticket Purchase: https://zip-fm.co.jp/shinsake26/#ticket
GI Aomori Launch Event
Date: March 23 (Mon), 2026, 1:00 PM–3:00 PM (check-in from 12:30 PM)
Venue: Hotel Aomori, 3F Peacock Room (1-1-23 Tsutsumimachi, Aomori City, Aomori)
Organizer: Sendai Regional Taxation Bureau; Supported by: Aomori Prefecture; Cooperation: Aomori Prefecture Sake Brewers' Association, Geographical Indication Aomori Management Council
Related Website: https://aomori-tourism.com/event/detail_9857.html
An event to experience the appeal of "GI Aomori" sake, which leverages the region's cold winters to produce high-quality ginjo-style brews. The program features a keynote lecture on GI Aomori, followed by a talk event with food researcher Shinpei Kurihara and three leading Aomori brewery representatives, with sake and food tastings included.
Capacity: Limited to 250 participants
Admission: Free
Registration: https://forms.gle/4YjBa67DzDVhXU4z9
