Belgian Beer Weekend 2026 Kyoto

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Why You Should Visit

A five-day open-air Belgian beer festival on Ohigashi-san Hiroba, the plaza in front of Higashi Hongan-ji and a short walk from Kyoto Station. Ninety-seven Belgian beers across 14 styles are joined by ten craft beers from local brewery Kyoto Brewing, so there are more than 100 to choose from. Around 30 food items cover the Belgian standards — frites, mussels, sausages, cheese — alongside Kyoto sweets and Kyoto pickles. You buy a ticket that bundles a festival glass with coins, then trade coins for whatever you want to drink. Thursday starts in the late afternoon; Friday through the Monday holiday run straight through from late morning.

Photo Gallery

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画像出典: starbeer productions株式会社プレスリリース（PR TIMES）／ベルギービールウィークエンド公式サイト

BBW2026 original glasses and Belgian food. Photos via the starbeer productions press release on PR TIMES; the hero shows last year's venue.

Essentials

location

Ohigashi-san Hiroba (the public green in front of Higashi Hongan-ji)

period

October 8, 2026 (Thu) - October 12, 2026 (Mon)

Time

・Thu Oct 8: 16:00–22:00
・Fri Oct 9: 11:00–22:00
・Sat Oct 10 & Sun Oct 11: 11:00–21:00
・Mon Oct 12 (holiday): 11:00–20:00

cost

Light Drinking Set (one festival glass + 8 coins): 2,700 yen in advance, 2,840 yen during the event. Starter Set (one festival glass + 13 coins): 3,750 yen in advance, 3,990 yen during the event. Extra coins come in packs of five for 1,150 yen.

Links

Official Website

TICKET

Book online tickets for smooth entry on the day.

Rakuten Travel Experiences

Kobe · Gluten-free

Basque cheesecakeBaked with rice flour, no wheat. Whole 12cm, serves 2-3¥4,700 incl. shipping (Japan only)

access

About 5 minutes on foot north up Karasuma-dori from the Karasuma Central Gate of JR Kyoto Station. No event parking is listed, so drivers should use the coin lots nearby.

There are 12 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Ohigashi-san Hiroba (the public green in front of Higashi Hongan-ji), and 6 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

TICKETS / REGISTRATION

Set tickets are sold online through Rakuten Travel Experiences, and the organisers say the advance price holds until just before the event. Questions about buying, paying for or cancelling a ticket go to Rakuten Travel Experiences; general event enquiries go to 050-1706-7695 or info@belgianbeerweekend.jp.

NOTE

Beer

97 Belgian beers across 14 styles
10 craft beers from Kyoto Brewing

Food

About 30 Belgian dishes (frites, mussels, sausages, cheese and more)
Kyoto sweets and Kyoto pickles

Schedule

Thu 8 Oct, 19:00: opening ceremony

Stage

DJ yonayama and The Pineapple Sessions are listed as performers
The day-by-day timetable is published on the official schedule page

On the day

It is held outdoors on an open plaza; the organisers do not publish a rain policy

*Content and vendors may change without notice.

Kyoto vendors: Kyoto confectionery from the Kyogashi Cooperative youth division; Kyoto pickles by Nishiri (first three days, Oct 8–10) and Daiyasu (last two days, Oct 11–12).

Organizer: Belgian Beer Weekend Executive Committee; special cooperation: Embassy of Belgium in Japan; supported by Kyoto City and others.

FAQ

What is the difference between the two sets?

Both include one festival glass; the difference is the number of coins — 8 with the Light Drinking Set, 13 with the Starter Set. How many coins a glass costs depends on the beer, so the Starter Set suits you better if you plan on more than a couple of drinks.

Can I buy more coins at the venue?

Extra coins are sold in packs of five for 1,150 yen. You keep using the glass that came with your first set, so coins are the only thing you need to top up.

Does it run in the rain?

It runs outdoors on the temple-front plaza, and the organisers do not publish a rain policy. If rough weather is forecast, check the official site for announcements before you set out.

Calendar

Add it to your calendar so you can check back on it later.

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