National Sake Festival in ACRiE Himeji 2026

Dates & time: October 3, 2026 (Sat) 3:00–7:00 pm (ends early once the sake runs out; re-entry allowed throughout)
Price & booking: Tasting works on charity donations: 1,000 yen for the first round (one Kanbei cup + 5 tasting tickets, enough for roughly 2–3 pours), then 5 tickets per additional 500 yen. Each label costs a different number of tickets (announced once the lineup is final). Mini komodaru painting workshop: 2,000 yen (materials) No booking needed for tasting (donate at the reception desk on the day and collect your tickets). Two programs require advance sign-up:
- Sake-tasting contest (starts 5:00 pm, 20 places, must be 20 or older as of Oct 3): applications have closed. Places are drawn by lottery if oversubscribed, with priority to younger applicants; each person applies individually. Bring photo ID and attend the tasting lecture from 4:30 pm first.
- Mini komodaru painting workshop (4:00 / 5:00 / 6:00 pm slots, 10 places each, first come; 2,000 yen): workshop sign-up form
Unfilled places for both may be offered on the day.
Venue & access: ACRiE Himeji, Exhibition Halls A, B, C and the outdoor exhibition area About a 10-minute walk from Himeji Station (JR / Sanyo Electric Railway). This is a drinking event: organisers ask visitors to come by public transport, so do not drive.

There are 2 car parks within a 12-minute walk of ACRiE Himeji, Exhibition Halls A, B, C and the outdoor exhibition area. The map shows each with its walking time.

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

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Why You Should Visit

An autumn sake-tasting event at ACRiE Himeji, a short walk from Himeji Station. Marking 90 years since Yamada Nishiki rice was born, around 100 sakes are poured: brews from across Japan made with Hyogo-grown Yamada Nishiki, alongside sake from Harima and the rest of the prefecture. A charity donation of 1,000 yen or more at the entrance gets you a commemorative Kanbei cup and five tasting tickets; each label costs a set number of tickets. Proceeds, after expenses, go to disaster-recovery causes. On stage you can watch artisans wrap a komodaru straw-covered cask, hear a talk marking 90 years of Yamada Nishiki, sit in on a tasting lecture by a National Tax Agency appraiser, and join the kagami-biraki cask-opening toast. The concurrent Harima Brewing Fair sells miso and soy sauce and runs brewing workshops, and there are snacks such as Himeji oden to go with the sake, making this an easy half-day outing for sake lovers.

Programs

Timetable & Map

NOTE

Sake

Held to mark 90 years of Yamada Nishiki rice: around 100 sakes from breweries across Japan using Hyogo-grown Yamada Nishiki, plus sake from Harima and elsewhere in the prefecture
Snacks such as Himeji oden are on sale
Stock is limited; arriving early is recommended

Charity

Your donation at the reception desk is what admits you to the tasting
Proceeds, after expenses, are donated to disaster-recovery causes

Harima Brewing Fair (concurrent)

Harima brewing booths sell miso and soy sauce and run brewing workshops
Fish-cake products from the Harima region are also on show

Guest

Mari Ito, 2026 Miss SAKE Hyogo, is scheduled to appear

Organisation

Supported by the Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau, Hyogo Prefecture and the Hyogo Sake Brewers Association
Enquiries: Kobe Shimbun Jigyosha (operating contractor) 079-285-2701 (weekdays 10:00–17:00)

Tasting contest perks

Every entrant receives GI Harima original goods
Top finishers win Harima sake prizes
Depending on numbers, the contest may be run in teams

Mini komodaru workshop

Artisans wrap and rope each cask by hand, which takes 10–20 minutes; if the queue runs long, finished casks can be mailed to you

*Cancelled in stormy weather

*Age checks may be carried out; drinking under 20 and drink-driving are prohibited by law

*Never drink and drive (the organisers' own request)

*The stage program is provisional and may change

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出典: 姫路市公式サイト

Kobe · Gluten-free

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FAQ

Is there an entry fee, and do I need to book?

No booking is needed for tasting. Donate 1,000 yen or more at the reception desk on the day to receive a Kanbei cup and five tasting tickets; after that, each 500 yen adds five more. Only the tasting contest and the mini komodaru workshop require advance sign-up.

Can I drive there?

This is a drinking event, so the organisers ask everyone to come by public transport. The venue is about a 10-minute walk from Himeji Station. Never drink and drive.

Can I leave and come back?

Yes. Re-entry is free from the 3 pm opening until the event ends. Note that stock is limited and the event closes once the sake runs out, so arriving early is recommended.

Can anyone enter the tasting contest?

Entrants must be 20 or older as of October 3, and there are 20 places. Sign-up is in advance (applications for 2026 have closed); if oversubscribed, places are drawn by lottery with priority to younger applicants. Bring photo ID for an age check, and attend the tasting lecture from 4:30 pm before the contest.

What happens in rain or stormy weather?

Most of the venue is indoors, but the event is cancelled in stormy weather. Check Himeji City's official page on the day.