The event was held over two days, and we visited on the first day!

The ’13th Japanese Sake Festival @ Osaka Bay Tower’ is an event where breweries from all over Japan gather, allowing attendees to sample and compare carefully selected Japanese sake using special cups, enjoy tastings, and purchase sake.

According to the explanation provided, while the usual sake festival system uses special plastic cups for comparative tasting, at this ’13th Japanese Sake Festival @ Osaka Bay Tower’, as part of a collaborative project commemorating the 30th ‘Japanese Sake Festival in Nakameguro’, an original sake cup was distributed to everyone who purchased an advance ticket!

The main stage at the venue was hosted by a talent with deep knowledge of Japanese sake.

Furthermore, as a guest, the titleholder for “2025 Miss SAKE Nara” came to liven up the sake festival!

Next, the chairman of the sake festival executive committee gave the toast signal, marking a grand start together with all the exhibitors!

This is NIKITATSU 2025 Junmai Daiginjo from Minakuchi Shuzo in Ehime Prefecture.
This is Junmai Daiginjo Egushi from Saki Hime Shuzo in Saga Prefecture.

In addition to sake, the food selection was also substantial!

This is an assortment of oden.
This is doteni, beef simmered slowly.

All the food was seasoned perfectly to pair with sake, allowing it to be enjoyed like a snack.

Following that, a performance by a calligrapher and a koto player was presented on stage.

The sake tasting continued!

This is Junmai Ginjo Mafu Nigori from Otani Shuzo in Tott

Osaka Bay Tower

The Osaka Bay Tower, also known as the Kansai International Airport Control Tower, is a distinctive 86-meter-tall structure located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay. Completed in 1994 alongside Kansai International Airport, it was designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano to resemble a giant seagull in flight, symbolizing the airport’s connection to the sea and sky. As one of the world’s tallest control towers, it has been a critical operational center for one of Japan’s major international gateways since its opening.

Japanese Sake Festival

The Japanese Sake Festival, often called “Sake Matsuri,” is a modern celebration that showcases Japan’s national rice wine, with its production history dating back over a thousand years. These lively events, held in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, bring together breweries from across the country to offer tastings and promote sake culture. They celebrate both traditional brewing techniques and contemporary innovations within this iconic Japanese industry.

Nakameguro

Nakameguro is a trendy, upscale neighborhood in Tokyo, Japan, best known for the picturesque Meguro River that runs through it, lined with hundreds of cherry trees. Historically a quiet residential area, it developed around the Meguro River, which was once an important water transport route during the Edo period. Today, it is famous for its vibrant spring cherry blossom viewings, chic cafes, boutique shops, and its transformation into a fashionable residential and dining district.

Miss SAKE Nara

Miss SAKE Nara is a modern sake bar and shop located in Nara, Japan, the region historically considered the birthplace of Japanese sake brewing. It celebrates Nara’s deep connection to sake, which dates back over 1,000 years to when the earliest recorded sake was produced at temples like Shoryaku-ji. The venue offers a curated selection of local Nara sake, aiming to promote the region’s brewing heritage and craftsmanship to both locals and visitors.

Minakuchi Shuzo

Minakuchi Shuzo is a sake brewery located in Kōka City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, founded in 1871. It is known for producing traditional Japanese sake using pure local water from the nearby Suzuka Mountains and time-honored brewing methods. The brewery represents a long-standing craft in the region, contributing to the area’s cultural heritage of sake production.

Ehime Prefecture

Ehime Prefecture is located on the island of Shikoku in Japan, historically known as the Iyo Province. It is famous for its scenic beauty, including the Dogo Onsen—one of Japan’s oldest hot springs with over 3,000 years of history—and Matsuyama Castle, a well-preserved hilltop fortress from the Edo period. The region is also renowned for its citrus fruits, particularly mikan (mandarin oranges), which are a key part of its modern agricultural identity.

Saki Hime Shuzo

Saki Hime Shuzo is a sake brewery located in the city of Iga, Mie Prefecture, Japan, founded in 1918. It is particularly known for its “Saki Hime” brand of sake, which is brewed using traditional methods and local rice, including the famous Iga region’s soft water. The brewery emphasizes a connection to local history and craftsmanship, contributing to the area’s cultural heritage of sake production.

Saga Prefecture

Saga Prefecture is a region on the island of Kyushu, Japan, historically known as the ancient province of Hizen. It is famous for its deep historical connections to early international trade, particularly as a gateway for cultural exchange with Korea and China through the port of Hirado. Today, it is renowned for its traditional Arita and Imari porcelain, which has been produced since the early 17th century.