Kakuchi Sake Festival – February 2026 @ Ueno Park | Report
I went to the Kakuchi Sake Festival at Ueno Park with my childhood friend. The event was held from February 6th to 8th, and we went on the 8th — which, surprisingly, was forecast to snow.
However, since we had reserved paid seats in advance, we were able to sit comfortably and enjoy drinking sake while watching the snowfall.
How to Book
The general admission fee was 500 yen, but since we wanted to sit and relax, we reserved paid seats in advance.
If you have a Yahoo! Japan ID, you can purchase tickets through PassMarket.
The reserved seating was for two hours and included one drink. Prices varied depending on the day of the week and time slot during the event.
We bought tickets for Sunday at 11:00 a.m., and they cost 2,500 yen per person. Weekday tickets, especially on Friday, were cheaper.
On the Day of the Event
As we headed to the park in the falling snow, we could hear lively music and soon saw the entrance gate to the venue.
At the entrance, we received wristbands and name tags for the VIP seating area.
As soon as we went inside, there was a complimentary sake tasting corner. We were given two types of sake — one in a paper cup and the other in a plastic cup. One was junmai sake, and the other was junmai ginjo.
The answer was written on a note tucked inside a pocket tissue packet that we received at the entrance. I’m happy to say that I guessed correctly.
After that, we headed to our reserved seats at the back of the venue.
Reserved Seating Area
The reserved seating area was set up inside a greenhouse-style tent, with several tables and chairs, as well as a heater.
We were told that we could sit at any available seat. When we visited, about 80% of the tables were occupied.
The included drink could be chosen from canned beer, highball, or juice. I chose beer.
First, we toasted with beer, then went to get food and sake.
What I Ate
We bought two kinds of hot pot — oyster hot pot and seri (Japanese parsley) hot pot — and shared them with my childhood friend.
The portions were more filling than I expected.
Everything was hot, and it warmed my body.
Of course, I also drank Japanese sake.
I didn’t take photos of the sake bottles, but I bought a sake tasting set at the Nakano sake cooperative booth.
It cost 2,000 yen and included several types of sake, even one that was priced around 20,000 yen per bottle.
I also bought another sake from Ibaraki Prefecture and had it served as hot sake.
Time passed quickly, and two hours went by in no time.
We were allowed to stay at the venue longer, so we left the greenhouse tent. By then, the snow had stopped.
After that, I bought steamed oysters and more sake at the Tokyo brewery corner, where I tried sake from Sawanoi.
Restroom Information
Since it was cold, I was a little worried, but we could use the public restrooms in the park outside the venue.
Because it was a snowy day, the festival itself was not very crowded, so I was able to use the restroom without waiting in line.
However, there were only a few private stalls, so it might be crowded in the evening.
Impression
I happened to learn about this festival and decided to visit.
It was not very crowded, and there were many sake shops participating, so I enjoyed the event.
However, I was so focused on buying food and drinks that I couldn’t remember the names of the sake I drank. It might be better to take photos of the bottles before receiving the drinks.
The two-hour reserved seating time passed in the blink of an eye, but having a guaranteed place to sit and eat was very convenient at this kind of festival.
Since I started feeling cold, we went to downtown Ueno afterward to have another drink.
Japanese ver.
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