Early - Mid
Mar
The Niigata Sakenojin is held at the Toki Messe convention center (Photo: DAI-nk / CC BY-SA 3.0)
- 1 min read

Niigata Sakenojin

Enjoy Niigata's best sake brews at this annual event

Venue: Toki Messe Convention Center When: Early - Mid Mar 2025

The Niigata Sakenojin has been running annually since 2004, and offers visitors a chance to enjoy Niigata based sake varieties and regional foods. Over the two day event, around 500 different brews are available to sample, alongside stage shows and informative seminars to learn more about the process involved in producing the iconic beverage.

Niigata sake is unique in that the brews produced here use the center of the rice grain, which has a purer starch quality. Previous years' events have had in excess of 100,000 attendees, giving some indication as to how well the region's sake is regarded.

Admission to the event itself is free of charge, but if you would like to sample some of the brews on offer, a one day ticket for unlimited tastings is 2500 yen. Drink responsibly!

Getting there

The Niigata Sakenojin is held at the Toki Messe Convention Center. The center is just over 20 minutes on foot from Niigata Station. Alternatively, you can get on the Sadokisen bus from Niigata Station and get off at the Toki Messe stop. Taxis are also available.

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fyn tay 4 years ago
the dates are incorrect.
The correct dates are 14th and 15th March 2020. https://www.niigata-sake.or.jp/sakenojin/
Kim Author 4 years ago
Thanks for the update - the dates were from the 2019 event I believe, which automatically populated to 2020 once the event passed.

Will update. Thank you!
Elizabeth S 5 years ago
The rice merchant in my neighborhood down here in Chiba Prefecture carries Niigata brown rice and amazing osake varieties. The quality is consistently high. You can’t go wrong with Niigata’s produce.
Kim Author 5 years ago
It really is great stuff that they produce out here. Some friends we know back in the States actually saw Hakkaisan sake on shelves there - and that just blew my mind. Makes me happy to see Niigata sake (and other products) really being put on the map!
Sleiman Azizi 5 years ago
The sense of crafstmanship behind these kinds of foods and drinks is very, very impressive.
Kim Author 5 years ago
There is a real passion for great sake out here. Between the excellent quality rice and fresh snowmelt water it’s the perfect conditions for it!

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