basic information

Sake no jin is an annual sake fair, attended by about one hundred sake producers from across Niigata Prefecture, a prefecture well known for its high quality rice and rice wine. Sake no jin is held on a weekend in mid March at the Toki Messe convention center in Niigata City.

Everybody over the age of twenty is welcome to attend the fair and taste from a large variety of Niigata sake. Admission to the fair is free. However, if you wish to do some tasting, you need to pay 1000 yen in exchange for a sake cup to be used to taste from hundreds of types of sake and sake related products on display.

In addition to the sake brewers' stands, Sake no jin features a number of stage events including a tasting challenge and dance and song performances. There is also a food corner with Niigata specialties.

Any advice or questions? Voice them in the forum!

how to get there

By train from Tokyo

Niigata Station can be reached from Tokyo Station in about two hours by Toki trains along the Joetsu Shinkansen. The one way journey costs around 10,000 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Pass.

The JR East "View" travel agency also offers special roundtrip packages for the Sake no jin event from Tokyo. They are available either for a daytrip (only 12,000 yen) or a two-day excursion packaged with hotel accommodation (from 21,500 yen).

By bus from Tokyo

There are hourly highway bus connections and an overnight bus between Tokyo (Ikebukuro Station) and Niigata. The one way trip takes about 5.5 hours and costs 5250 yen. A round trip ticket is available for 9450 yen.

From Niigata Station to Toki Messe

The Toki Messe convention center can be reached from Niigata Station by bus (about 10 minutes, 200 yen), by taxi (about 5 minutes, approx. 700 yen) or on foot (two kilometers, about 30 minutes).

hours and fees

Sake no jin 2008

Hours: March 15: 10:00-18:00, March 16: 10:00-17:00
Admission: Free (1000 yen tasting fee good for both days of the event)

english links

japanese links