This year, Japan’s largest sake event, “CRAFT SAKE WEEK,” returns for the first time in approximately four years!

“CRAFT SAKE WEEK 2023 at ROPPONGI HILLS” will be held for 10 days from Friday, April 21 to Sunday, April 30 at Roppongi Hills Arena in Tokyo.

“CRAFT SAKE WEEK” is a project that began in 2016 after organizer Hidetoshi Nakata visited over 400 sake breweries while traveling through all 47 prefectures of Japan, where he strongly felt the depth and potential of sake.The event has been held in various regions including Roppongi in Tokyo, Hakata in Kyushu, and Sendai in Tohoku, welcoming over 600,000 visitors to date.This event offers not only a variety of sake but also cuisine paired with sake, making it enjoyable for both sake enthusiasts and beginners alike!

▼Click here for articles from past events
CRAFT SAKE WEEK at ROPPONGI HILLS 2019
CRAFT SAKE WEEK at ROPPONGI HILLS 2018

“CRAFT SAKE WEEK 2023 at ROPPONGI HILLS,” held for the first time in approximately four years following the pandemic, will feature a lineup of 100 carefully selected sake breweries and 15 restaurants.We are pleased to introduce all the highlights of this event!Furthermore, for those who have never attended before, we will also guide you on how to enjoy the event!

Recommended Points of CRAFT SAKE WEEK!

Recommendation 1) CRAFT SAKE

Scenes from past events

The finest sake carefully selected by Hidetoshi Nakata and other sake experts gathers in one place

From over 1,400 sake breweries across Japan, 100 breweries have been carefully selected through tastings by over 100 experts, including Hidetoshi Nakata, sake specialists, and top chefs.With themes set for each day and 10 breweries appearing daily, it is easy to remember the characteristics of each brewery and find your preferred brand and brewery.
The brewery list is available here

Recommendation 2) RESTAURANT “ORIGINAL MENU”

Renowned restaurants highly acclaimed both domestically and internationally offer exclusive “original menus” for the event

The venue will feature 15 restaurants that are difficult to book.(During the 10-day event period, 5 restaurants will participate in the “first half” from April 21 (Fri) to April 24 (Mon), 5 restaurants in the “second half” from April 25 (Tue) to April 29 (Sat), and 5 restaurants on the “final day” of April 30 (Sun) only, rotating throughout the event.)

Not only Japanese cuisine, which is considered to pair well with sake, but also popular restaurants and hidden gems from various genres will appear. You can enjoy original menus created specifically for CRAFT SAKE WEEK, as well as the restaurants’ most popular dishes and special off-menu items.
Restaurant information is available here

Recommendation 3) INSTALLATION “Architect Tsuyoshi Tane”

Leading Japanese architects create the venue space with different concepts each time

CRAFT SAKE WEEK has created venue spaces with different concepts each time.At the previous event (2019), architect Yuko Nagayama, who designed the Japan Pavilion for the 2020 Dubai World Expo, designed the space with the concept of “rope.”This year’s venue installation is handled by architect Tsuyoshi Tane, who has worked on numerous projects including the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art and the new main building of the Imperial Hotel (scheduled for completion in 2036). With the concept of “Mass = masu (measuring box),” which has been used as a vessel since ancient times, approximately 3,000 masu will be used to create an overwhelming presence that envelops the venue, with the soft texture of wood and light creating a rich and abundant space.

Recommendation 4) NIHONMONO STORE Booth “JAPANESE TEA”

Not just “SAKE”! The appeal of “Japanese tea,” a Japanese culture attracting global attention

Focusing on “Japanese tea,” a Japanese culture attracting global attention alongside sake, carefully selected teas from leading Japanese tea producers will be gathered. You can enjoy various types and production regions of Japanese tea.

Additionally, the Japanese tea brand “HANAAHU TEA,” produced by Hidetoshi Nakata, who has visited tea producers across Japan as well as sake breweries, will make its debut at this event. With the concept of “tea to accompany meals,” HANAAHU TEA will be a perfect cup not only for those who do not drink alcohol but also for those who do, enhancing the enjoyment of sake!

In addition to these, various other booths will be featured, offering plenty of ways to enjoy the event.Please come to the venue and experience the appeal for yourself!

How to Enjoy CRAFT SAKE WEEK

So, how can you actually enjoy CRAFT SAKE WEEK 2023 at ROPPONGI HILLS? Here is how to make the most of it!

① Get your advance ticket (Starter Set)!

The event operates daily from 12:00 to 21:00 (L.O. 20:30), and while it is possible to purchase a starter set at the venue, obtaining tickets online in advance will allow you to enjoy the event more smoothly.

▼Purchase tickets here
　NIHONMONO STORE
　Pass Market

The starter set includes an original CRAFT SAKE WEEK sake glass and 11 food and beverage coins. These coins can be exchanged for sake, food, and more. Of course, additional coins can be purchased at the venue!(On-site sales are limited in quantity, so advance purchase is recommended)

Tip: Popular sakes and items may have long lines early on, so arriving early is recommended!

② Talk to the brewers and sommeliers to find your favorite sake!

With 10 breweries appearing each day, a variety of sake with different characteristics will be available.Furthermore, at CRAFT SAKE WEEK, you can have sake poured directly by the brewers and sake sommeliers.Not only can you taste the sake, but you can also speak directly with the brewers and sake sommeliers to discover your favorite sake!

Tip: Register the sake you taste on the official app Sakenomy to enhance your enjoyment!

③ Enjoy even more with sake and food pairings!

The possibilities for cuisine that pairs with sake are endless.Without being bound by preconceptions, please try new genre pairings of cuisine and sake. There are no misses among the dishes and sake featured at this event!

Tip: Be sure to check out the original menus available only here!

④ Feel the “SAKE Culture” with all your senses!

At the venue, DJs select music to match the atmosphere, creating a more comfortable space.
The music lineup is available here

While enjoying sake surrounded by an installation based on the concept of the “masu,” one aspect of sake culture, you can experience sake culture with all five senses, not just through taste.

Tip: Capture the 10-day limited space in photos to create lasting memories!

⑤ Not just once—you can enjoy it as many times as you like!

Since the participating breweries change daily, attending just one day would be a waste!If you bring the original sake glass from the starter set, you can enjoy the event from the second visit onward by purchasing only coins. Coins can be used anytime during the event period, so there is no problem if you do not use them all.

Tip: If you only want to enjoy the food, a sake glass is not required. You can purchase coins only!

CRAFT SAKE WEEK is designed with various features, such as setting themes, to ensure that not only those familiar with sake but also those who are not yet acquainted with it can enjoy the event.Please look forward to the upcoming “CRAFT SAKE WEEK 2023 at ROPPONGI HILLS”!

Scenes from past events

＜CRAFT SAKE WEEK 2023 at ROPPONGI HILLS Overview＞

Dates: Friday, April 21 to Sunday, April 30, 2023 / Daily 12:00–21:00 (L.O. 20:30)
Location: Roppongi Hills Arena (6-9-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Participating breweries: 10 breweries per day, 100 breweries total
Restaurants: 15 restaurants total
Price: Starter set ¥3,600 (original sake glass + 11 food and beverage coins)
*For subsequent visits, bring your starter set glass and enjoy the event by purchasing additional coins only.
Advance sales: Available on the official “CRAFT SAKE WEEK” website
Organizer: JAPAN CRAFT SAKE COMPANY, Inc.
Special cooperation: Roppongi Hills
Website: http://craftsakeweek.com
Official app: Sakenomy https://www.sakenomy.jp