CRAFT SAKE WEEK 2023 at ROPPONGI HILLS returns for the first time in 4 years this weekend! Here are some tips to enjoy this event!
This year, Japan’s biggest sake event “CRAFT SAKE WEEK” returns for the first time in 4 years!
It will be held in Roppongi Hills Arena Tokyo for 10 days, from April 21st to 30th as “CRAFT SAKE WEEK 2023 at ROPPONGI HILLS.”
“CRAFT SAKE WEEK” is a project that started in 2016 by organizer Hidetoshi Nakata, who felt the strong depth and potential of sake during his visits to more than 400 sake breweries in the 47 prefectures of Japan. Past events have been held in Roppongi (Tokyo), Hakata (Kyushu), Sendai (Tohoku), and have been attended by a total of over 600,000 people.The event will have a variety of sake as well as food to match the sake, so that both sake lovers and sake beginners can enjoy it!
▼Click here to see the past events (article in Japanese)
CRAFT SAKE WEEK at ROPPONGI HILLS 2019
CRAFT SAKE WEEK at ROPPONGI HILLS 2018
Finally after 4 long years of hiatus because of the COVID-19, “CRAFT SAKE WEEK 2023 at ROPPONGI HILLS” will be held with a featured lineup of carefully selected 100 sake breweries and 15 restaurants! For the people who haven’t been to the event yet, let us introduce some of the attractions of this event and how to enjoy them!
Recommendations for CRAFT SAKE WEEK!
Recommendation 1）CRAFT SAKE
Picture of past event
The “best sake” carefully selected by sake experts including Hidetoshi Nakata
From among more than 1400 breweries in Japan, 100 sake breweries carefully selected by 100 taters including Hidetoshi Nakata, sake experts, and top chefs, will be gathered at the event. Each day will have a theme, with 10 breweries appearing everyday. This will make it easy to learn the characteristics of each brewery, and find the brewery of your choice!
Click here for a list of sake breweries
Recommendation 2）RESTAURANT「ORIGINAL MENU」
A renowned restaurant, highly acclaimed both in Japan and internationally, will offer an “original menu” only for the event.
15 restaurants that are difficult to reserve will gather at the venue. (5 restaurants on the first 4 days April 21st – 24th, 5 restaurants on the next 5 days April 25th – 29th, and another 5 restaurants on the final day April 30th will be open.)
Along with the standard Japanese food, which is considered to go well with sake, but also popular restaurants and hidden but treasured restaurants from various genres will appear. Throughout the event, they will be serving their most famous dishes, secret menus, and also special menus only for the CRAFT SAKE WEEK.
Click here for information on the restaurants.
Recommendation 3）INSTALLATION「Architect, Tsuyoshi Tane」
The venue is designed by a leading Japanese architect; there is a different concept in design each time
Every CRAFT SAKE WEEK has featured a different concept for the venue. The previous CRAFT SAKE WEEK was designed by architect Yuko Nagayama, who also designed the Japan Pavilion for the 2020 Dubai International Expo, with a concept of “rope”. The installation at this year’s event was designed by architect Tsuyoshi Tane, who has created numerous works including the “Hirosaki Renga Soko Art Museum” and the “Imperial Hotel New Main Building (scheduled for completion in 2036).” The concept is based on “Masu” (a wooden box that can hold one square measure of rice), which has been used as a vessel since ancient times. Approximately 3000 pieces of Masu will envelop the venue, creating a space with soft wooden expression and light.
Recommendation 4）NIHONMONO STORE BOOTH「JAPANESE TEA」
Not only “SAKE”! The charm of “Japanese Tea,” a Japanese culture attracting attention from all over the world.
Focusing on the “Japanese tea”, a part of Japanese culture that is attracting attention worldwide along with sake, the event will have a variety of carefully selected Japanese tea from leading tea producers in Japan. Attendees can enjoy a variety of Japanese teas from different regions.
Hidetoshi Nakata, who visits not only sake breweries but also tea producers all over Japan, will unveil his Japanese tea brand “HANAAHU TEA” for the first time at this event. “HANAAHU TEA”, based on the concept of “tea during eating”, is sure to be an enjoyment for those who do not drink alcohol, as well as for those who do!
There will be many more booths to enjoy, so please come and check out the attractions at the venue!
How to enjoy CRAFT SAKE WEEK
Now let us guide you with how to enjoy CRAFT SAKE WEEK 2023 at ROPPONGI HILLS!
①Get your tickets in advance (starter sets)!
You can purchase the starter set at the venue (open each day from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., last order at 8:30 p.m.), but you can also get tickets online in advance to enjoy the event smoothly.
▼Click here for purchase site
NIHONMONO STORE
Pass Market
The starter set consists of CRAFT SAKE WEEK original sake glass and 11 coins for sake and food. If you need more coins, extra coins are available for purchase at the event.（Advance purchase is recommended due to limited number of coins available at the venue on the day of the event.）
Advice: It is recommended to come early due to a long line of wait for popular sake!
② Talk to sake brewers and sake tasters to find the sake of your choice!
10 sake breweries appear each day. You will be able to taste a variety of characteristics every day. In addition, CRAFT SAKE WEEK is a great opportunity to have sake poured directly from master brewer or sake tasters. Talk with them to learn more about sake. You might be able to find your new best sake!
Point：Register the sake you tasted at the event on the official Sakenomy app to enjoy it even more!
③Pairing sake with dishes for better taste and enjoyment!
There are endless dishes that go well with sake.Break out of your stereotypes and try new genres of food! You will not be disappointed with any of the dishes and sake at the event!
Point : Check out the original menu only available here at the event!
④Feel the “SAKE culture” with your entire body!
In order to create a more comfortable space at the venue, the DJ will play music that matches the atmosphere. You can enjoy not only sake, but also SAKE culture with all 5 senses while immersing in the “Masu” installation.
Point：Capture the 10-day limited space for a lasting memory!
⑤New enjoyment everytime! Once is not enough!
Participating breweries change everyday, so attending only one day would not be enough!If you have the original sake cup from the starter set, all you need is the coin to enjoy from the second day! The coin can be used everyday during the event, so you don’t need to use them all in one day.
Point：You don’t need to purchase the sake cup if you are only there for the food!
CRAFT SAKE WEEK features a variety of gimmicks, including themed designs, appealing to both who are familiar with sake and who are not yet familiar. Please look forward to the upcoming “CRAFT SAKE WEEK 2023 at ROPPONGI HILLS”!
Picture of past event
＜About CRAFT SAKE WEEK 2023 at ROPPONGI HILLS＞
Date: April 21st – April 30th
Time: 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. every day (Food and Sake served until 20:30)
Location: Roppongi Hills Arena（6-9-1 Tokyo, Minato-ku, Roppongi）
Breweries attendees: Every day 10 breweries, Total of 100
Restaurant count: 15 restaurants
Price: Starter set =￥3,600（original sake cup＋11 coins for food and beverage）※If you bring the original sake cup to the event from the second time, you only have to pay for additional coins.
Sales in advance: Check the Official Website of「CRAFT SAKE WEEK」
Host: JAPAN CRAFT SAKE COMPANY CO., LTD
Cooperation: Roppongi Hills
Website: http://craftsakeweek.com/
Official App: Sakenomy https://www.sakenomy.jp/
