Mr. Ōta, a spokesman for the Sake Festival, said, “The number of Sake Sweets available seems to have grown considerably over the past couple of years. Last year, when I bought some from a patisserie in the Saijō area for the first time, I couldn’t believe how many were on sale! I was really surprised!”

According to him, they’re going to reserve a special corner to sell these ‘hot’ Sake Sweets at the festival.

↑These will be on sale at the festival. 

Mr. Ōta says that an estimated 250,000 people are expected to visit the Sake Festival. Among them, there are lots of kids and people who don’t or can’t drink alcohol, but they can enjoy Sake Sweets. They are getting popular, especially among women.

You can find a variety of Sake Sweets walking along Saijō’s Sakagura Street. The gatehouse that leads to the former playhouse has been left as it is, but the theater itself has been renovated and turned into a shop & café called “Kuguri Mon Coffee”.

Made by Kashi kobo “mike”, this “Amazake tart”is one of the Sake Sweets I found. Thanks to the sake aroma, it is rich yet elegant in flavor.

Sake & Cafe“Shusen kan” is found at the east end of Sakagura Street.

This “Sake Fruitcake” is made to an original recipe and can only be purchased at Shusen kan. The delicate sweetness of fruit combine with the irresistible aroma of Sake for a heavenly taste experience.

Among many other Sake Sweets on offer, there’s also “Daiginjō gelato”, “Sake kasu Monaka ”, “Daiginjō macaron”, and “Sake kasu Karinto”, etc.

Why not take a stroll around Saijō town and taste some of the goodies? Or you can, of course, buy them all at once at the “Sake Festival”.

Houses on Sakagura Street with their beautifully contrasting white walls and red roof tiles!

Here’s the Sake Festival information to be held on October 11^th and 12^th – THIS WEEKEND – Please enjoy!

Sake Festival

Address: Around JR Saijō Station

Date: October 11th (Sat) 10:00- 22:00, October 12th (Sun) 10:00- 17:00

TEL: 082-420-0330 (Sake Festival Committee)

Website (Japanese): http://sakematsuri.com/

Sake Festival KIZUNA site (Sake Sweets, Kagura dance show, live jazz, etc.)

Address: Kamozuru Cellar 1, 9 Saijō Honmachi, Higashihiroshima-shi, Hiroshima

Date: October 11 (Sat) 10:00- 19:00, October 12 (Sun) 10:00- 17:00

TEL: 082-420-0330 (Sake Festival Committee)

Note: Please do not call the Kamozuru Sake Brewing Company

Website (Japanese): http://sakematsuri.com/

Kuguri Mon Coffee

Address: 17-1 Saijō, Honmachi, Higashihiroshima-shi, Hiroshima

Open: 10:00 – 17:00

Closed: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

TEL: 082-426-3005

Website (Japanese): http://kugurimon.com/

Shusen Kan

Address: 2-4 Saijō, Kaimi’ichi-chō, Higashihiroshima-shi, Hiroshima

Open: Saturdays and Sundays, and every 4th and 10th of the month 10:00- 17:00 (closed on national holidays)

TEL: 082-423-2021

Website (Japanese): http://www.kamoizumi.co.jp/shusenkan/index.php

Setouchi Photo-writer : Izumi Furukawa