"Aizu Yoppara Sake Matsuri" at Hoshino Resorts Bandaisan: Tasting Fukushima's Award-Winning Sake

Bandaisan Onsen Hotel (Hoshino Resorts, Bandai-machi, Fukushima) will hold the "Aizu Yoppara Nihonshu Matsuri" — roughly, the "Aizu Get-Tipsy Sake Festival" — from April 9 through June 30. The event is for hotel guests and features sake tastings, locally designed cup sake, and more.

Fukushima Prefecture held the top spot in the Annual Japan Sake Awards (Zenkoku Shinshu Kanpyokai) for nine consecutive years starting from the 2012 brewing season, winning the most gold medals by prefecture. In the 2024 brewing season, Fukushima reclaimed the title after a three-year gap. About half of the prefecture's roughly 30 breweries are concentrated in the Aizu region.

Nomurier Tasting Set (¥1,500)

A pairing set of five sakes and five snacks. Developed with the Fukushima Prefecture Hi-Tech Plaza Aizu-Wakamatsu Technical Support Center, which analyzed the flavor components of each sake, then paired by a certified kikizake-shi (sake sommelier). Available from 3 PM to 9 PM at the hotel's "Aizu SAKE Bar."

The name "Nomurier" is a play on "sommelier" and "nomu" (to drink) — the humor is intentional, but the pairing behind it is science-based.

Cup Sake, Gachapon, and a Masu Tower

Original cup sake (¥700) is a collaboration between breweries and Aizu-based designers: Atelier Karasu, a red cow (akabeko) paint artist, and artist Kengo Hirano. Sold at the hotel shop.

The akabeko ochoko gachapon (¥500) dispenses small sake cups featuring original akabeko illustrations — "Cheers Beko," "Drunk Beko," and others. What you get is up to the capsule machine.

On the day the Annual Japan Sake Awards results are announced, the hotel holds a "Masu Tower Ceremony." Staff stack one masu (wooden sake cup) for each gold-medal-winning brewery, then pour sake from the top and serve it to guests. It takes place at 8:30 PM during the hotel's nightly "Aibase! Odoransho" program. Free of charge.

Guests Only, Starting April 9

All programs are exclusive to hotel guests. Room rates start at ¥14,900 per night (two guests, meals included). The festival runs daily for about three months, from April 9 through June 30.