Hiroshima's IWC sake entries, poured in Tokyo for three days

The International Wine Challenge (IWC), one of the world's largest wine and sake competitions, is running its SAKE category judging in Higashi-Hiroshima from May 18 to 21. To mark the occasion, Hiroshima Prefecture is opening a three-day tasting bar in Tokyo featuring the very sakes that local breweries submitted to this year's competition.

A standing bar in Ginza, no booking required

The venue is "Hiroshima CAFE," a kakuuchi (standing bar) on the first floor of TAU, Hiroshima's flagship shop in Ginza.

  • Dates: May 29 (Fri) to 31 (Sun), 2026
  • Hours: 16:00–20:00 each day
  • Venue: Hiroshima Brand Shop TAU, 1F Hiroshima CAFE
  • Entry: walk-in, no reservation

The specific labels on offer will be announced on TAU's website after the judging wraps. It is not often that Tokyo drinkers get to taste the exact bottles a region sent to an international competition.

The lineup lingers after the bar closes

Once the three-day bar ends, the brewery boutique "Sui," also on TAU's first floor, will set up a corner featuring the same competition entries. Even those who miss the bar itself will have a window to try the lineup.

The IWC results themselves are another thing to watch. How Hiroshima sake fares this year is worth checking back on.