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Experiencing the Nayabashi Yoichi Sake Festival in Nagoya (March 2025)
If you happen to be in Nagoya on the fourth Friday of the month, you might come across Nayabashi Yoichi, a lively night market held along the Horikawa River near Nayabashi Bridge. Usually it’s a once-a-month Friday evening event, but this time it was expanded into a special two-day “Sake Festival” on March 28 and 29, 2025, celebrating the breweries of Nagoya and the Tokai region.
A Bit of History
The Horikawa riverside wasn’t always such a pleasant place. Locals say it once had the atmosphere of a red-light district. Before the 2005 Aichi Expo, the city redeveloped the riverbanks, opening up spaces for citizens to gather and enjoy community events. With relaxed regulations in 2010, Nayabashi Yoichi was born, and it has been a popular monthly tradition ever since.
Getting Started
I visited on Saturday evening, March 29. To enjoy sake at the festival, you need to purchase a set of tickets and a small sake cup (ochoko). The system is simple:
- Tickets: 5 for ¥1,500
- Ochoko (sake cup): ¥300
Around 4:30 pm, I lined up near Nishikibashi Bridge, next to Nayabashi, to buy my set. With the tickets and a blue Japanese pamphlet in hand, I was ready to start tasting.
At each booth, you hand over a ticket and the staff pours a serving of sake into your ochoko.
My Tasting Journey
- First Cup: Kami-no-I Brewery (Nagoya City, since 1870s)
I started with a freshly pressed unpasteurized sake (namagenshu). It was rich and full-bodied, very much in the traditional style of sake. - Second Cup: Nakashima Brewery (Mizunami, Gifu, founded 1702)
I tried Kabosu no Susume, a unique liqueur-like sake flavored with kabosu citrus from Oita Prefecture. It was bold, acidic, and almost cocktail-like—very refreshing. - Third Cup: Yamamori Brewery (Nagoya, founded 1887)
Their sake, Takano Yume, had a light, fruity profile—easy to drink and quite popular with the crowd
Meanwhile, along the riverside, simple wooden stands were set up on the railings so people could rest their cups while chatting. Despite the chilly 10°C weather, the warm food stalls helped balance the cold with snacks and hot bites.
- Fourth Cup: Niida Zenshu (Koriyama, Fukushima, founded 1711)
This was something truly special: a sake aged in oak barrels, created exclusively for Nayabashi Yoichi. It carried a wine-like aroma—unexpected, and very interesting for a sake. - Fifth Cup: Takeuchi Brewery (Ogaki, Gifu, founded 1744)
I finished with a ginger-infused sake. The flavor was strong and spicy; though served chilled, I thought it would taste even better warm.
Festival Atmosphere
The riverside was packed with visitors, many holding ochoko cups and strolling with friends. On the Nayabashi side, the shikizakura cherry blossoms—a rare variety that blooms twice a year—were in full bloom, creating a magical backdrop for the event. Crossing over to the opposite bank, the crowd was dense, making it difficult to take photos, but the festive atmosphere was contagious.
Final Thoughts
After using up my five tickets, I left pleasantly warmed by the sake. The Nayabashi Yoichi Sake Festival was more than just a tasting—it was a chance to discover both famous and lesser-known breweries, all while enjoying the riverside scenery and cherry blossoms.
If you’re visiting Nagoya in March, I highly recommend checking it out. I’m already looking forward to next year’s festival.
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I’ve compiled a list of Nagoya’s places that I’ve personally visited. Is Nagoya boring? Not at all! While it has developed as an industrial city, it also hides interesting places full of history and culture. Use this guide to explore Nagoya and discover its hidden gems.
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