HOW TO ENJOY
Pairing with food is essential to enjoying Fukuoka’s sake and shochu.Fukuoka has a remarkably varied food culture, from seafood and wild foods to street food, and sake and shochu draw out the character of each of these dishes, enriching the flavor.
For example, sake pairs perfectly with delicate dishes such as sashimi and sushi. Sake gently embraces the umami of the fish, drawing out the natural flavor of the ingredients.
Crisp shochu, by contrast, pairs perfectly with rich, fatty dishes such as yakitori, gyoza, motsunabe, and mizutaki. It washes down rich fat with ease, leading to the next bite.
Another delight unique to Fukuoka is the yatai, or food stall. Time spent savoring local food along with a casual drink in the lively atmosphere of these food stalls will serve as one of the most memorable moments of your trip.
Sake and shochu each have their own distinct character and, when paired with Fukuoka cuisine, create what is known as the “Perfect Pairing. ”There are no strict rules; enjoying sake and shochu freely paired with food and your own taste is the Fukuoka way.
HOW TO ENJOY
Fukuoka offers a wide variety of sake and shochu events, from local brewery open houses to major indoor events in the city.
Jojima Sake Festival & Brewery Hopping (February)
Jojima Sake Festival & Brewery Hopping (February)
Held every February in the Jojima district of Kurume in Fukuoka, this is one of Kyushu’s largest brewery open house events.Roughly 100,000 people attend the event over the two-day period!Several breweries open their doors to the public, letting visitors tour breweries while sampling different kinds of freshly brewed new sake. This is a once-a-year festival where the entire town is steeped in sake and shochu.
&SAKE FUKUOKA (September)
&SAKE FUKUOKA (September)
A stylish indoor event that originated in Fukuoka based on the theme of “Sake / Shochu × Fine Dining. ”Held at a venue in the city of Fukuoka, this event brings together local breweries and popular restaurants, letting you casually experience the magic of Fukuoka sake and shochu while dining in a refined setting.
Brewery Open Houses (Usually February, March, or April)
Brewery Open Houses
(Usually February, March, or April)
Some breweries hold their own open house events to coincide with the brewing season. This is a rare chance to tour facilities normally closed to the public and to sample freshly brewed new sake. These hands-on events unique to the region also let you enjoy local food and connect with local people.
