Ueno Plum Wine Festival

Umeshu (plum wine) is one of Japan’s most popular drinks, known for its sweet and tart flavor. If you’re a fan, everything from supermarket Suntory bottles to high-end artisan umeshu awaits at the Ueno Plum Wine Festival.

There’s also a Plum Wine Festival in late summer.

What to expect

Despite Japan’s love of rice wine or sake, many people will say they prefer the sweet, fruity notes of umeshu. As such, breweries of all sizes, from large corporations to small micro-breweries, have spent decades experimenting with local flavors and styles to create a plum wine without peer.

At the Ueno Plum Wine Festival, you’re invited to wander under the boughs of Ueno Park’s trees and take a tastebud tour. There’ll be over 140 different types of umeshu available, among them the winners of the 2024 National Umeshu Tasting Competition.

Uniquely, you don’t have to pay for full bottles at this festival. Instead, using a special event currency, you can buy small tasting glasses of anything that catches your eye. The drinks will be sorted into seven categories, each with plenty of info about the brewing process and history of the liqueur.

And if you need a bite to cleanse your palate between drinks, don’t worry, there’ll be snacks and merch to buy around the venue.

Tickets

You can purchase tickets in advance through the Ueno Plum Wine Festival website or on the door.

The festival operates using “umesen” — a unique type of currency for the stalls. You’ll be given a set number with your ticket and can purchase more as you run out. Umeshu cups will set you back anywhere from 1 to 7 umesen, depending on the quality and vintage. We’d recommend buying advance tickets whether you choose to start with 18 or 36 umesen.

Advance tickets are ¥800 cheaper than on-the-day tickets. So, if you spring for 18 umesen, an advance ticket will be ¥1,600, while a ticket on the door will be ¥2,400. Meanwhile, a 36 umesen ticket will be ¥3,000 in advance, and ¥3,800 on the door.