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 bottles to high-end artisan umeshu awaits at the Ueno Plum Wine Festival.

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

What happens?

Love the sweet, fruity notes of umeshu? Breweries of all sizes, from large corporations to 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 100 different types of umeshu available, among them the winners of the National Umeshu Tasting Competition.

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 to save some yen.

If you spring for 98 umesen, an advance ticket will be ¥1,900, while a ticket on the door will be ¥2,700.