Written by Aarohi Narain
Taste and commpare over 120 different kinds of highballs.
What to expect
“Highball” typically means whisky topped with soda water in Japan, but the term originally referred to any spirit mixed with something fizzy. This festival takes that idea and runs with it, celebrating both Japan’s prolific whisky‑and‑soda tradition and the free‑wheeling, mix‑anything‑with‑bubbles style.
Sample your way through whiskies, gins, vodkas, tequilas, rums, liqueurs, and more. Top them with sparkling water for a cocktail entirely of your own.
There will be iconic pours like Yamazaki 12 Year and Hakushu available in limited quantities for tasting, as well as food items purposefully selected to pair with your tipple — from grilled beef tongue to briny oyster skewers.
Tickets 2025
Entry to the festival is free, but you’ll need to pay for drinks and tasting tickets.
Advance tickets, available until August 27, are priced at ¥2,800 for a 16‑coin tasting set or ¥3,700 for a 16‑coin tasting set with a souvenir glass.
On‑the‑day tickets cost ¥2,800 for a 14‑coin tasting set or ¥3,700 for a 14‑coin tasting set with a souvenir glass.
Purchase tickets online through the official website.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.- 335 m from Keisei-ueno Station Keisei Main Line (KS1)
- 394 m from Ueno Station Ginza Line (G16)Hibiya Line (H18)Yamanote Line (JY5)Keihin-Tōhoku Line (JK30)Jōban Line (JJ4)
- 0.7 km from Ueno-okachimachi Station Oedo Line (E9)
