Every early October, Hiroshima Prefecture will hold a spectacular sake festival called “広島西条酒まつり”with 300,000 attendance. I have the privilege of experiencing the fest this October. Not only all the sake lovers, but the breweries, shops, and even factories will join the fest, which crowded the venue and nearby street.
每年的10月初，広島縣的西条也會舉辦大型酒祭<広島西条酒まつり>，參加人次高達三十萬人，全日本的清酒愛好者也到來，筆者有幸在10月時親身感受這場清酒盛會，酒祭規模巨大，不單是公園成為場地，附近的酒藏、商店、工廠、不同組織等也會參與其中，整個區也投入的大型活動。
There are various kinds of snack stalls in the venue. In a corner called “酒広場”, you are allowed to taste sake from over 1000 distinct breweries at only 2000 yen, all free flow! Some sake lovers would prepare their own food to pair with all those sakes, and expect to spend a whole day in the venue. Certainly with such a huge number of admission, some premium sake like “Koshinokanbai” is in limited supply. The venue was so packed and it was nice to feel the enthusiasm of the sake lovers, and even got familiar with some of them.
除了美酒，活動現場也有各式小食攤，品酒之餘買到佐酒食物， 之後到達名為<酒広場>的場地。在這裡，只要付上二千日圓，就可品嘗全日本各地的美酒，場內準備了過千款的清酒供應，而且添飲次數不限哦，不少清酒愛好者準備好佐酒食物，整天待在場內享受美酒，不過因為入場人數眾多，一些知名清酒如就是限量供應的。在場地感受到日本人對清酒的熱情，整個公園水洩不通，各個供酒灘位人流不斷，一些本來互不相識的人也因為清酒而熟絡起來。
The place we spent a whole day is in fact a street called “西条酒藏通” where many sake breweries located, such as Kamotsuru, Kamoizumi, Kirei, etc. The breweries are open to public, in which thoughtful programs are arranged for both adult and children such as concerts, rituals, etc. There are fantastic food made of sake such as sake hotpot, Daiginjo ice-cream and cakes. It was such a wonderful sake feast that everyone would enjoy.
附近是名為西条酒藏通的街道，賀茂鶴、賀茂泉、龜齡、褔美人等多間酒藏也位處這裡，也會開放參觀，為了讓酒祭成為合家歡的活動，各酒藏也悉心安排了讓小朋友也可參與的節目，如音樂會、祭祀儀式等，也有很多從清酒製成的美食如美酒鍋，大吟釀雪榚、旦榚等。整條街道也熱鬧非常，每家酒造都人頭湧湧呢。
各人的流露開心的神情，真是一場極樂的清酒盛宴。
活動網頁: https://sakematsuri.com/
鳴謝: 広島県商工労働局観光課
