Kanpai in NYC: 6 Ways to Toast World Sake Day
Celebrate World Sake Day at six different events in NYC
From Pairings to Parties, Here’s Where to Sip Sake This October
October marks the beginning of the sake brewing season in Japan, arriving just after the September rice harvest and leading into winter, the ideal time for fermentation. In 1978, the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association officially designated October first as Nihonshu no Hi, or World Sake Day.
Here are six fantastic events in New York where sake lovers can raise a glass and say “Kanpai!” to the rich traditions of Japanese sake.
How will you celebrate World Sake Day?
SAKE DAY 2025 at Bin Bin Sake
29 Norman Avenue, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $10 - $15
Greenpoint-based Bin Bin Sake, a liquor store specializing in sake and natural wine, will host its second World Sake Day celebration.
Highlights
Tickets include admission, unlimited tastes of sake, a small ochoko (ceramic sake tasting cup), and a special discount at the bin bin shop for take-home bottles
Each sake being poured has been selected by the Bin Bin team in collaboration with its distributors, showcasing the team’s favorite products
Vendor market featuring incredible local art and Japanese crafts, as well as a food vendor and DJ
Go to Bin Bin’s Eventbrite page to purchase tickets.
Sake Revolution Podcast
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.-ish
6:00 p.m. – Taproom Opens
7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. – LIVE Sake Revolution recording
9:00 p.m.-ish – Taproom closes
Brooklyn Kura – 34 34th Street, Industry City in Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Admission: $15
Be part of a LIVE studio audience recording of America's first sake podcast, Sake Revolution! Hosts John Puma and Timothy Sullivan will be live and in person at the Brooklyn Kura taproom and invite you to join in the studio audience.
Highlights
Interview and sake tasting with Byron Stithem, owner and master brewer of Proper Sake in Nashville, Tennessee. Guests will taste two kinds of Stithem's sake and explore his philosophy and point of view on the making of his unique and delicious brand.
Audience members will be able to submit questions to be answered live during the broadcast
Purchase tickets at Brooklyn Kura’s website. Admission includes admission for one, plus two tasting pours of sake. Snacks and additional sake will be available for purchase.
World Sake Day NYC
Friday, October 3, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
The W Loft Rooftop – 240 Kent Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Admission: $65
The mission of World Sake Day NYC is to elevate awareness and appreciation of the rich history, dedicated people, and vibrant culture behind Japanese craft sake. This annual event brings guests face-to-face with the artisans and experts of the sake world, offering a unique opportunity to taste, learn, and connect directly with the makers of this traditional beverage.
Highlights
Premium sakes from more than 30 Japan and US breweries
Admission includes 15 tasting tickets, souvenir sake glass, and tote bag
Complimentary Bluefin Sampling Curated Japanese food vendors ($10–$20 per dish)
Meet Michelin Starred Sommelier Steve Kim of Restaurant l'abeille
Original cocktail designed by award-winning bartender Takuma Watanabe of Martiny's
Exclusive catering of Japanese appetizers and snacks by Tabetomo
Installation art by Ikuma design
Portraits pop-up by Japanese artists Hiroshi Masuda and Remi Yamamoto
Asian artisanal vendor market with crafts, ceramics, candles and more
To see the complete list of participating brewers and to purchase tickets, please visit World Sake Day NYC’s website.
Kato Sake Works Sake Day Party
Saturday, October 4 at 2:00 p.m.
Kato Sake Works – 379 Troutman Street, Bushwick, Brooklyn
Admission: Free (sake for sale)
Kato Sake Works, a small but mighty craft sake brewery in Bushwick, will celebrate World Sake Day with music, food, art, and a brand new sake. The event will serve as KSW’s official launch NY Jizake (NY Local Sake), a Junmai sake made with Akitakomachi rice grown by Great Joy Family Farm in Pine Bush, New York.
For more information, please visit @katosakeworks on Instagram or their website.
Sake Day Brooklyn 2025
Sunday, October 5, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Brooklyn Kura – 34 34th Street, Industry City in Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Admission: $50
Since one Sake Day celebration isn’t enough, Brooklyn Kura is hosting a Community Sake Day at their taproom in Industry City.
Highlights
Premium Sake Tasting all night
Interactive Brewery Tour
Shizuku Drip: Taste freshly dripped sake
DJ playing all night
Raffles and giveaways for sake classes and swag
Food pop ups in the courtyard
There will be two rounds of tastings, each featuring dozens of brands. Sake distributors will also be on hand to pour sake from all over Japan.
Premium Sake Tasting Round 1 – 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Dassai
Heavensake
Kato Sake Works
Komé Collective
Mutual Trading
Proper Sake
Sake Discoveries
Skurnik Wines & Spirits
World Sake Imports
Premium Sake Tasting Round 2 – 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Brooklyn Kura
Hakkaisan
Joto Sake
Kikusui
Niigata Sake Selections
Origami Sake
Wismettac
To purchase tickets, please visit Brooklyn Kura’s website.
SAKECON
Friday, October 10, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
The Mezzanine – 55 Broadway, New York
Admission: $85-$120
Round out the Sake Day (week+) at SAKECON, presented by Upstairs NYC, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting friendly relations between New York and other countries through cultural exchanges.
Highlights
Theme: All White – Dress in white (not required) as a nod to “shinpaku,” the snow-white center of sake rice
Ultimate Premium Sake Selections: More than 40 breweries and 65 sake
Free sample of Dassai Blue Sake Mille Crêpes by Lady M (while supplies last)
Mouthwatering Japanese food and special cocktails by NR (Food is available for purchase)
Japanese marketplace
Original sake glass that is yours to keep
Giveaway: Original Izak Zenou tote bag
Live Entertainment: DJ and LED Electric Violin performance by global artist Sarina The Violin Diva
Part of the proceeds will be donated to sake breweries in Ishikawa Prefecture, impacted by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit Upstairs NYC’s website.
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JapanCulture•NYC’s Holiday Gift Guide
Reported and compiled by JapanCulture•NYC’s Fashion Editor Jen Green
JapanCulture•NYC’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide is here with a round-up of all-Japanese holiday markets or pop-up shopping events this December. This curated list will help you find that special gift while supporting local businesses or vendors in a one-stop-shopping situation.
Image credit: Bin Bin Sake
Bin Bin Sake Holiday Market
29 Norman Avenue, Brooklyn
Sunday, December 8 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
The first market this season is Bin Bin Sake’s third annual holiday market this Sunday, December 8. Holiday gifts, Japanese crafts, and delicious treats by local artists and vendors will be available for sale. There’s four six for’s jewelry, home goods like Wuhao’s tenugui and Towka’s candles, and art prints from illustrator Megan Troung, plus much more. For the foodies on your shopping list, there are some tasty gifts such as MiMAKi’s premium umeboshi sour pickled plums and fresh onigiri from HIBINO day by day.
For a full list of vendors, please see Bin Bin’s Instagram post here. In addition, there will be bottle engraving and Bin Bin merchandise, perfect for that sake lover in your life. As you shop, be sure to participate in the free sake tasting!
Image and photo credit: Niji
Niji Holiday Market
Japan Village – 934 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn (2nd floor)
Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 from Noon until 6:00 p.m.
Niji Japanese makers market is back at Japan Village for their holiday shopping event. Explore unique creations from more than 20 Japanese craft vendors for the ultimate gifts this season. Jewelry offerings range from Pucci Ropa’s handmade metal pieces to Rockin’ Wasabi’s origami jewelry and chocolateclayyy’s sculpted earrings. For home goods gifts, vendors such as HANATURAL will be selling handmade Japanese-inspired soaps along with pottery by some local potters like Namiko Kato and Hiroko Yokotagawa. Kawaii-style gifts will be available from HikariwoSagasu, Boy Oh Boy Co., and Tharaphy NY. For a full list of vendors, please see Niji’s Instagram post here.
A Night with the Makers: Holiday Edition
The Makers Guild – 51 35th Street, Brooklyn (2nd floor)
Saturday, December 7, Saturday, December 14, and Saturday, December 21 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
The Makers Guild is hosting a holiday shopping series every Saturday until Christmas. It’s not just shopping; it’s an experience with live music, complimentary drinks, tastings, gift guides, and other activities. Of the participating shops, four of them are Japanese women-owned businesses that you need to be sure to check out:
Logo and right photo from n+a; bottom right photo by Jen Green
n+a jewelry was established in 2007 by Japanese sisters Noriko and Akiko Sugawara from Yokohama, Japan. Pulling inspiration from both the city and nature, while combining it their unique perspectives and Japanese sensibilities, the sisters create original and timeless designs.
Logo and left photo from Tadaima; right photo by Jen Green
Tadiama bakery has been a staple at The Makers Guild with a fan following and long lines for their delicious baked goods and intricate, beautifully garnished beverages. But it’s more than a bakery; it’s a quaint Japanese gift shop, too. With items like candles, stationery, and home décor that owner, Ayaka Ando, sources on her trips back home to Japan, you can pick up a gift for someone while you treat yourself to one of those coveted Tadiama pastries.
On December 14 Tadiama is hosting a fine coffee pop-up featuring 95RPM Coffee Roaster, serving hand-brewed coffee from this Brooklyn based micro-roaster.
Photo from IPPIN PROJECT’s website
IPPIN PROJECT is collective of Japanese artisans’ products that are handcrafted using traditional Japanese techniques to create high quality designs. The products they carry are not mass-produced in Japan; they are made from limited materials by skilled artisans. IPPIN PROJECT also produces custom-made furniture using traditional Japanese materials with a contemporary twist. From pottery to kitchenware and home decor to jewelry, IPPIN PROJECT offers many options for the ultimate gift.
Photo from Kajiha’s website
KAJIHA’s owner Sonoko Kaneko uses natural resources to create botanical arrangements, objects, preserves, and natural-scent products in her Brooklyn studio, which is connected to IPPIN PROJECT.
Outside the hours of A Night with the Makers, KAJIHA also offers workshops where you can create your own unique gift. Spots are limited as the workshops are done in small groups for one-on-one attention with the instructor. Please check out the schedule here and consider giving a gift you’ve made yourself.
Graphic by TEN TEN
TEN TEN NYC Presents: Kawaii Holiday
Ideal Glass Studios – 9 West 8th Street, New York
Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15
Ticketed time slots: December 14 at 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.; December 15 at 10:00 a.m.
TEN TEN NYC is hosting THE kawaii event of the holiday season in NYC, and it’s so much more than a holiday market. Join them for a two-day celebration of Japanese “kawaii” culture that includes music, art, performance, workshops, and a market of local vendors. Immersive installations by local artists offer the perfect backdrop while the kawaii fashion challenge is a great chance to show off your festive kawaii holiday looks.
Sebastian Masuda, Godfather of Kawaii, is hosting a workshop on Saturday, December 14 as well as bringing items from his iconic Harajuku shop 6%DOKIDOKI for their first NYC pop-up! Saturday’s workshop is your chance to make a custom 12-inch teddy bear with decora materials provided by Sebastian Masuda Studio Tokyo. Tickets to this limited-seat experience also include VIP perks such as a lecture by Masuda and a photoshoot opportunity.
Other artists and designers participating in the market are Breanna Watson with various accessories featuring her illustrations, Harrison Scott with his iconic bags, Shampooty with one-of-a-kind collectibles that evoke childhood nostalgia in a cheeky way, and many more!
Come out to this Kawaii Holiday Wonderland to get festively creative, have fun, and get some shopping done.
But Wait, There’s More . . .
In addition to these holiday markets, here are two more opportunities to secure a Japanese gift this season at these month-long shopping events:
Photo credit: CIBONE’s Instagram
YAMMA Holiday POP UP
CIBONE 50 Norman Avenue, Brooklyn
Now through Sunday, January 5, 2025
Every day from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. (Closed every third Tuesday)
Curated by YAMMA brand director Nana Yamasaki and hosted at CIBONE in Greenpoint, this holiday pop-up features brands Yammakko, HARAPPA, Yammaman. Known for genderless and timeless pieces made from traditional Japanese cotton Aizu Momen, YAMMA brand’s styles boast clean lines and colorful combinations. Aizu Momen is durable cotton made by using a traditional craft techniques that have been preserved in old Aizu region in Fukushima Prefecture.
Image credit: Niji’s Instagram
Niji Japanese Seasonal Shop
Tangram Flushing 133-33 39th Avenue, Flushing
Saturdays and Sundays in December from Noon until 6:00 p.m.
A second Niji market is set up all month long at Tangram in Flushing, Queens. Items range from fresh fruit from Japan to accessories, pottery, soaps, stickers, and more! HANATURAL will also sell their handmade Japanese-inspired soaps here. Bun’s Blooms brings her joyous art to stickers and keychains.
Heartfish Press is selling festive wreaths and hosting a workshop on Sunday, December 22. Here is another opportunity to create a thoughtful handmade gift that the recipient will cherish. For more details and to register in advance, please check out Niji’s website.
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!