"Utageya" is an aquarium night for adults who want to enjoy Japanese sake and will be held on Saturday, October 10th.
We will be holding "En-ya," an event where you can enjoy Japanese sake and the aquarium at night, on Saturday, October 2024, 10. This will be the first time En-ya has been held in three years, and it will be a special one-night-only event where you can enjoy local sake in the fantastic atmosphere of the aquarium at night.*Only those aged 20 or over are allowed to enter this event. Those under the age of 20 (including infants and preschool children) are not allowed to enter.
| Date | Saturday, October 2024, 10 26:17-30:20 (Last entry 00:19) |
|---|---|
| Fee | General ticket: 2,500 yen This ticket comes with one tasting ticket, allowing you to enjoy a casual evening out. Ticket with food and original glass: 3,800 yen (limited to 200 sets) This great value ticket includes one tasting ticket, food (provided by Kajima Co., Ltd.), and an original glass that is only available on the night of the banquet. ▶Additional samples will be sold for 1 yen each (cash only). |
*You cannot enter with an annual passport, advance ticket, invitation ticket, etc.
Sake breweries from Ibaraki Prefecture gather at the aquarium at night
The hugely popular "night aquarium x sake" project "Utageya" is back for one night only after a three-year hiatus! This is the third time in three years and we will be offering sake from six sake breweries, the most ever, including Tsuki no I Sake Brewery, a long-established local sake brewery in Oarai that has been in business for over 3 years. Sake brewing in Ibaraki Prefecture is divided into five water systems, and this Utageya will allow you to taste sake from breweries in three of those water systems. Why not spend a lovely long autumn night savoring the sake that each brewery is proud of?
Participating sake breweries
| Naka River System | Tsuki no I Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Oarai Town) / Yoshikubo Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Mito City) |
|---|---|
| Kuji River System | Okabe (Hitachiota City) / Shiina Sake Brewery (Hitachi City) |
| Tone River System | Aoki Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Koga City) / Aiyu Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Itako City) |
Tsuki no I Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Oarai Town)
Brand: Tsuki no I
Tsuki no I, a sake bestowed upon Oarai, is characterized by its sake brewing process that takes advantage of the local climate and geography and uses only organically grown and locally grown sake rice.
Yoshikubo Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Mito City)
Brand: Ippin
Founded in 2. Brewed with the water associated with Tokugawa Mitsukuni by Hitachi brewers, this is the best product in the world. This deliciously dry local sake from Mito is here.
Okabe Partnership (Hitachiota City)
Brand: Matsumori
Enjoy this gorgeous, crisp masterpiece made by the head brewer of Matsumori Brewery, using rice exclusively from Ibaraki Prefecture.
Shiina Sake Brewery Limited Partnership (Hitachi City)
Brand: Fukushin
This sake is made deep in the mountains of Hitachi City. It is characterized by its clear taste, as it is brewed using pure spring water.
Aoki Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (Koga City)
Brand: Gokeiji
"Okeiji" is a brand brewed in Koga City. It is characterized by its gorgeous fragrance and delicious flavor.
Aiyu Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Itako City)
Brand name: Aiyu
Founded in 1804 in the waterside region of Itako City, the brewery is committed to handcrafting its sake, relying as little on machines as possible.
A "Sugidama" (a ball of cedar) will appear in the aquarium to coincide with the sake event!
In keeping with the custom of sake brewers decorating their breweries with cedar balls to indicate the completion of new sake and its degree of maturity, you will be greeted by a Takabe ball instead of a cedar ball in the "Oarai Creatures 1 Tank" just inside the aquarium.
An adult-only night event that even those who don't like alcohol can enjoy
This year's Banquet Night will have more to offer than just sake! We will be offering soft drinks made with local Oarai ingredients, such as plum juice made with plums from Yoshidaya, a long-established pickle shop in Oarai Town, and blueberry drinks from the Oarai Blueberry Production and Processing Association. This is an adult-only night event that can be enjoyed by those who don't like alcohol but would still like to enjoy the atmosphere.
*Please note that due to circumstances, the plum juice made from plums from "Yoshidaya" that was scheduled to be provided will not be distributed on the day. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Thank you for your understanding.
Shuttle bus (return trip only)
A free shuttle bus will be operated from the aquarium to Oarai Station (direct) for guests attending the banquet night. A numbered ticket will be required to board the bus, which will be distributed on the day, so please obtain one at the general information desk after the event has started.
| Time | ①19:23 ②20:09 |
|---|---|
| How to Use | Numbered tickets will be distributed at the general information desk after the event begins. *Limited to 120 people per time slot |
| Departure point | Aqua World Oarai Bus Stop |
Please check the following before purchasing your ticket:
- The Dolphin and Sea Lion Ocean Live will not be held.
- This is an event for adults, so those under 20 years of age (including infants and preschool children) are not permitted to enter.
- Drinking and driving is prohibited by law. When visiting the museum, please use public transportation or have someone accompany you while driving.
- Soft drinks will also be available. Tasting tickets can be exchanged for soft drinks.
- Relax Cafe Mermaid also offers a menu that is only available during the night hours, so please come and enjoy it. (Last orders: food 19:30 / drinks 19:45)
| Date | Saturday, October 2024, 10 26:17-30:20 (Last entry 00:19) |
|---|---|
| Fee | General ticket: 2,500 yen This ticket comes with one tasting ticket, allowing you to enjoy a casual evening out. Ticket with food and original glass: 3,800 yen (limited to 200 sets) This great value ticket includes one tasting ticket, food (provided by Kajima Co., Ltd.), and an original glass that is only available on the night of the banquet. ▶Additional samples will be sold for 1 yen each (cash only). |
*You cannot enter with an annual passport, advance ticket, invitation ticket, etc.
Limited original glass design image
