The Keyaki Hiroba Beer Festival is one of the most popular and most successful annual events at Saitama Shintoshin each year. The festival was on in 2022 for the first time in three years, but there were quite a few changes. This year, 2023, they plan to have it more like a ‘normal’ year. However, unfortunately some of the changes they made during the pandemic will remain. For example, there is no children’s area anymore. Furthermore, they don’t seem to be planning live entertainment and there is no stage area.
Last year’s biggest change for the spring version was that you needed to buy a ticket in advance. Thankfully, that rule is gone in 2023. But there are areas that need to be booked in advance. For example, they have a swanky glamping area, which not only needs to be booked in advance, you also have to pay 24000 yen for the area. It includes food and drink vouchers and up to six people can use the area for that price. Furthermore, it also includes a souvenir beer discount ticket worth 1200 yen.
Keyaki Hiroba Beer Festival
For those that live in the area this festival needs no introduction, being one of the biggest annual events in Saitama Super Arena. Among its bragging rights is that it has the largest selection of craft beer of any beer festival in Japan. While the live entertainment and additional events are sorely missing from the 2023 round up once again, they do have a good choice of food! Including lots of meat dishes and even international gourmet.
Until 2019 children were more than welcome at this event, but they have made a shift since the pandemic. They seem to be discouraging them now. Since last year, they now charge for people to bring in pushchairs (buggies / prams). What is back in 2023 for the first time in years, are areas where you can put down a picnic sheet. Much needed as the tables get whipped up pretty quickly. The areas where you can leave a picnic / blue sheet changes on weekends. You will find a map on the official website or at the event venue which will show you where.
Spring 2023 Information
Event: The Spring Keyaki Beer Festival
Dates: from Wednesday May 17th to Sunday May 21st 2023.
Hours: Wednesday – from 4 to 9 pm, Thursday to Saturday – from 11 am to 9 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm.
Reserved area / Tickets: This year you don’t need to book a ticket in advance, but it is recommended. If you haven’t reserved a seat you may have to wait a long time on the day for a seat/s to become available. The reservation page to book a reserved area is already open. Moreover, you can also buy food / drink vouchers from the reservation page. If you buy the tickets in advance you save 50 yen! A ticket bought in advance costs 2950 yen for five 600 yen beer coupons and a 200 yen discount for souvenirs. This reservation page will stay open until 5.30 pm on Wednesday May 17th.
Cost: it depends on the time and date. The prices start from 1000 yen for a one person table to 4300 yen for a four person table (a good bit cheaper than last year). For that, you get some vouchers from which you can buy beer.
Access Saitama Shintoshin
The festival is on in the Keyaki Hiroba of Tamaari Town aka Saitama Shintoshin. (They tried to re-market the area as Tamaari town around 3 or 4 years ago, but it didn’t really stick! It is rarely called Tamaari town, most locals still call it Saitama Shintoshin!) Saitama Super Arena is one part of Saitama Shintoshin. Thus, sometimes they call the area Saitama Super Arena.
Address: 10 Shintoshin, Chuo Ward, Saitama, 330-0081. Phone: 0486011122
Saitama Shintoshin Tamaari town is a 2 minute walk from JR Saitama shintoshin Station, about a 7 minute walk from JR Kitayono Station and there is parking available. However, the car parks are often crowded and costs 400 yen for the first hour and 200 yen for every subsequent hour.
Live updates on Twitter:
event/keyaki-autumn-beer-festival-saitama/ + event/spring-beer-festival-keyaki Last republish August 13th 2022, previous: April 11th 2022, September 1st 2016.