The German beer festival Oktoberfest may be just a holiday for Germans to have fun and get drunk, but in the Land of the Rising Sun, beer is so popular that Oktoberfest has become an annual event held throughout Japan. Tokyo residents add their own twist to Oktoberfest, as do beer lovers in Yokohama. Sendai, the capital of the Tohoku region, organizes Oktoberfest a little differently, but at the end we have the opportunity to drink beer – always the result that everyone wants.
Before I introduce you to the festival activities you can look forward to, let me explain why Tohoku Oktoberfest is so special. Previously the event was called Sendai Oktoberfest, but it did not take place in October. The ceremony lasts not just one day, but a whole week. What's more, it takes place twice a year! Has the beer worm in your body started moving yet? For more than a week every June and September, Nishikicho Park is filled with Japanese and the international community coming together for the love of beer from a distant land. Getting to the festival is not difficult, just a five-minute walk from Kotodaikoen train station, entry is free, you have countless options to enjoy this evening event.
While it certainly doesn't compare to the size of Oktoberfest in major cities, Nishikicho Park's modest space still accommodates two beer halls, about a dozen beverage and food outlets, and indoor and outdoor seating if you go in a small group.
German beer is the focus (in fact, only German beer is served at the ceremony) and you can choose from many types of beer, particularly dark beers. A beer costs 1000 – 1400 yen, plus 1000 yen deposit, which you get back when you return the cup. Calculating the price of such a large glass of imported German beer is reasonable. Attending Oktoberfest without buying beer is definitely against unwritten rules or German traditions.
German culinary staples include bratwurst, sauerkraut, potatoes, ham, and more, all of which pair perfectly with your beer. A plate of German bratwurst for two costs 2,000 yen. If you have a limited budget, you can visit a nearby restaurant or supermarket. After taking care of food and drink, your next task is to find a place to rest. In the warmer months you can sit outside and enjoy the cool breeze, while the smaller beer hall offers a more intimate atmosphere. However, if you want to experience Oktoberfest to the fullest, head to the main beer hall and prepare for a party – in true German style.
The main beer hall is a huge tent filled with rows of long tables from back stage to front. A German band will perform several times a day, stirring up the audience and shouting “Prost,” which in German means “do 1 2 3,” to encourage everyone to drink more beer. Now that the knowledge sharing part is over, have fun singing German beer songs, sharing a drink with strangers and moving to the rhythm of the increasingly lively night shows, with playing songs in English often preferred too. If you're looking for a good drink or a good time in general, you should definitely visit Oktoberfest in Sendai.
