MUGI CRAFT FES, or simply MUGI FES, is a new-style craft beer festival built around the theme of “Cheers to the Future.”

Alongside plenty of craft beer and festival food, the event mixes in sustainability initiatives and live stage performances, creating a relaxed atmosphere that works just as well for dedicated beer fans as it does for first-timers, families, and groups of friends.

Thirteen distinctive craft breweries will be pouring at the festival, giving visitors the chance to taste and compare a wide range of brewing styles in one place. There will also be four food stalls and three handmade-goods vendors, with tsumugu appearing on September 22 only.

One of the festival’s more unusual features is its official food-pairing guide, supervised by the Japan Beer Sommelier Association. Professional beer sommelier MIKA will also be on hand as a “craft beer concierge,” helping visitors find a beer that suits their taste, whether they prefer something fruity, want to avoid bitterness, or simply have no idea what pairs best with their food.

To bring its “Cheers to the Future” theme to life, MUGI FES is introducing two more environmentally conscious drinking options.

Original MUGI eco cup:
A reusable “forest eco cup” made by upcycling byproducts generated during Asahi’s malt production process.

25% recycled PET cup:
Made with recycled plastic to help reduce virgin plastic use. A portion of proceeds will also be donated to environmental organizations, so even your festival beer comes with a slightly greener twist.

The live entertainment changes noticeably from day to day, giving each festival date its own atmosphere.

September 22: Laid-back and tropical
Expect Hawaiian hula alongside rhythmic Brazilian bossa nova and samba, creating an easygoing soundtrack for an afternoon of beer and food.

September 23: Big energy and Freddie Mercury
The second day turns things up with a Freddie Mercury tribute performer taking the stage in a Live Aid-inspired show. The festival closes with brewery representatives and the head of the beer sommelier association joining the stage to lead the crowd in a final “Cheers to the Future.”

After making its Kyoto debut last year, Belgian Beer Weekend, one of Japan’s biggest outdoor beer events, is returning this autumn.

This year, the festival is expanding its special “flavors from Kyoto” program, bringing Belgian beer together with traditional Kyoto food culture right in front of Higashi Honganji Temple. Expect a mix of European beer traditions and distinctly local flavors in one of Kyoto’s most atmospheric settings.

This year’s lineup features 97 authentic Belgian beers across 14 styles. Visitors can work their way through everything from crisp pilsners and easy-drinking fruit and wheat beers to more distinctive lambics and red ales.

There is also a major first for Belgian Beer Weekend. For the first time in the event’s 17-year history, beers brewed outside Belgium are joining the lineup.

As part of the “flavors from Kyoto” program, Kyoto Brewing Co. will serve 10 locally brewed beers made with Belgian yeast, adding a distinctly Kyoto-made twist to the festival.

Classic Belgian festival food will, of course, be well represented, with around 30 dishes including frites, mussels, sausages, and cheese.

But the more unusual part of this year’s menu is the Kyoto pairing lineup. Traditional Kyoto sweets are returning after proving popular last year, and Kyoto pickles are joining the festival for the first time.

Two well-known local producers will take part: Nishiri during the first three days and Daiyasu during the final two. Pairing Belgian beer with Kyoto pickles and wagashi may sound unexpected, but that contrast is exactly what makes this edition especially fun to try.

Food and drinks are purchased using festival coins, and beer is served in the official BBW 2026 glass. Advance sets are worth considering if you want to get drinking without spending too much time sorting things out on arrival.

Casual Drinking Set:
Includes one BBW 2026 original glass + 8 food and drink coins
Advance price: 2,700 yen / On-site price: 2,840 yen

Starter Set:
Includes one BBW 2026 original glass + 13 food and drink coins
Advance price: 3,750 yen / On-site price: 3,990 yen

Additional Coins:
1,150 yen for 5 coins

Kansai’s two big autumn beer festivals offer very different experiences. If you like lively music, sustainability-minded ideas, and the chance to sample a wide range of Japanese craft beer, Osaka’s MUGI CRAFT FES is the stronger pick.

If Belgian beer, Kyoto food culture, and sipping a drink in front of a historic temple sound more your speed, Belgian Beer Weekend Kyoto offers a more distinctly Kyoto-style afternoon.

Whichever you choose, gather a few friends, enjoy the cooler autumn weather, and raise a glass to the season.