Sake San Jose

My husband and I have attended all eight Sake San Jose’s and have to say this past one on May 23^rd was the best so far because of the sake taste and quality.
It’s too bad they cannot serve food, but the food trucks make up for that and we bring our own snacks to munch on
The volunteer sake pourer’s are very nice and the live music throughout Japantown helps with the festive mood

2011 Sake Festival review
There was an opening show at 5pm but you had to be in line for your wristband to sample sake before or at 5pm. What does that tell you about organization?
The previous years I have had experienced better. So this year, the time on the ticket said 5pm to about 9pm. I get to the front of the line at about 445pm and they could not give me my band (for drinking). They said I had to wait till 5pm which they didn’t give drinks till 530pm because of the permits. They didn’t have the list of people who bought tickets online and the person in will call didn’t know he was part of the will call booth until later. It was amazingly unorganized this year.
The previous years, they just gave me my band even when I showed up early. I watched the opening of the sake wooden barrel show and went on my way to the tastings.
This year seemed really strict for a festival. My Japanese friend was like «They’re just being Japanese.» Even though I was in line with my tickets and showed ID (to prove you’re over 21) they would not give out bands until 5pm.
So I had bought 3 tickets this year, 2 tickets 2 weeks prior and 1 ticket the day before through their website. The 2 tickets were sent to my house the day before the show and one ticket was through will-​call. The person at will-​call saw my wristband and said I already got my wristband. I said, «i bought an extra one for my peoples two days ago and it said i should be at will-​call.» This is the same person that said that he had no idea why the will-​call sign was in front of his table. Look, don’t assume I can’t buy extra tickets. ANNOYING!!!
Folks, If they’re gonna be this strict about giving bands out, don’t even bother showing up till 5pm for the next years festival. Compared to the previous years, this one was not as packed and its gonna dwindle down the coming years and I’m gonna tell you why…
They have 10 ml cups and a shot of hard liquor at a bar is about 30ml’s. If there are 25 stations and they were told to pour in 2.5 ml to 5ml shots. how many ml do you think you can get in all 25 stations? oh yeah they were being strict about giving you ONE 2.5 ml shot per station.
so by the end of the night you maybe had a total of 4 – 5 shots over a 4 hour period.
So Ben the head organizer was pretty cool about it all. I was pretty annoyed by the disorganization, however Ben was pretty cool about it and next year I’ll probably buy the premium tickets.
Just to show you Ben if you’re reading this, «Along with sake, a variety of „small plates“ will be offered to accompany the sakes» does not tell me you are having REALLY good catered food.
Lets see how you change it up the next year.
So 2 stars to you this year, I had written higher rated reviews of this festival before but this year was so so.

Can I just say that I can’t wait for for next year’s Sake Festival?!
I drove 2 hours just to attend and I’d willingly do it again. The event started at 5:30, and I didn’t make it until almost 7:30 :(The registration table was being put away and we barely made it. Luckily, they signed us in, gave us our maps and wristbands, and we were on our way to a good night. We were literally speed walking the entire time, because I wanted to sample every single sake available!
You get little shots of sake, but it looked like you can have as much as you’d like. I mean, don’t go overboard now. Some of the vendors also provided delicious snacks along with the sake, i.e. chicken katsu, rice crackers, chex/​cereal mix, MOCHI. (The mochi from shuei-​do was literally out of the (oven?) when I arrived). Ticket prices may turn folks away, but take it from me, it’s totally worth it. You can even enter a raffle at the end once you have your map checked off.
Some stops had multiple brands of sake to sample. I discovered that I’m not too fond of dry sake and that the pretty looking sake bottles are simply pretty, but weren’t that great. I guess looks aren’t everything. I did learn, however, that I absolutely adore the fruity sakes! I can’t remember the names, but the lychee sake and fruity sparkling sake. mmmm.
Unfortunately, since I almost missed the event altogether, I can’t comment on the shows and different activities taking place in Japantown during the festival. Nonetheless, I can state with certainty that the sakes were delicious and will definitely put you in a good state of mind ;) Check back with me again next year and I will let you know how it goes! Better yet, see you there!

Sake San Jose is really fun. Pretty worth your money. But last year it was $ 25 and this year was $ 40. Still worth your money because this year they had a few more participants offering sake. It’s unlimited sake and you get to see shops and restaurants you might never have heard of.
This year they had 26 different restaurants and shops participating and each one had at least 2 if not more of different sake’s to try. Last year they also gave away a little goodie bag but this year they were actually selling items like t-​shirts, bags, spam masubi, and drinks. They tried something new this year with having a raffle the grand prize is a case of mixed sakes.
They also have different performers through out japan town. Most of the shops had little snacks for you too, that way you don’t get too drunk. The hours of the event are normally from 530 — 830 so don’t go any later than 6ish some of the lines get long but the most you’ll wait is about 10 min and its worth it. For example one place had a wait about that long and they served 7 different kinds of sake. You wonder why people were waiting. This event is like wine tasting but for sake.