MUGI Pours a Different Kind of Beer Festival
Silver Week brings a new kind of beer festival to Osaka Bay Tower, bringing together 13 craft breweries, beer-sommelier food pairings, handmade goods, sustainable ideas and two days of unexpectedly playful entertainment.
Osaka certainly isn’t short of craft beer festivals. But newcomer MUGI FES is pouring things a little differently.
Making its debut at Osaka Bay Tower during Silver Week, MUGI brings together 12 craft breweries, beer-sommelier-supervised food pairings, handmade goods, music and performance on September 22–23. The unusual Tuesday-Wednesday dates are both national holidays, turning the covered Atrium Square at Bentencho into a two-day celebration of beer, food and community.
The beer lineup leans heavily into smaller Kansai producers. Planned participants include CRAFT BEER BASE, Banriharu Shuzo, Izumisano Brewing, Kishiwada Beer, Hanazono Craft and B BREWERY, alongside CIVIC BREWERS from Katano, Domyoji Beer from Fujiidera, Kobe’s MOON BREWERY and other regional brewers. Organizers want visitors not only to discover new beers, but also the people and places behind them.
Food gets unusually serious attention too. Five vendors are developing pairings under the supervision of the Japan Beer Sommelier Association, while handmade craft stalls and non-alcoholic choices broaden the experience beyond the taps. Sustainability runs through the event as well, with recycled-PET cups and the Mori no Tumbler MUGI, made partly from upcycled material left over from malt production.
Then things get wonderfully strange. On September 22, Hawaiian dance meets classic Showa-era songs. The following day, Freddie Mercury lip-sync performer Freidy takes the stage for a finale inspired by Queen’s legendary Live Aid performance. Sophisticated food pairing apparently does not preclude pretending it’s Wembley Stadium after a few craft beers.
Behind the fun is a broader idea. Organizer Craft Nexus wants MUGI to reflect the beer culture founder Hisao Takeshiba encountered during years spent in Europe and the United States: beer as a way to connect people, breweries and communities. Under the theme “Toast to the Future,” part of the festival’s profits will also support nature conservation.
MUGI may be brand new, but it already has a personality of its own. Come for a brewery you’ve never tried. Find out what a beer sommelier thinks you should eat with it. Browse something handmade. Stay for Freddie Mercury.
12 Craft Breweries — Discover a lineup weighted toward smaller Osaka and Kansai producers.
Beer-Sommelier Pairings — Five food vendors serve dishes developed to complement the beer.
A Festival with a Twist — Handmade goods and sustainable ideas expand the experience beyond drinking.
An Eccentric Soundtrack — Showa-meets-Hawaiian dance one day, Freddie Mercury the next.
Silver Week Debut — A brand-new beer festival arrives at Osaka Bay Tower for two holiday afternoons.
Photos: MUGI Fes Official Press Release , Freiddie Official Website
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN OSAKA?
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Maps
Contact
Opening Hours
THE SCENE: FAQ’s
ACCESS
Venue: Osaka Bay Tower Atrium Square
Address: 1-2-4 Benten, Minato-ku, Osaka
Trains: JR Osaka Loop Line → Bentencho Station → Direct access
Subways: Osaka Metro Chuo Line → Bentencho Station → Direct access
Osaka Bay Tower is directly connected to Bentencho Station, making MUGI FES an especially easy Silver Week outing from central Osaka.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday, September 22: 12:00–19:00
Wednesday, September 23: 11:00–18:00
Don’t let the Tuesday-Wednesday dates fool you: both are national holidays during Silver Week, with September 23 marking the Autumnal Equinox holiday.
Stage entertainment changes each day, with Hawaiian dance set to Showa-era favorites on September 22 and Freddie Mercury performer Freidy taking over on September 23.
TICKETS
A limited number of discounted advance beer-ticket packages are available, with packages ranging from ¥2,500 to ¥6,000 and including festival drinkware depending on the ticket selected.
Food, handmade goods and other purchases are handled separately.
Advance quantities are limited, so check the official event page for current availability and exact package inclusions.
Official Website:
https://craft-nexus.com/osaka-beer-fes-2026/
THE EXPERIENCE
What can I expect at MUGI FES?
MUGI FES takes a more curated approach to the traditional craft beer festival, combining regional breweries with intentional food pairings, shopping and an unusually playful entertainment program.
- 13 Craft Breweries — Explore smaller producers from Osaka, Kansai and beyond, including CRAFT BEER BASE, CIVIC BREWERS, Kishiwada Beer and MOON BREWERY.
- Beer & Food Pairings — Five food vendors offer dishes developed with supervision from the Japan Beer Sommelier Association.
- Something Different to Drink — Look for limited and distinctive pours, including CIVIC BREWERS’ seasonal KATANO GREEN fresh-hop beer.
- Handmade Market — Browse craft vendors between beers and food stops.
- Unexpected Entertainment — Hawaiian dance meets Showa music on Tuesday; Freddie Mercury and Live Aidprovide Wednesday’s decidedly different finale.
- Sustainable Ideas — Recycled and upcycled drinkware connects the festival to its “Toast to the Future” theme.
MUGI is brand new to Osaka’s beer-festival calendar in 2026, so this Silver Week debut is the first chance to see whether its unusual mix of beer, food, design and entertainment becomes a new annual tradition.
INFO & TIPS
What should I know before going?
MUGI FES takes place in Osaka Bay Tower’s covered Atrium Square, making it less weather-dependent than an outdoor park festival and exceptionally easy to reach by train or subway.
Advance beer packages offer the best value and are limited in quantity. With 13 breweries participating, don’t feel compelled to sample everything — the festival is designed around discovering breweries, pairing beer with food and spending time at the venue rather than simply completing a tap list.
Non-alcoholic options are planned for designated drivers and visitors who aren’t drinking, while food and handmade goods give mixed groups more to do than at a beer-only tasting event.
Official Website:
https://craft-nexus.com/osaka-beer-fes-2026/
Organizer: Craft Nexus Co., Ltd.
