Popular Tour Sold Out 3 Times, 4th Edition Features First Shinkansen Use: Experiential Tour to Enjoy Niigata's Local Sake and Food

Ginza Niigata Information Center THE NIIGATA, located in Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, is planning its 4th tour to experience Niigata's food and sake, to be held for 2 days and 1 night starting from June 20, 2026. The previous three tours organized by the center were all fully booked, with a total of 109 participants, attracting high interest primarily from residents of the Tokyo metropolitan area. This 4th installment will be the first in the series to utilize the Shinkansen. Locally, participants will visit multiple sake breweries, and sake sommelier comedians 'Nihonshu' will accompany the tour, sharing their knowledge and ways to enjoy sake. This tour is realized through the collaboration of the Niigata Convention and Visitors Association, the travel agency Humming Tour (KOKK Co., Ltd.), the comedians 'Nihonshu,' and THE NIIGATA. It aims to comprehensively introduce the charm of Niigata sake through sake brewery tours, tastings, and explanations interspersed with comedy, which are difficult to experience on regular tourist trips. Through this initiative, THE NIIGATA aims to promote local food culture and the appeal of sake, as well as create a 'relationship population' that leads to continuous visits. 1. Name: Shinkansen & Bus Tour, 4th Edition Enjoyable Sake! 2 Days Drunk with Niigata Sake and Gourmet Food 2. Departure Date: June 20 (Sat) - 21 (Sun), 2026 (Reiwa 8) 3. Tour Price: 49,800 JPY 4. Travel Agency: Humming Tour (KOKK Co., Ltd.) 5. Application: Please refer to THE NIIGATA website or the separate recruitment flyer. ⇒ https://the-niigata.jp/2026/04/13883/ (Reference Material) 1. Tour Itinerary - (Day 1) Tokyo Station (Dep. 9:12) ⇒ Niigata Station (Arr. 10:41) (Free lunch & shopping) ⇒ Niigata City History Museum Minato Pia (History & Culture) ⇒ Former Saito Family Residence (Visit) ⇒ Takarayama Brewery (Visit & Experience) ⇒ Negibouzu (Dinner) ⇒ Niigata City (Overnight stay) - (Day 2) Hotel ⇒ Yahiko Shrine (Worship) ⇒ Takano Sake Brewery (Visit, Tasting & Shopping) ⇒ Mikasaya (Lunch) ⇒ Tsubame-Sanjo Station (Dep. 15:29) ⇒ Tokyo Station (Arr. 17:00) 2. Introduction of Sake Sommelier Comedian Duo "Nihonshu" A comedy duo consisting of Asayan from Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, and Kazuaki Kitai from Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. They are Osaka NSC 28th generation. Formed on October 1, 2007. In February 2014, they held a solo live performance 'Yahoo!!' at 5up Yoshimoto (now Yoshimoto Manzai Gekijo) and graduated from 5up Yoshimoto with a full house, simultaneously leaving Yoshimoto Kogyo. From June 2014, both members dedicated themselves to sake training at Liquor Plaza Okoshi Saketen (Inage, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture), and in September of the same year, they acquired the qualification of 'Kikisake-shi' (sake sommelier). From January 2015, they restarted their entertainment activities independently as the world's only comedy duo with sake sommelier 'Kikisake-shi' qualifications. Currently, with the goal of "Sake on the table. Comedian Nihonshu in conversation.", they appear at sake events and brewery openings nationwide, including online, and regularly hold 'Sake Navigator Certification Courses' for beginners. As of April 2026, over 1,100 people have been certified, and they have received a Special Achievement Award from the Sake Service Institute (SSI), the certifying organization for Kikisake-shi and Sake Navigators. Furthermore, Asayan's #してるフリして酒呑んでるやつ (Pretending to do something but actually drinking sake) series on TikTok has exceeded 20 million total views, and he is widely working to expand recognition among Gen Z and encourage interest in drinking.