Ginza NAGANO — the Tokyo information hub dedicated to Nagano Prefecture, located in Chuo-ku, Ginza — is holding its first Alcohol Ink Art experience event on Saturday, August 1, 2026, themed on the night sky of Achi Village, Nagano Prefecture.
The event brings in an instructor from SAKE ART (operated by ARTLIER Inc.), a Nagano City-based project that blends sake and art in experiential workshops, to guide guests through recreating the dreamlike night sky of Achi Village — a spot recognized through Japan's Ministry of the Environment's nationwide stargazing survey as one of the places where stars shine most brightly — using alcohol ink art.
Guests can sip Nagano wine and enjoy appetizers while embracing the unpredictable colors of alcohol ink art in this special workshop, a new kind of adult cultural experience that lets visitors journey to Shinshu's night sky without leaving Ginza.
Painting Your Own "Starry Sky," Wine in Hand
Paint & Sip has grown popular in recent years, especially across the US and Europe — a style of art experience where participants paint freely while enjoying a drink.
Ginza NAGANO's workshop combines that format with the appeal of Shinshu (Nagano Prefecture): guests sip Nagano wine and appetizers while creating a piece themed on Achi Village's night sky.
For 90 minutes, away from work, chores, and smartphones, participants can spend time facing color, in the calm that art and drink create together.
A One-of-a-Kind Starry Sky, Shaped by Chance
Alcohol ink art is an abstract art form that embraces the unpredictability created as alcohol and ink interact. Because the ink spreads and blends in ways that can't be fully controlled, no two pieces are ever alike.
The resulting patterns often resemble nebulae or galaxies floating in space, a quality that carries a curious affinity with this event's theme: the night sky over Achi Village — a deep indigo sky, gradients of light spreading like nebulae, and countless stars glittering across the cosmos.
The beauty of chance that only alcohol ink art can produce means every participant's night sky comes out differently. Each finished piece is truly one of a kind.
Feeling Shinshu's Nature Through Art, Inspired by Japan's Best Starry Sky
The event's theme comes from Achi Village in Nagano Prefecture, known nationwide as the village with Japan's best starry sky. Surrounded by high mountains and set against clear air, the village's star-filled sky continues to captivate visitors.
In this workshop, participants freely express the night sky they picture in their own minds, inspired by Achi Village. Held in Ginza, Tokyo, the event offers a way to experience Shinshu's nature, culture, and tourism appeal without leaving the city.
Through art, visitors can get to know Nagano Prefecture, grow curious about it, and perhaps feel drawn to visit in person one day — a new kind of regional experience.
Beginners Welcome — Take Home Your Work in a Nagano Wood Frame
An instructor carefully guides participants through the tools and basic techniques from the very start, so those without confidence in drawing, or trying an art experience for the first time, can take part with ease.
Finished pieces are placed in an original photo frame made of Nagano-grown larch wood for guests to take home. Displayed at home or in the office, each piece brings a personal "Achi Village night sky" into everyday life.
Event Overview
| Event Name | SAKE × ART × NAGANO — An Alcohol Ink Art Experience, Drink in Hand: Invited by the Starry Sky of Achi Village |
| Date | Saturday, August 1, 2026, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM / 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM (two separate sessions) |
| Venue | Ginza NAGANO, 2F Event Space, NOCO Building, 5-6-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 |
| Capacity | 12 guests per session (first-come, first-served) |
| Eligibility | Ages 20 and older (alcohol is served) |
| Price | ¥4,800 (tax included), a special price to mark the event's first run |
| Includes | Alcohol ink art experience; 2 kinds of Nagano wine, 1 soft drink, and an appetizer; take-home finished piece with photo frame; introduction to Achi Village tourism information |
| Price Includes | Instruction from an art instructor; art supplies and apron rental; 2 sheets of A5 paper; Nagano wine (2 kinds); 1 soft drink; Nagano appetizer; Nagano wood photo frame |
| Reservations | Details and applications are available on the Ginza NAGANO event page. |
Instructor Profile
Kentaro Meguro
Representative Director of ARTLIER Inc.
Based in Nagano City, Meguro runs SAKE ART, an experiential event series that combines sake and art. Inspired by the Paint & Sip experience he encountered in the United States, he began the project with his wife after moving to Nagano City.
He now focuses on creating spaces across Nagano Prefecture where anyone can casually enjoy creative expression through abstract art forms such as alcohol ink art and fluid art.
