Kamakura City and Nice City Celebrate 60 Years of Sister-City Ties with "BLUE FESTA 2026"
"BLUE FESTA 2026," commemorating the 60th anniversary of the sister-city partnership between Kamakura City and Nice, France, will be held on May 30 in the Kamakura City Hall parking lot plaza. This is an event where visitors can experience the connection between Kamakura and the South of France through French and Japanese cuisine, art experiences, limited-edition craft beer, and more.
Hop BroThe BLUE FESTA 2026 being held in Kamakura on May 30 is an event celebrating the 60th anniversary of its sister-city ties. The nice part is that you can enjoy the sea connection between Kamakura and Nice through food and beer.
MugiWait, 60 years of sister-city ties is such a huge milestone! And they’re even serving beer at the event? Now I’m already curious before it even starts!
Hop BroThe venue is the Kamakura City Hall parking lot plaza, admission is free, and the hours are 10:00 to 17:00. With French food, Japanese food, and sweets all lined up, it’s a pretty ambitious festival.
MugiWow! Being able to enjoy French and Japanese food all at once is kind of indulgent in the best way. This is definitely one of those events where you have to go hungry!
Hop BroThe theme is the sea (BLUE), and Kamakura and Nice are similar as tourist cities with the sea and mountains nearby. They signed their sister-city agreement on November 9, 1966, so this year marks the 60th anniversary.
MugiI see, but a South of France market already sounds so stylish that I can’t quite picture it! Doesn’t that suddenly bring a real party vibe?
Hop BroThat’s what makes it interesting. There will be stalls inspired by southern France laid out like a market, plus art experiences and stage programs, so it’s not just about eating.
MugiWait, there’s even limited-edition craft beer!? At that point, this is less an event and more an invitation addressed to my stomach, right?
Hop BroExactly. One of the highlights is the event-exclusive beer from Kamakura Beer. Kamakura Beer was founded in 1997 and has kept making beer rooted in the local area, so it’s a great match for the atmosphere of the place.
MugiBut Hop, does Kamakura Beer’s character really lean that strongly into being local? When people say it has a "Kamakura flavor," it suddenly sounds really refined!
Hop BroYeah, its appeal is less about flash and more about being closely connected to the city. Since there’s also wine this time, it plays a big role in supporting the whole event as a drink rooted in the region.
MugiAnd they’re even running it with environmental consideration? That’s cool! Reusable tableware and a circular market sound like the kind of thing that lets you feel like you’re doing something good while drinking beer!
Hop BroExactly. Since it’s a Kamakura-like day where you can enjoy food, art, and cultural exchange all together, just imagining having a drink under the blue sky at the end makes me want one.
MugiWow, just reading this makes me want to go...! If it’s called a festival of sea and beer, all I can see is a future where we’re already raising a toast.
On May 30, "BLUE FESTA 2026" will be held in the Kamakura City Hall parking lot plaza to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the sister-city partnership between Kamakura City and Nice, France. Admission is free, and the event runs from 10:00 to 17:00. The venue will feature French food, Japanese food, and sweets from Kamakura-based restaurants, as well as a market inspired by the South of France, art experiences, stage programs, and more.
The event theme is the sea (BLUE). Kamakura and Nice are both known as tourist cities with beautiful seas and mountains, as well as rich history and culture, and they established their sister-city relationship on November 9, 1966. Marking the 60th anniversary this year, the event has been planned as a place where people can enjoy the appeal of both cities experientially, across food, art, the environment, and culture.
In the food and beverage section, original craft beer and wine created exclusively for this event are also planned. Kamakura Beer, founded in 1997, is a brewery that has continued making craft beer rooted in the land of Kamakura. From the perspective of beer culture nurtured locally, this event seems likely to become an opportunity to once again feel the relationship between Kamakura's townscape and its food culture.
The venue will also operate with environmental consideration, including the use of reusable tableware and a circular market. As a commemorative event celebrating a milestone in sister-city ties, it is also worth noting as a one-day occasion where visitors can enjoy cultural exchange and local food together in a scale that feels distinctly Kamakura.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the brewery’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroThe BLUE FESTA 2026 being held in Kamakura on May 30 is an event celebrating the 60th anniversary of its sister-city ties. The nice part is that you can enjoy the sea connection between Kamakura and Nice through food and beer.
MugiWait, 60 years of sister-city ties is such a huge milestone! And they’re even serving beer at the event? Now I’m already curious before it even starts!
Hop BroThe venue is the Kamakura City Hall parking lot plaza, admission is free, and the hours are 10:00 to 17:00. With French food, Japanese food, and sweets all lined up, it’s a pretty ambitious festival.
MugiWow! Being able to enjoy French and Japanese food all at once is kind of indulgent in the best way. This is definitely one of those events where you have to go hungry!
Hop BroThe theme is the sea (BLUE), and Kamakura and Nice are similar as tourist cities with the sea and mountains nearby. They signed their sister-city agreement on November 9, 1966, so this year marks the 60th anniversary.
MugiI see, but a South of France market already sounds so stylish that I can’t quite picture it! Doesn’t that suddenly bring a real party vibe?
Hop BroThat’s what makes it interesting. There will be stalls inspired by southern France laid out like a market, plus art experiences and stage programs, so it’s not just about eating.
MugiWait, there’s even limited-edition craft beer!? At that point, this is less an event and more an invitation addressed to my stomach, right?
Hop BroExactly. One of the highlights is the event-exclusive beer from Kamakura Beer. Kamakura Beer was founded in 1997 and has kept making beer rooted in the local area, so it’s a great match for the atmosphere of the place.
MugiBut Hop, does Kamakura Beer’s character really lean that strongly into being local? When people say it has a "Kamakura flavor," it suddenly sounds really refined!
Hop BroYeah, its appeal is less about flash and more about being closely connected to the city. Since there’s also wine this time, it plays a big role in supporting the whole event as a drink rooted in the region.
MugiAnd they’re even running it with environmental consideration? That’s cool! Reusable tableware and a circular market sound like the kind of thing that lets you feel like you’re doing something good while drinking beer!
Hop BroExactly. Since it’s a Kamakura-like day where you can enjoy food, art, and cultural exchange all together, just imagining having a drink under the blue sky at the end makes me want one.
MugiWow, just reading this makes me want to go...! If it’s called a festival of sea and beer, all I can see is a future where we’re already raising a toast.
