Why not experience Germany at "Yokohama Frühlingsfest" during Golden Week?
Are you familiar with "Frühlingsfest," the German spring festival that rivals the autumn "Oktoberfest"? We'll thoroughly explain the authentic enthusiasm loved by locals and "the correct German toast rules" you'll want to try tomorrow. We'll also provide information about the Golden Week event in Yokohama!
Table of Contents
1. "Oktoberfest's little sister"? No, it's the beloved main spring festival for locals.
2. Different in scale and atmosphere! A thorough comparison of the two festivals.
3. Is the original not in Munich? Stuttgart's massive spring festival.
4. The authentic German way! Toasting etiquette that makes beer even more delicious.
5. Let's toast at "Yokohama Frühlingsfest" during Golden Week 2026!
1. "Oktoberfest's little sister"? No, it's the beloved main spring festival for locals.
In spring, Germany has the "Frühlingsfest," a spring festival that is just as vibrant as the autumn celebration. This festival, which will celebrate its milestone 60th anniversary in Munich in 2026, is now becoming a spring tradition in Japan during Golden Week.
If you thought, "I know about Oktoberfest, but what is Frühlingsfest?", then you might only know half of German beer culture. Frühlingsfest means "spring festival" in German. Germans, who host the world's largest festival in autumn, also gather in the same place with beer in hand in spring. For Germans, this festival is a place to physically celebrate "escaping from the long winter," and it's a very happy space, similar to cherry blossom viewing in Japan.
2. Different in scale and atmosphere! A thorough comparison of the two festivals.
To be honest, the authentic Oktoberfest is now quite an international festival. Approximately 15% of visitors are foreign tourists, and popular tents start a fierce reservation battle six months in advance. The reality is that it's no longer an event where you can casually drop by for "a quick drink" on a weekend afternoon.
On the other hand, Frühlingsfest has a completely different atmosphere in that regard. You can go in the afternoon without a reservation and find a seat, and it's characterized by a higher proportion of local Munich residents than tourists. It's understandable why German friends say, "This is closer to the original Bavarian festival than Oktoberfest."
|
Item |
Oktoberfest |
Munich Frühlingsfest |
|
Period/Duration |
Mid-September to Early October / 16 days |
Mid-April to Early May / Usually 17 days |
|
Number of Visitors |
6 to 7.2 million |
300,000 to 420,000 |
You might think the scale is too different, but "it's good that it's cozy." The experience of holding a stein in the long spring sunshine and fresh greenery offers a different kind of liberation than in autumn.
For the milestone 60th event in 2026 (April 17th to May 10th), the duration was extended from the usual approximately 17 days to three weeks by a city council resolution. The venue is "Theresienwiese," the exact same location as Oktoberfest. Drinking beer on the same grounds as "the world's largest festival" will itself be a special experience.
3. Is the original not in Munich? Stuttgart's massive spring festival.
Here's a fact that many people don't know: the largest "authentic" Frühlingsfest in terms of scale is actually in Stuttgart, not Munich. Stuttgart's Frühlingsfest, dubbed "Europe's largest spring festival," welcomed a record-breaking approximately 2.2 million visitors in 2025, about six times the size of Munich's.
The venue is a square along the Neckar River called "Cannstatter Wasen," with four beer tents offering a total of 17,000 seats. What makes Stuttgart's festival unique is that you can also enjoy cocktails and wine in the beer tents, and you can drink standing up without a reservation. It has a more casual and free atmosphere than Munich.
4. The authentic German way! Toasting etiquette that makes beer even more delicious.
If you visit the Frühlingsfest venue or a German beer establishment, you should definitely try the "authentic German toast (Prost)." Here are two essential etiquette tips that will earn you respect from those around you!
Seven years of misfortune if you look away!? The absolute rule: "Augenkontakt" (eye contact)
This is the most important and absolute rule for German toasting. At the moment of clinking glasses, you must always look directly into the other person's eyes.
According to German folklore, if you look away during a toast, "seven years of misfortune will follow." Many Japanese tend to look at their glasses out of shyness, but when drinking German beer, smile and gaze steadily into the other person's eyes and say "Prost!"
Not just for preventing breakage! When toasting, touch the "bottom of the glass."
When toasting with German beer, it's a no-no to lightly clink the top parts of your glasses together! German beer is served in various glass shapes to suit the style, but many glasses have thin rims, and clinking them there can risk breakage.
The correct way is to gently clink the thick "bottom (the wider part of the base) of the glass". This is essential, especially for tall, thin Weizen glasses and Pilsner glasses. If you can do this naturally, you'll be regarded with respect, as if to say, "Oh, they know how to drink German beer."
5. Let's toast at "Yokohama Frühlingsfest" during Golden Week 2026!
The wonderful culture and enthusiasm of Frühlingsfest will come to Yokohama during this year's Golden Week.
Yokohama Frühlingsfest 2026 — Red Brick Warehouse
◎ Period: April 24th (Fri) to May 10th (Sun), 2026
◎ Hours: 11:00〜21:00
◎ Admission: Free
◎ Venue: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Event Plaza
The Yokohama version, which started in 2013, celebrates its 12th anniversary this year, offering a perfect opportunity to savor authentic German beer while enjoying the Minato Mirai scenery. The venue will feature a wide array of carefully brewed beers, adhering to the "German Beer Purity Law" of 1516. Be sure to visit the venue, look for the signs of the breweries supplying beer from Germany, and pick up a meticulously crafted drink!
Schmatz restaurants are open during Golden Week!
Please enjoy Schmatz beer at home or at our restaurants.
▶︎Click here for a list of Schmatz stores
▶︎Click here for the Schmatz online shop
