Hakko Expo & Market

SUZU GROUP is not simply a collection of restaurants and food businesses, it is a cultural ecosystem built around place, purpose, and everyday ritual. Rooted in Niigata, one of Japan’s most fermentation-rich regions, SUZU GROUP translates regional heritage into lived experiences, where food is both nourishment and narrative.

Through bakeries, cafés, fermentation houses, markets, and dining spaces, SUZU GROUP demonstrates that tradition does not need to be preserved behind glass—it can be experienced daily, adapted thoughtfully, and shared generously. Their work elevates humble ingredients like rice, miso, and koji into cultural touchstones, reinforcing the idea that the most powerful traditions are those embedded in ordinary life.

What sets SUZU GROUP apart is its ability to connect craft to community. Each concept is a doorway into Niigata’s climate, history, and values, designed not for spectacle, but for belonging. In an era of fleeting food trends, SUZU GROUP stands for continuity, integrity, and the quiet confidence of things made well over time.

suzugroup.com

6SUBI (Omusubi Café) is a casual café specializing in handcrafted onigiri (rice balls), soup, and tea. Rooted in simple, nourishing Japanese flavors, it highlights seasonal ingredients and thoughtful preparation, offering an approachable taste of everyday Japanese food culture.

suzugroup.com/tourism/6subi

BOOK MARKS CAFE is a library-adjacent café that blends food, books, and community. Located alongside a public library, it offers thoughtfully prepared meals, drinks, and sweets in a calm, welcoming space designed for reading, conversation, and connection.

suzugroup.com/shop/bookmarkscafe

Chiibou is where the soul of Niigata’s snow country comes alive around the hearth. This intimate robatayaki izakaya celebrates the primal pleasure of fire-kissed flavors, pairing beautifully charred local ingredients with an exceptional selection of snow-country sake. More than a dinner spot, Chiibou embodies Niigata’s rhythm — slow winter storms, warm communal tables, and the elegant simplicity of seasonal food prepared with reverence and craft.

Here, wood smoke, rich umami, and silky sake tell the story of a place shaped by climate and tradition — a place where meals are not merely consumed, but shared, remembered, and lived.

suzugroup.com/chiibou

Suzukichi is a celebration of Niigata’s land and seasons through vegetables that taste like their stories. At its heart, this vegetable-centric dining experience honors local growers, seasonal cycles, and the subtle intelligence of flavors that emerge when produce leads the plate. Every dish feels grounded, honest, and deeply connected to place — a culinary expression of soil, sky, and thoughtful preparation.

Here, vegetables are not sides — they are protagonists. Suzukichi invites guests to see produce through the lens of intention, where simplicity is elevated through technique, and every bite reveals why plant-forward dining is not just healthy — it’s soulful.

suzugroup.com/suzukichi

Farm Table SUZU is a celebration of regional bounty and everyday gathering — a place where family, community, and seasonal harvest come together around the table. Inspired by Niigata’s fertile landscape and rooted in SUZU GROUP’s commitment to local producers, Farm Table SUZU offers diners a menu that feels both familiar and inspired, marrying farm-fresh ingredients with thoughtful preparation. It is a restaurant that honors the rhythms of the seasons, the hands that grow the food, and the joy of sharing honest, flavorful meals with others.

suzugroup.com/farmtablesuzu

HAKKO HOUSE is an experiential lodging facility in Japan dedicated to fermentation culture. Guests stay, learn, and taste through hands-on workshops, meals, and programs centered on miso, koji, and other traditional fermented foods—offering an immersive introduction to Japan’s living food heritage.

hakko-house.com

Konni Aizome (紺仁染職工房) is a historic indigo dyeing studio from the Nagaoka–Ojiya area of Niigata, founded in 1751. For over 260 years, the workshop has preserved traditional aizome techniques, creating richly dyed textiles and garments that reflect generations of craftsmanship, regional heritage, and the quiet beauty of natural indigo.

konni-aizome.com

SUZU365 is a curated marketplace that brings the heart of Niigata’s food culture to every pantry and table. More than a grocery store, it’s a thoughtfully assembled collection of regional ingredients, artisanal foods, and everyday essentials — each with a story of place, season, and craft behind it. From fermented staples and local produce to house-made provisions and seasonal specialties, SUZU365 invites both locals and visitors to discover the richness of Japanese culinary tradition in a format that feels welcoming, accessible, and distinctly authentic.

suzugroup.com/suzu365

SUZU365 ONLINE SHOP brings the rich flavors and thoughtful craftsmanship of Niigata’s food culture to kitchens around the world. As an extension of the beloved SUZU365 grocery concept, this online platform curates exceptional ingredients, fermented staples, artisanal pantry goods, and seasonal specialties — each chosen for its connection to place, tradition, and quality. Whether it’s rare miso, locally milled rice, handcrafted condiments, or thoughtfully sourced snacks, the shop turns everyday meals into meaningful experiences, inviting customers to explore the tastes and stories of Niigata from anywhere.

suzu365.shop

SUZUDELI is where everyday nourishment meets thoughtful curation — a café and deli that champions freshness, simplicity, and the joy of well-made food. Rooted in Niigata’s rich agricultural heritage and SUZU GROUP’s commitment to craft, SUZUDELI invites guests to experience thoughtfully assembled meals, house-made delicacies, and seasonal flavors designed for life in motion. From morning coffee to artisan sandwiches and local sides, every item reflects an intentional approach to taste, quality, and community connection.

suzugroup.com/suzudeli

SUZUVEL reimagines fast food through the lens of local flavor, seasonal ingredients, and thoughtful craft. Inspired by Niigata’s culinary heritage and SUZU GROUP’s commitment to place-based dining, SUZUVEL offers quick, delicious bites that are as rooted in regional identity as they are perfect for everyday life. From bold flavor combinations to playful reinterpretations of Japanese comfort food, each item is designed to be satisfying, flavorful, and reflective of a community that values food made with care.

suzugroup.com/shop/suzuvel

Yanagi Miso is a traditional miso maker from Niigata, Japan, specializing in handcrafted fermented foods such as miso, amazake, and regional specialties like Kagura Nanban miso. Rooted in generations of fermentation expertise, they preserve and share Japan’s rich food culture through authentic, carefully crafted products.

yanagimiso.com/smp

TABIBAR is where curiosity meets conviviality — a sake stand and food tourism hub that invites guests to explore Japanese flavors with openness and joy. Rooted in Niigata’s deep brewing heritage, this gathering place showcases a curated selection of local sakes, artisan snacks, and regional specialties, offering visitors an accessible yet authentic introduction to Japan’s world-renowned drink culture. More than a bar, TABIBAR functions as a cultural wayfinder — guiding guests through taste, story, and discovery with every pour and bite.

suzugroup.com/tabibar

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To be respectful of those with allergies and environmental sensitivities, we ask that you please refrain from wearing strong fragrances. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact info@jaccc.org.

The entrance to all Hakko Expo workshops can be found inside the lobby of our 5-story Office Tower.

Make sure to arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled workshop session. All patrons will visit the check-in table, located outside of the entrance of the building, so please have your e-ticket(s) with QR code ready.

JACCC is a 7-minute walk from the L.A. Metro Rail's Little Tokyo/Arts District Station, which connects to both the A and E lines via the Regional Connector.

For additional transportation options and parking details, check out Go Little Tokyo's Guide to the area here.