Stage dive into summer: Japan's best music festivals, month by month

Japan Times

22-06-2025

Last year, I stood shoulder to shoulder with thousands of fans as Okinawan rapper Awich lit up the main stage at Fuji Rock. As a performer she was as dynamic as I'd expected, surprisingly emotional and, of course, the music was amazing. When I think of the summer of '24, I'll remember that set.
Japanese summers may be unbelievably hot, but they're also charged with possibility. For me, it's the music festivals that make these next few months bearable, even beautiful.
From sultry jazz sets that echo through the city (Blue Note Jazz Festival) to deep-forest raves pulsing under a canopy of stars (rural), Japan's summer music scene is nothing if not atmospheric. There are mountain-backed stages (Ringo Music Fes.), beachside blowouts (Ocean Peoples') and sprawling pop spectacles (Summer Sonic), each offering a different kind of relief from the heat's relentless grip. But spontaneity isn't always rewarded — tickets go fast, hotels faster — and you'll definitely want to remember that SPF 50.
This isn't an exhaustive list of everything happening this summer, just a guide to some of the events worth planning around. With luck, one of these stages will leave you with a memory that lingers in your head long after the season ends.
Jams for July
Kick off your summer at the beach — or pool — with Ocean Peoples' 25 , which takes place July 5 and 6 at Sunset Beach Park in Inage, Chiba Prefecture. Over two days, this pool-and-beach music festival brings together hip-hop, reggae, city pop, funk and more. Expect diverse musical vibes by Japanese acts such as Scha Dara Parr, MFS, Def Tech, Blue Vintage and Rickie-G, plus beats from DJ Hasebe, DJ Kawasaki and DJ Kenta. The vibe is laid-back: swim, dance, dip your toes in the sea, repeat.
Next, head back into the city for Inspire Tokyo from July 11 to 13 in Yoyogi Park and various locations around Shibuya. With music, art and local craft markets curated by radio station J‑Wave, this event has both free daytime performances and ticketed headline acts. Highlights? A tribute to Eiichi Ohtaki and Niagara Records' 50th anniversary at Line Cube Shibuya and 'Guru Guru! Power Stage' featuring Tokyo comedy and indie acts like Kagaya and Dow 90000.
Classical music performances abound around the country. Though many don't match the grandeur of the big festivals, they sound just as great under the sun and stars. |
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On July 12 and 13, turn it up with Talking Rock! Fes , a rock-centric two-day bash at Yokohama Arena. With acts like Kana-Boon, 04 Limited Sazabys, Frederic, Yabai T-Shirts Yasan and WurtS, this festival delivers high energy all day long.
Escape the city for a four-day electronic retreat at rural , deep in Fukushima Prefecture's lush mountains from July 18 to 21. This techno and house festival set at the secluded Nowhere Camp offers immersive beats from 13 international acts and 26 from across Japan, making for an intimate, nature‑infused rave that's sure to be a serene electronic getaway.
Next stop: Join Alive , a rock and pop event in Hokkaido's verdant Iwamizawa Park. Taking place July 19 and 20, it features stage-toppers like Sekai no Owari and Sukima Switch. With its open-air amphitheater and forest backdrop, Join Alive is perfect for those who love talented local artists and indie rock in a relaxed, nature-surrounded setting.
Simultaneously, keep your ear tuned to Hida Takayama Jazz Festival , from July 19 and 20 in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. Around a dozen acts — including groups like Taku & Tommy, Dag Force Band and Your Song Is Good — will perform at various downtown venues.
Meanwhile in Osaka, the Osaka Gigantic Music Festival arrives on the scene July 19 and 20 at Expo '70 Commemorative Park. This event packs a punch: With 66 acts in total spanning genres from rock and idol-pop to hardcore, this festival is Osaka's ultimate summer rock experience.
Fuji Rock Festival is as much about the great outdoors as it is about music. |
JOHAN BROOKS
The people you meet in the crowds at Japan's summer concerts can provide some of the best moments. |
JOHAN BROOKS
End July on the picturesque slopes of Niigata Prefecture with Fuji Rock Festival , one of Japan's 'big four' summer music festivals (Rock in Japan, Rising Sun and Summer Sonic round out the rest). Held at Naeba Ski Resort from July 25 to 27, the country's largest outdoor festival is known for featuring big-name overseas acts, with Fred Again.., Vulfpeck and Vampire Weekend heading up this year's lineup. At stages spread out across the ski resort, a wealth of acts including Tycho, Suchmos, Four Tet, Haim, OK Go, Sambo Master, MiyaVi and more are scheduled to perform. What makes Fuji Rock special? Its beautiful mountain setting and a family-friendly vibe that makes it feel like its own mini mountain town — just with better music.
August's heavy hitters
The indoor event New Horizon Fest may be a welcome change of pace, come August. From Aug. 2 and 3 at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, this festival blends rock, J‑pop, hip‑hop, EDM — and even some anime-adjacent acts. Organizers promise over 30 artists across two full days, including 04 Limited Sazabys, Age Factory, 10-Feet and Crossfaith at the top of the lineup.
From Aug. 9 to 11, take in the carnival vibe at LuckyFes' 25 , billed as Asia's biggest theme-park-style music event. Hosted by LuckyFM at Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture, the festival offers amusements, seaside strolls and family-friendly fun by the ocean. Performers include Atarashii Gakko!, m-flo, Mazzel, ＝Love, Masayoshi Oishi, Kreva, Shonan no Kaze and Mamoru Miyano.
Meanwhile, over at Saitama Super Arena, Cannonball careens onto the scene Aug. 10 and 11 as one of the hottest new entries to Japan's summer calendar. This brand-new event leans rock, pop and alternative, featuring popular groups like Creep Hyp, SixTones, Be:First and Hitsujibungaku.
The streaming service U‑Next steps into the festival game at Expo 2025 Osaka from Aug 12 to 17 with a six-day curated experience. U‑Next Music Fes is where anime meets rock meets idol-pop. The good thing is, even if you can't make it to the expo, the performances will be streamed online so you never have to leave your home (and air conditioning) to enjoy the show.
Fans cheer at a previous Summer Sonic festival, which is held concurrently in the vicinity of Osaka and Tokyo. |
JAMES HADFIELD
Jazz shows can prove to be just as sultry as the weather in the next few months. |
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Then comes Summer Sonic , running Aug. 16 and 17 in Tokyo (held in neighboring Chiba) and Osaka concurrently. One of Japan's biggest international festivals, the event will feature acts such as Fall Out Boy, Alicia Keys, The Prodigy, J Balvin, Babymetal, aespa, Beabadoobe, Porter Robinson, NiziU and many more across rock, pop, EDM and K‑pop.
Taking place from Aug. 10 through Sept. 9, classical music lovers can head to the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival in Nagano Prefecture, celebrating the revered maestro who passed away last year and would have turned 90 in 2025. Expect symphonies (Mahler's Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection"), chamber music, opera, street concerts and exhibitions in full view of the Northern Alps.
As summer peaks, Rising Sun Rock Festival comes to Ishikari, Hokkaido, Aug. 15 and 16. With traditionally milder weather than other festivals, the experience combines camping under the stars with a youth-driven, high-energy crowd that's there for a lineup of Japanese rock, indie, punk and hip-hop.
Winding down in September
As summer winds down, Ultra Japan returns to Odaiba's waterfront Ultra Park on Sept. 13 and 14. This year's headliners include Calvin Harris, DJ Snake, Gryffin, Hardwell, Martin Garrix and Slander on the Main Stage. Over at the Resistance Stage are techno DJs Amelie Lens, Adam Beyer, Argy and Korolova. If your ideal summer includes high-energy drops and DJ superstars, this EDM spectacle is the one to hit.
Rock in Japan Festival spans the weekends of Sept. 13 and Sept. 20 at Soga Sports Park in Chiba. Expect lauded Japanese acts such as Mrs. Green Apple, Vaundy, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Radwimps and Awich. The event also hosts stars from the world of K-pop like Ive, NiziU and Yuta (from NCT). What sets Rock in Japan apart is its breadth — from alternative rock to idol-pop — and a sprawling outdoor setup that's made for maximum crowd energy.
Tokyo Calling celebrates its 10th edition over three days in Shimokitazawa, Shinjuku and Shibuya on Sept. 23, 27 and 28, respectively. With 120 bands slotted into intimate live houses, it's the ultimate chance to discover Tokyo's freshest punk, indie and genre-bending acts. Think of it as a three-night music crawl through some of the capital's liveliest neighborhoods.
In addition to plenty of musical events, head out to a fireworks festival to capture the vibe of a true Japanese summer. |
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Sophistication meets soul at the Blue Note Jazz Festival on Sept. 27 and 28. Held at Ariake Arena in Tokyo's Koto Ward, this is the Japanese sister event to New York's Blue Note Jazz Festival. Though the lineup is still limited, Norah Jones and R&B singer Ne-Yo are slated to headline this immersive jazz weekend.
Ringo Music Fes. takes place Sept. 27 and 28 in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. Set amid the Japanese Alps, the two-day outdoor festival with artisan markets and food stalls blends mountain-air freedom with buzzed-about live acts such as Rhymester, Kid Fresino, Tendre and Wednesday Campanella — a perfect mix of rhythm and retreat for those chasing festival vibes in a scenic mountain haven.
Summer in Japan may test your limits — the heat, the crowds, the shinkansen costs — but it also provides moments of euphoria. Ultimately, that's what you take with you. That's the memory that hums, long after the cicadas have gone quiet.