The Top 5 Music Festivals To Attend In Japan
Japan has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, and its music festivals are just as spectacular. Some of the top festivals to attend in Japan include Fuji Rock Festival, Summer Sonic, Ultra Japan, and more. Each festival has its own style and atmosphere that should be experienced at least once during your lifetime! Here are the top five music festivals to attend in Japan!
1) Summer Sonic
Taking place in August at Chiba’s Makuhari Messe, Summer Sonic is one of Japan’s biggest music festivals. Debuting in 2000 with just 50,000 attendees, it now boasts over 400,000 people in attendance each year. Artists who have headlined include The Chainsmokers, Flume, and The 1975. This festival lasts for three days and has multiple stages.
2) Fuji Rock Festival
Located at Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata Prefecture, every July thousands of music fans gather to attend Fuji Rock Festival. This is Asia’s biggest rock festival. Headliners for recent years have included Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Flaming Lips, Queens of The Stone Age, and Snow Patrol. It is one of Japan’s most famous festivals and attracts over 200,000 visitors a year from all over Japan and even some from overseas. Fans camp out near Mt. Fuji for three days or stay nearby at a hotel. Though not many foreign bands are featured each year they do tend to include a few – perhaps as a nod to their location next to Mt Fuji?
3) Ultra Japan
Ultra Japan is one of the top music festivals in Asia and takes place in Chiba, Tokyo. It is a major international event that features artists from around the world. If you are planning on attending Ultra Japan, make sure to buy your tickets ahead of time because they always sell out! Artists on previous lineups include Steve Aoki, Armin Van Buuren, and Deadmau5. The festival is located in Tokyo’s Bay Area Pacifico Yokohama which has lots of great hotels nearby so it’s easy to find somewhere nice to stay after spending all day at Ultra. This festival started in 2013 but already draws huge crowds so don’t miss out by skipping over it!
4) Rising Sun Rock Festival
Rising Sun Rock Festival takes place in Chiba and is definitely worth checking out. It features some of today’s biggest rock acts along with international rock bands. This is a three-day festival that attracts thousands of people each year. There are also a lot of other events going on around Tokyo at that time, which makes it an ideal weekend getaway! The main acts usually perform at night and smaller acts perform throughout the day to give you plenty of music options over your entire stay.
5) Greenroom Festival
Greenroom Festival is one of Japan’s most popular music festivals. It takes place annually in Shikoku Island in Takamatsu, hosting over 200 artists and 30,000 people each year. It’s best known for showcasing Japanese indie bands but also has a nice variety of international acts including local Hawaiian talent.
Conclusion
For those who love live music, Japan is a fantastic destination to travel to. There are so many music festivals that it’s hard to keep track of them all. The five we’ve mentioned above are some of the biggest and best in Asia, but there are plenty more great festivals out there. The world is your oyster when it comes to live music!
Photos by Fuji Rock Festival, Greenroom Festival, Rising Sun Rock Festival, Summer Sonic, Ultra Japan
