Japan is a curious land and a cultural melting pot of various styles of music like rock, techno and J-Pop. If you’re travelling to the country soon, and are interested in checking what the music scene is like, here are some events you should most definitely consider!
1. Fuji Rock Festival
Where: Mount Naeba, Japan
When: July 24 to 26
Probably one of the most accomplished music festivals in South East Asia, The Fuji Rock Festival reaches an estimate number of 100,000 music lovers who settle themselves between the over 10 stages that the festival puts up. Previous performers include the likes of Radiohead, Oasis and Red Hot Chilli Pepper. This year, with artists like The Foo Fighters, Muse, FKA Twigs, Of Monsters and Men and Ryan Adams, the festival is sure to hit all the right notes.
(Image Courtesy : Fest300/ Genta Masuda Creative Commons)
2. Kichijoji Music Festival
Where: Tokyo
When: Late April to beginning of May
The Kichijoji festival started a good 20 years ago, as a part of the revitalization scheme for Kichijōji, “Culture and Art City Kichijōji”. At first, the direction of the festival changed every year. In order to unify the planning of the event, after several surveys, starting in the festival’s fifth year, 1990, jazz was made the festival’s focus. In the festival’s 17th year, 2002, the festival underwent a renewal, aimed at further increasing the local activities of Kichijōji. Since then, with the four elements of “Old Sound Contest”, “Superstage,” “Park concert” and “Jazz concert” as its core, the festival has been held during Golden Week every year.
3. Summer Sonic Festival
Where: Osaka and Chiba
When: Early August
The Summer Sonic Festival is an annual two- or three-day rock festival held at the same time in Osaka and Chiba. The majority of the bands playing in Osaka the first day go to Chiba the following day and vice versa. The line-up contains many Japanese rock musicians from both major and indie record companies, and also international acts. It also operates the festival Sonicmania, with an EDM focus, since 2011.
4. The Labyrinth Festival
Where: Niigata
When: September
When it comes to unique music festivals, you’d be surprised by where they pop up. Take for example, The Labyrinth Festival. Hidden away on a grassy mountainside in Niigata, Japan the event is dedicated to featuring the best and brightest techno and experimental artistes. Organised and run by American national Russ Moench, everything about Labyrinth promises to display perfection and attention to detail. Artistes and live performers are carefully picked out with its sound system (The Funktion-One) being exemplary. For Labyrinth, quality always precedes quantity, as the two-day event features one stage with a flawless line-up that will leave any techno enthusiast floored.
5. Ultra Japan
Where: Odaiba Ultra Park
When: October
Last year, Japan became the fourth Asian nation to witness the magic of Ultra, and it set some really high standards in terms of organisation and production.
More than 42,000 people gathered at Tokyo’s Odaiba Ultra Park to witness some of the best in electronic music. Over one million watched live on Ultra’s official YouTube channel UMF TV, as the Land of the Rising Sun welcomed an eye-watering selection of the world’s best DJs, including Afrojack, Alesso, Axwell Ingrosso, Fedde Le Grand, Hardwell, Kaskade, Martin Garrix, Steve Angello and W&W. Highlights were also shown on Japanese national television station, FUJI TV.