Japan is ready to bring the noise once more. After a relatively quiet couple of years, the country’s live music scene is back with a bang in 2023. World-class performers will be playing at the music festivals that have become a highlight of a Japanese summer and, whatever genre of music you prefer, there is an unmissable event coming up. Here are the best music festivals in Japan this year.
Viva La Rock 2023
Marking a decade of loud music, Viva La Rock takes place at the Saitama Super Arena —which has a capacity of over 36,000 music fans. This year’s event has attracted an interesting mix of genres, including Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Chilli Beans, Super Beaver, BiSH, The Kebabs, and nishina.
Dates: May 3–7
Website: https://vivalarock.jp/2023/
Fuji & Sun ‘23
The fourth Fuji & Sun festival takes place virtually in the shadow of Japan’s most famous mountain, in Shizuoka Prefecture. Organizers emphasize the laid-back atmosphere of the event, with festival-goers staying in tents and dancing along to acts in the Sun Area during the day and the Moon Area once the sun has gone down. Bands taking to the stage this year include Cero, Top Doca, Never Young Beach, and Bread & Butter.
Dates: May 13–14
Website: https://fjsn.jp/
Greenroom Festival ‘23
A celebration of music, art, and film at Yokohama’s Red Brick Warehouse, the festival has its roots in beach and surfing culture and is designed to spread the message of protecting oceans and the marine environment. Performers will include Dragon Ash, Yona Yona Weekenders, Kamal, Vintage Trouble, Orange Range, and Anomalie.
Dates: May 27–28
Website: https://greenroom.jp/
Fuji Rock Festival ‘23
The daddy of the summer music scene in Japan, Fuji Rock is back with an impressive international lineup for its latest incarnation. The venue sprawls across the slopes and valleys of the Naeba Ski resort in Niigata Prefecture, with the hillsides a multicolored community of tents. The Strokes are among the headline bands, along with Foo Fighters, Alanis Morissette, Slowdive, Ellegarden, Denzel Curry, and The Birthday.
Dates: July 28–30
Website: https://en.fujirockfestival.com/
Tokyo Idol Festival 2023
For fans of Japan’s idol music scene, this is the event for you. As of writing, the bands that want to perform at the festival are competing against each other for the honor, with the lineup to be announced in the coming weeks. The festival is being staged at venues in the Odaiba and Aomi districts of Tokyo, with last year’s events graced by none other than AKB48, sister groups BNK48 and CGM48, as well as JamsCollection, Neo Japonism, Peel the Apple, and The Orchestra Tokyo.
Dates: August 4–6
Website: https://official.idolfes.com/s/tif2023/
Rock in Japan Festival 2023
One of the largest outdoor music festivals on the calendar here, Rock in Japan will this year again take place at the Soga Sports Park in Chiba City. Still rocking after 20 years, it is also one of the most established music events in Japan. Performers across the venue’s four stages will include 9mm Parabellum Bullet, Bump of Chicken, Wonk, Crossfaith, Scandal, and Mongol800.
Dates: August 6–7 and 11–13
Website: https://rijfes.jp/
Rising Sun Rock Festival
Hokkaido is the perfect place for an all-night outdoor rock festival in August, with a lineup of primarily Japanese bands due to take to the five stages at the Tarukawa Wharf venue in Ishikari City.
Dates: August 12–13
Website: https://rsr.wess.co.jp/2023/
Summer Sonic 2023
Summer Sonic is an excellent way to round out a summer of unforgettable music, with the event once again split between Osaka’s Maishima Sonic Park and the ZOZO Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe in Chiba City.Topping the bill in both cities will be Kendrick Lamar, Liam Gallagher, Evanescence, Blur, Fall Out Boy, and Thundercat, ably assisted by Niall Horan, Yoasobi, Wet Leg, and more.
Dates: August 19–20
Website: https://www.summersonic.com/
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Julian Ryall
