Family Festivals Nationwide List [2025–2026]

This historic festival in Kushiro, Hokkaido began in 1985. It started by turning the troublesome sea fog—something the locals often contend with—into a unique event theme. Highlights include not only live performances by artists, but also food stalls and kitchen cars from local shops offering delicious fare, as well as a sound-and-light fog laser show in collaboration with DJs. Since 2021, there have also been booths where you can experience glamping and day-trip camping. It’s well worth the trip: enjoy music and food while taking in the natural surroundings!

JOIN ALIVE has been held every year since 2010 at Iwamizawa Park, which features an open-air music hall and the Hokkaido Greenland amusement park. You sometimes hear about music festivals held at amusement parks, but a unique feature of JOIN ALIVE is that you can actually enjoy the rides there as well. This means families can attend without younger children getting bored. Admission is also free for junior high school students and younger, so this event may inspire many children to fall in love with music.

An indoor summer festival presented by the radio station J-WAVE. This event has been held as J-WAVE LIVE, but since 2022 it has been revamped and powered up into a large annual festival where you can enjoy music, food, and a market all at once. There are reserved seats available, so you can sit back and fully enjoy the live performances. Plus, because it’s hosted by a radio station, one of the highlights is the exciting lineup featuring a steady stream of popular, star-studded artists.