The appeal of MONSTER baSH—a festival you can enjoy in many different ways

favorite_borderLast updated:2018/5/4

• Music Festival Master / Editor-in-ChiefKeisuke Hane
  Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC and in charge of music festivals. When I attended my first music festival as a freshman in college, I was captivated by its charm—“I can’t believe there’s a place this free and this fun.” I share information about wonderful music festivals every day to help grow the community of festival fans.

What is MONSTER baSH?

First, I'd like to begin by explaining a bit about Monbus.

Mombus was first held in 2000—the same year as Summer Sonic and Rock in Japan—making it one of the longest-running, most established rock festivals in Japan.

Only the second edition in 2001 was held in Tokushima; all other editions have been held in Kagawa. It has become such a fixture that when people think of summer festivals in Shikoku, they think of MONSTER baSH!

When it first started, there was only one stage, but now the number has grown to five. In recent years, the event has gradually expanded in scale, drawing as many as 50,000 attendees over two days.

The venue, Sanuki Manno Park in Kagawa Prefecture (a national park), is set in nature, which makes access a bit challenging; however, we will introduce the access methods later.

Now, I would like to introduce the five stages I mentioned briefly earlier.

Introduction to the five stages

Currently, live performances are taking place on five stages at Monbus.

Each stage has its own unique characteristics, so while it’s great to look for artists you like, why not also try finding a stage that suits your taste?

Now, let me introduce each stage in order.

STAGE Kūkai, STAGE Ryūjin

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The two main stages set up in the lawn plaza, which serves as the main area, are Kukai and Ryujin.

The two stages, Kukai and Ryujin, are set up next to each other, and since the live performances alternate on the timetable, you can see all the artists on the two main stages if you stay in the lawn area.

For a large festival with many stages, this is somewhat unusual, and the fact that you can easily see lots of famous artists is a major draw.

The lawn area where these two stages are set up is shaped like an amphitheater, with sheet zones and parasol zones arranged on the slope at the back, allowing you to sit and enjoy the live performances at a relaxed pace.

Mombus takes place in August, the height of summer.

It's really nice to be able to spend time under the parasol like this.

STAGE Tea Hall

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This teahouse is the stage that was added starting in 2012.

It will be an acoustics-focused stage set up a little away from the lawn plaza where Kūkai and the Dragon God are located.

Being away from the main stage and centered around acoustic performances, you can enjoy the music in a very quiet and relaxed atmosphere.

Even the stage itself has a very Japanese style, creating a relaxed atmosphere that’s enjoyable to take in visually.

While it's great to go all out and get hyped like at a summer festival, it's also nice to relax and be soothed by a laid-back atmosphere.

MONSTERcircus

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And starting in 2014, what was established is this MONSTERcircus.

MONSTERcircus is a composite entertainment area that brings together the three main festival booths—merch, food, and stage—into one.

As shown in the photo, there are dome-shaped tents around the stage where you can avoid the sun.

There are also merchandise and food stalls nearby, so it looks like you can enjoy the event in various ways—like lining up for merch while you wait or savoring delicious festival food.

Additionally, since 2017 a stage called MONSTERcircus+ has been added, where you can enjoy live performances mainly by up-and-coming bands.

A festival you can enjoy in your own way

As introduced so far, the Mombus venue is broadly divided into three areas.

Each of the three areas has its own unique features, so it seems like everyone can enjoy them in their own way.

Whether you want to go all out and get fired up, relax and soothe your soul, enjoy yourself over a meal or while shopping for merch, or even set up a parasol on the grassy slope and soak in a vacation vibe—the greatest charm of MonBasu is that you can enjoy it in whatever way suits you best.

And as you enjoy the festival in a way that suits you, one of the fun parts is that you may also discover fascinating artists you didn’t know before.

It's one of the unique pleasures of a festival featuring many artists, and discovering new music is always an exciting experience, isn’t it?

Access method

Up to this point, we’ve introduced the appeal of Monbus by highlighting the features of each stage and area. Lastly, we’d like to explain how to access the venue, Sanuki Manno Park (Kagawa Prefectural National Government Park) in Kagawa Prefecture.

Train

First, the access method that most people are likely to use is the train.

However, since Manno Park is a bit far from the station, you will need to use the shuttle bus operating on the day.

Shuttle buses run from Kotoden Okada Station and JR Takamatsu Station, but they tend to get very crowded every year, so if you plan to use them, we recommend leaving early.

car

Next, I imagine many of those coming from afar will be going by car.

However, you cannot drive all the way to the venue; you will need to park your car in a temporary parking lot located some distance away and take a shuttle bus from there.

This area is also expected to be quite crowded, so we recommend setting out early.

By the way, to avoid severe congestion and causing trouble for local residents, please absolutely refrain from driving into the area around the venue or parking illegally.

Bicycles & Motorcycles

The third way to access it is by bicycle or motorcycle.

This applies mainly to those who live relatively close to the venue, but a bicycle parking area will be set up near the venue's North Gate, where you can leave your bike.

With this method, you can get to the venue without using the shuttle bus, so it looks like access will be very smooth.

It might be nice for those coming from far away to ride their bikes and make a touring trip of it.

Tour

And finally, there’s access via tour buses departing from various locations around the country.

With this, you can go directly from a major station near where you live to the venue, so it might be the easiest and most reliable method.

However, reservations fill up quickly, so we recommend checking for updates frequently and booking early.

Event Overview

Sat 8/23 – Sun 8/24 MONSTER baSH (Monster Bash)

www.monsterbash.jp

MONSTER baSH is an outdoor rock festival that has been held in Kagawa Prefecture since 2000. It’s affectionately known by its nickname, “Monbasu.” Since 2003, the main venues have consisted of two stages: STAGE Kukai and STAGE Ryujin. These two stages are set up side by side, so you can see every act performing on the main stages. There’s also an area at the back of the main stage zone where you can lay down sheets or set up parasols, making it possible to stay comfortable even in the intense heat.

Sat, Aug 28, 2021 MONSTER baSH

In conclusion

How was it?

Were you able to imagine the appeal of Monbus and what it will be like on the day?

This time, I focused on the venue’s features and how to get there, but every year the lineup is packed with popular artists, and just looking at it shows how exciting this festival is.

There may be some concerns that it’s a bit hard to access, but it’s still a festival you’ll definitely be glad you attended.

Please be sure to find your own way to enjoy it.