Autumn Music Festivals in Eastern Japan [2025–2026]

This is a Christmas event held in Hakodate, Hokkaido. While the event itself runs from December 1 to 25, “Fantastic Eve” takes place on the 23rd and 24th, and a “Christmas Night Ceremony” is held on the evening of the 25th. Since it’s Hokkaido, there’s a high chance of a white Christmas, making this one of the Christmas events you’ll definitely want to check out.

Nihonmatsudera Fest is held by opening up the temple to the public. Based on the idea that temples once served as the center of community gatherings, this event was planned to raise awareness of temples in modern times and help people feel closer to them. Hopefully, performances by artists and the food-and-drink booths will spark interactions among visitors.

It began in 1995 after the Moonlight Jazz Orchestra, an amateur big band that started full-scale activities in Nonoichi City in 1980, performed at a jazz festival in the United States. The event title “BIG APPLE” is a nickname for New York and was chosen to signify a place where the world’s top musicians gather.