[2025–2026] December Music Festivals: Winter Fests and Countdown Live Roundup

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. After working at a music studio and in wedding sound engineering, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with various instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in middle school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on personal music activities and professional experience, produces daily articles, including song introductions, features on music festivals around Japan, and live reports. Enjoys a wide range of music, from domestic and international rock to, more recently, a broad spectrum of J-pop.

In this article, we’ll give you a comprehensive roundup of music festivals taking place in December! In addition to the classic annual events held every December, we’ve got a packed lineup that includes festivals newly moved to December this year and brand-new events that are just getting started.

December also means you can’t take your eyes off Christmas events and New Year’s countdown events.

We’ve gathered events from all over the country, across all genres and sizes, so be sure to check out a nearby festival or one that catches your eye!

December

Countdown Festival Kobe IlluminarieWed, 12/31, Hyogo Prefecture

illuminagegroup.com

Schedule	Wednesday, December 31, 2025
place	Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, Roadside Station Kobe Fruit & Flower Park Osawa
Website	https://illuminagegroup.com/
SNS

Huis Ten Bosch CountdownWed, 12/31 Nagasaki Prefecture

http://www.huistenbosch.co.jp

This is a New Year’s Eve event held at Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park in Nagasaki Prefecture. Fireworks are launched along with the countdown, making it a festive way to ring in the New Year. It’s said to be the largest fireworks display in Japan held on New Year’s Eve.

Schedule	Wednesday, December 31, 2025
place	Nagasaki Prefecture, Sasebo City, Huis Ten Bosch
Website	http://www.huistenbosch.co.jp/event/countdown/

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