July Music Festivals [2025–2026]: A roundup of summer festivals, outdoor rock festivals, and other music events

Bugsami is a summer festival organized by the visual kei rock band BugLug, bringing together visual kei artists. It began in 2018, held its first outdoor edition in 2022, and has been steadily expanding in scale. The lineup, featuring acts connected to BugLug, draws attention every year. There are also attendee-exclusive programs that make it well worth the trip for visitors. With accommodation plans available, you can enjoy the event at a relaxed pace.

This is a music event produced by drummer and music producer Gota Yashiki and his wife, Tomomi Yashiki. As a new kind of festival that fuses Japanese traditional performing arts with rock, it offers experiences you can only have here. Even just the artist performances feature a star-studded lineup that fans will find irresistible, and the band members are legendary musicians active nationwide, all gathered together. With a variety of productions—including songs and dances by Kyoto’s geisha unique to the region—you can enjoy the finest in Japanese entertainment, all packed into this stage. Every part of it is unmissable.

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!