Kansai Music Festivals [2025–2026]: Special Feature on Must-See Outdoor Fests & Events

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.
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.

Live performances resonating from vast outdoor stages, the electric energy created by artists and fans as one, and making memories with friends.

This year, a variety of unique music festivals will once again be held across the Kansai region.

In these special spaces where diverse genres—rock, pop, jazz, and more—intertwine, why not experience irreplaceable moments of excitement?

In this article, we introduce standout outdoor festivals and event information.

Past events

The Soul of the Shore ~ MIGIWA NO SOULSat, May 17 – Shiga Prefecture

Schedule	Saturday, May 17, 2025
place	ShiraTeien, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
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SAKAI FANDANGO MEETINGSat, May 17 — Osaka Prefecture

Schedule	Saturday, May 17, 2025
place	Sakai FANDANGO, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
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ARIFUJI WEEKENDERSHyogo Prefecture, Sat 5/17–Sun 5/18

arifuji.com

A new experiential outdoor festival produced by the team behind ONE MUSIC CAMP, one of Kansai’s flagship open-air festivals, is coming soon. Built around the concept of offering a special outdoor festival experience unlike your usual weekend, you can enjoy not only live music, but also delicious food, outdoor activities, and workshops at a venue rich in natural beauty. The site is about an hour away by public transport from Kobe or Osaka, making it easy for families to attend. How about spending a fulfilling holiday together, stretching out and relaxing in an open, spacious setting?

Schedule	Sat, May 17–Sun, May 18, 2025
place	Hyogo Prefecture Sanda City Arima Fuji Park Rest Area
Website	https://arifuji.com/
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FM802 MEET THE WORLD BEATSat, May 17 — Osaka Prefecture

funky802.com

MEET THE WORLD BEAT is an event hosted by FM802 where you can fully enjoy performances from emerging artists to hugely popular stars. The standout feature of this event is that attendees are invited by lottery from among FM802 listeners, and those selected can participate for free. Tune in to FM802 and join MEET THE WORLD BEAT!

Schedule	Saturday, May 17, 2025
place	Expo ’70 Commemorative Park Natural and Cultural Gardens, Momiji River Lawn Plaza, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture
Website	http://funky802.com/meet/
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OUTDOOR PARKSat–Sun, May 17–18, Osaka Prefecture

outdoorpark.jp

OUTDOOR PARK is one of the largest outdoor events in the Kansai region. Outdoor brands from Japan and abroad gather to exhibit and sell their products. In addition, various workshops and live music performances are held, making it a content-rich event centered on the outdoors.

Schedule	Sat, May 17–Sun, May 18, 2025
place	Expo ’70 Commemorative Park, Natural and Cultural Gardens, East Plaza, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture
Website	https://outdoorpark.jp/
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THE STAR FESTIVALMay 17 (Sat) – 18 (Sun), Kyoto Prefecture

http://www.thestarfestival.com

THE STAR FESTIVAL takes place at a campground in Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture, so it’s a music festival where you can of course camp. At night, you can experience an otherworldly atmosphere created by the lighting combined with the great outdoors—a view you don’t normally encounter—making it a highly recommended festival where you can soak in a sense of escape from the everyday.

Schedule	Sat, May 17–Sun, May 18, 2025
place	Prefectural Forest Hiyoshi, 25 Amawake-Kaminojo, Hiyoshi-cho, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture
Website	http://www.thestarfestival.com
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ALOHA SUMMER FESTiVAL iN OSAKAFri 5/16–Sun 5/18, Osaka Prefecture

http://www.aloha-sf.com

ALOHA SUMMER FESTiVAL is an event focused on Hawaii. On the day, there will be dances by hula teams and performances by Hawaiian bands. In addition, there will be many vendor booths selling hula costumes, Hawaii-inspired clothing and accessories, as well as numerous food and drink stalls. It’s an event where you can fully enjoy the atmosphere of Hawaii while staying in Osaka.

Schedule	May 16 (Fri)–18 (Sun), 2025
place	Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Shin-Umeda City Wonder Square
Website	http://www.aloha-sf.com
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