[2025–2026] Music Festivals & Outdoor Events Guide for Hokkaido and the Tohoku Region

Launched to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the opening of Aomori Port, this music festival aims to blend history, culture, and music to showcase the region’s appeal nationwide. By setting the festival in the bay area, visitors can also experience history, tourism, and culture—such as the museum where you can feel the power of Nebuta floats and the Aomori Tourism and Products Center—making it a uniquely regional event where you can enjoy discovering new charms of Aomori through the festivities. After taking in the open seaside views and the music, why not set off on a trip to create some summer memories?

JOIN ALIVE has been held every year since 2010 at Iwamizawa Park, which features an open-air music hall and the Hokkaido Greenland amusement park. You sometimes hear about music festivals held at amusement parks, but a unique feature of JOIN ALIVE is that you can actually enjoy the rides there as well. This means families can attend without younger children getting bored. Admission is also free for junior high school students and younger, so this event may inspire many children to fall in love with music.

A uniquely Hokkaido event that fuses live music with Hokkaido cuisine. Over the course of a month, live performances are held in the Sapporo Music Tent that appears in Odori Park and at multiple venues throughout Sapporo. The tent is set up like a restaurant, providing a relaxed space where you can sit down, enjoy a meal, and take in the live music.

This event, held since 2009 under the name KESEN ROCK, wasn’t started by band members or event promoters but by ordinary people. It’s said to be “an event entirely handmade without even knowing what a rock festival is,” and, D.

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It’s an event brimming with the spirit of Y.

A classic summer event in Aomori, the Yasugata Minato Festival, is coming up! The music program features different themes each day, and the Blues Fest brings together key members who are essential to Aomori’s local blues scene. In the past, the festival has even collaborated with the a-nation live tour, growing in scale as a popular event. You can also enjoy yacht cruising at Aomori Port, fireworks displays, and kids’ fair activities. The food booths will host popular local eateries, so be sure to check out the local gourmet offerings. Don’t miss the special one-time-only programs you can experience only this year!