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

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.

The majestic nature of Hokkaido and the Tohoku region awaits you as the stage for a music festival.

A celebration of music unfolds beneath vast mountains, sweeping grasslands, and crystal-clear blue skies—an extraordinary experience you won’t find in the city.

Enjoy delicious local specialties packed with each region’s charm, and warm encounters with the people who live there.

Under a pleasant breeze and a sky full of stars, come feel the unique sense of togetherness created by the audience and the artists.

Past events

TOWADA ROCK FESTIVALSun, 9/14 Aomori Prefecture

towakomyu.com

Schedule	Sunday, September 14, 2025
place	Aomori Prefecture, Towada City, Roadside Station Towada, Special Venue Towadapia
Website	https://towakomyu.com/events/towada-rock-festival-2023/
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Hasshoku Autumn CarnivalSun 9/14 – Mon 9/15, Aomori Prefecture

http://www.849net.com

Schedule	Sunday–Monday, September 14–15, 2025
place	Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, Hachinohe Hasshoku Center
Website	https://www.849net.com/event/2023/09/7.html

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Stella Street FesSun, Sep 14 - Hokkaido

Schedule	Sunday, September 14, 2025
place	Ashibetsu Station Front, Ashibetsu City, Hokkaido
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Jozenji Street Jazz FestivalSat 9/13 – Sun 9/14, Miyagi Prefecture

http://www.j-streetjazz.com

A wide variety of artists will perform live at nearly 40 venues set up throughout downtown Sendai. Just like choosing your favorite dishes in a bustling cafeteria where people gather, the event is held with the hope that you’ll discover and savor your very own music from the wealth of sounds from around the world spilling across the city. That’s the true charm of a jazz street.

Schedule	Sat–Sun, Sep 13–14, 2025
place	Various locations in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
Website	https://www.j-streetjazz.com
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Rusutsu Resort Delicious Food FestivalSep 13 (Sat)–15 (Mon), Hokkaido

rusutsu.com

Schedule	Sat, Sep 13–Mon, Sep 15, 2025
place	Rusutsu Resort, Rusutsu-mura (Rusutsu Village), Abuta-gun, Hokkaido
Website	https://rusutsu.com/umaimon/

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Oto-ConSat 9/13 – Sun 9/14, Fukushima Prefecture

This is a music event that has been held since 2013 to energize entertainment in Kitakata. The participating artists range from amateurs to professionals, and the genres are mixed—band performances, acoustic sets, and dance performances set to music. The event has grown larger every year, and visitors now come from outside the prefecture as well. Come join in the fun with the people around you and enjoy local food and delicious sake while you’re at it.