[2025] A roundup of popular winter festivals: Music festivals for the cold season

Last updated:2025/11/11

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.

Until now, when people talked about music festivals, the standard was summer festivals held outdoors.

But lately, winter festivals held during the colder months have also become the norm.

Most winter festivals are indoor events held in large halls or exhibition centers, and even in the cold of winter, the venues are filled with excitement.

In this article, we’ll introduce a whole lineup of these hot winter music festivals!

From Christmas events and countdown events to those held right after the New Year, there’s a full schedule.

November

BONIN ISLAND JAZZThu, Nov 27 – Tue, Dec 2, Tokyo Metropolis

http://www.boninislandjazz.com

Schedule	Thursday, November 27, 2025 – Tuesday, December 2, 2025
place	Chichijima, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo
Website	https://www.boninislandjazz.com/
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BONIN ISLNAD JAZZThu, Nov 27 – Tue, Dec 2, Tokyo Metropolis

Schedule	Thursday, November 27, 2025 – Tuesday, December 2, 2025
place	Ogasayama Park Festival Plaza, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo
Website	https://www.boninislandjazz.com/
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Hakodate Christmas FantasySat 11/29 – Thu 12/25 Hokkaido

http://www.hakodatexmas.com

This is a Christmas event held in Hakodate, Hokkaido. While the event itself runs from December 1 to 25, “Fantastic Eve” takes place on the 23rd and 24th, and a “Christmas Night Ceremony” is held on the evening of the 25th. Since it’s Hokkaido, there’s a high chance of a white Christmas, making this one of the Christmas events you’ll definitely want to check out.

Schedule	Saturday, November 29, 2025 – Thursday, December 25, 2025
place	Around the Red Brick Warehouse District, Suehiro-cho, Hokkaido
Website	http://www.hakodatexmas.com

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December

TOHOKU MUSIC JOURNEYSat 12/6 – Sun 12/7, Miyagi Prefecture

tohokumusicjourney.com

Schedule	Sat–Sun, Dec 6–7, 2025
place	Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai City, Yume Messe Miyagi, Exhibition Halls A, B, and C
Website	https://tohokumusicjourney.com/
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SUMIDA BLOCK FESTIVALDec 6 (Sat) – 7 (Sun), Tokyo Metropolis

Schedule	Sat–Sun, Dec 6–7, 2025
place	Sumida Park Soyokaze Plaza, Sumida City, Tokyo
Website	https://sumidablockfes.com/
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At ShimokitazawaSat, Dec 6 – Tokyo Metropolis

A circuit-style event held in the Shimokitazawa area—home to restaurants, vintage clothing stores, record shops, and live houses, and a hub for diverse culture—Shimokitazawa Nite. The organizers are the band THE Love Ningen. The event is held with the theme of creating new connections through music. With a stamp rally and performances by elementary and junior high school bands, it’s an event that can be enjoyed not only by adults but also by children.

Schedule	Saturday, December 6, 2025
place	Tokyo, Setagaya City, Shangri-La / CLUB251 / 440 / BASEMENTBAR / THREE / Flowers Loft / mona records / CREAM / ReG / SHELTER / LIVE HAUS / MOSAiC / DaisyBar / Laguna / ERA / WAVER / Chikamatsu / Chikamichi (Shortcut) / Otema-e / Shimokita Senrogai Open Space / Shimokitazawa Station Front Plaza
Website	http://www.shimokita-nite.net/
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