List of Rock Festivals in Western Japan [2025–2026]

WILD BUNCH FEST., which began in 2013 as the successor to SET STOCK, a music festival held in Hiroshima for ten years starting in 1999.

One particularly impressive feature of WILD BUNCH is the small floating stage on the sea, located in a cove-like area of the venue, called “On the Sea,” which is used only for the closing act. Since it’s the closing act, the surroundings are completely dark by then, and the live performance on the small stage floating on the water is a must-see. Also, last year a campsite was set up inside the venue, allowing attendees to stay overnight from day one to day two, so that’s another highlight to watch for.

One of the largest joint university events in the Kansai region, bringing together light music clubs from across Kansai! It’s an incredibly exciting festival featuring not only original and cover bands, but also bands from the same generation and hot, fast-rising artists invited as special guests!

A flagship Japanese music festival that has been held since 2000. It features many renowned artists from both Japan and overseas and is an event that draws attention from around the world. A distinctive feature of Summer Sonic is that it’s an urban, touring-style festival. In addition to easy access, the lineups for the Tokyo and Osaka venues swap over the two days. So whichever venue you attend, if you go both days, you can see all the headliners.

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.

NUMBER SHOT has been held since 2014 as a successor to HIGHER GROUND, which took place from 2003 at the Uminonakamichi Seaside Park Outdoor Theater in Fukuoka Prefecture. Its hallmark is a relatively wide-ranging lineup, from rock bands and singer-songwriters to reggae groups. It’s one of those essential events in Kyushu’s summer live music scene.