Complete Guide to Kansai Summer Festivals [2025–2026]: Electrifying Stages and Performing Artists

Many of you probably want to go to music festivals but can’t because you work on weekends, right? They’re usually held on Saturdays and Sundays or on public holidays. For people like that, this festival is—believe it or not—held on a weekday, and on a Monday at that! How about taking it easy and soaking in music on a weekday afternoon?

This event presented by FM802 began with the wish to let radio listeners see live performances by the artists they request on radio programs. Hearing the music you usually listen to on the radio performed right in front of you makes the experience even more moving. The official website is also accepting requests for songs you’d like to hear on the day of the event, so why not request your favorite track?

The HAKASE TARO Music Festival is a revamped version of the annual summer festival hosted by Taro Hakase since 2002, relaunched with a new concept in 2019. Held as an outdoor festival in two locations—Kyoto and Tokyo—both venues are places where you can feel Japan’s history, offering a new experience of enjoying contemporary music. In Kyoto, the venue is a shrine, promising an even more special time. Exploring Kyoto’s history or strolling through the city before attending the event will likely enhance the way you enjoy it.