The Sapporo Lilac Festival began in 1959 at the urging of cultural figures who proposed “holding cultured events in the season when lilacs bloom,” and it heralds the arrival of early summer in Sapporo. Centered in Odori Park, where about 400 lilac trees blossom, the festival features a variety of programs such as the Lilac Music Festival, a wine garden, and a stamp rally. The Kawashimo venue, where more than 200 varieties are in full bloom, is also included, and the festival will be held in May 2026.

Asahikawa Music Week is a music event that turns the entire city into a stage under the banner “A week overflowing with music in Asahikawa,” transforming the early-summer streets. From the North Station Plaza and the Shopping Park to the Asahikawa Civic Culture Hall, inside JR Asahikawa Station, and AEON Mall Asahikawa Nishi, a wide range of genres—brass band, orchestra, choral, jazz, rock, pop, DJ, and traditional Japanese music—resonate together to color “Asahikawa, the Music City of the North.” Featuring performers selected through a public call, the 2026 edition will be held from June 7 to 14.

Sendai Street Operation is an open-air free live music event that has been held since 2016 in the heart of Sendai, the City of Trees. Multiple stages are set up along the Jozenji-dori green belt, creating a format where visitors can encounter a wide variety of music as they stroll. Operated by hand primarily by young singer-songwriters, it serves as a place that connects local artists with a broad range of generations who may not usually visit live music venues. The 53rd edition will be held in May 2026.

JAM FES is an independently organized festival held every year during Golden Week by Nishi-Eifuku JAM. The venue first opened in Shinjuku in 1980 and moved to Nishi-Eifuku, Suginami in 2018. This long-running event gathers a diverse array of bands with the warm, community-rooted feel of a neighborhood live house. Centered on rock, punk, and alternative, its eclectic lineup spans up-and-coming acts to mid-career artists. On some days during the festival, attendees can move freely between the main space and the adjoining UNDERGROUND, making for an intense eight days of hopping between two stages. Scheduled from April 29 to May 6, 2026.

The Kichijoji Music Festival, which began in 1986, is a long-running city festival that will mark its 41st edition in 2026. The venues span all of Kichijoji in Musashino, Tokyo, with eight stages set up around town—including the plaza at the station’s North Exit and the area around Inokashira Park—filling the city with music against the backdrop of a unique culture where bustling commercial districts and residential neighborhoods blend seamlessly. Under the banner of a “festival of culture and creativity,” a diverse range of music—jazz, folk, rock, and more—colors the entire city over three days during the Golden Week holidays.

Kabukiage is an urban circuit-style festival jointly planned by the live series “@JAM” and TV Asahi’s “Roppongi Idol Festival.” Set against the backdrop of Shinjuku’s Kabukicho, it features a multi-venue format that takes attendees to spots like Zepp Shinjuku, Shinjuku LOFT, and a special stage at Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. A glamorous lineup that defines the Reiwa-era idol scene will gather, filling the entire city with excitement. Scheduled for May 2026.