This is a free outdoor event organized by an artist I met in Hirakata, Osaka. Centered on singer-songwriters, you can enjoy music from a variety of genres. When lyrics that gently wrap around your heart and give you a little push come flowing in with the sound of acoustic instruments, you can’t help but feel a sense of warmth, right? MUSIC HEROES is a place where you can share a great time with fellow music lovers while experiencing that kind of musical emotion. There’s also a flea market, so feel free to drop by.

As its name suggests, the Takatsuki Jazz Street is a citywide jazz festival; last year, performances took place at over 50 venues around Hankyu Takatsuki-shi Station and JR Takatsuki Station. Events like this, with stages scattered throughout the city, fill every corner with music and create a delightful sense of stepping out of the everyday. Another big draw is that admission is free, making it easy to join in.

Kobe, which recovered and rebuilt after the damage caused by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. There was a great deal of support for the recovery. This charity festival began as a way to give back for that support and has been held every year since. Admission is free every year, and donations are collected throughout the venue. The event has safely been confirmed to take place again this year.

This event began with the hope that a circle of music would spread throughout the Lake Biwa area. Beyond music, it also aims to foster familiarity with Higashiomi. Each year, the area around Higashiomi Station overflows with jazz, so why not come and join in?

Inazuma Rock, an outdoor rock festival with an uncompromising focus on Shiga Prefecture, organized by Takanori Nishikawa—who hails from Shiga and serves as a Shiga Hometown Tourism Ambassador—has been confirmed for this year as well. Held in an unbeatable setting by Lake Biwa and Mount Hiei, the event mainly features artists connected to Shiga or who have ties with Nishikawa. Part of the venue offers free admission, and there’s even a stage within the free area where you can enjoy live performances! Nishikawa is also known for his engaging talk segments, so it’ll be exciting to see how he fires up the crowd.