List of Jazz Festivals and Jazz Streets Across Japan [2026]

Kawasaki Jazz is a jazz festival that treats the entire city of Kawasaki as a grand stage. Embracing the memories rooted in its neighborhoods and landscapes, it creates opportunities for encounters and exchange through jazz, with a focus on what makes Kawasaki unique. Centered on “diversity” and “collaboration,” it promotes community development through music.

Nakasu is the large entertainment district in Hakata, Kyushu. Nakasu Jazz was launched to make this already bustling area even more vibrant. The event is committed to offering high-quality jazz performances free of charge, and it has continued thanks to the support of many jazz fans.

Since 1977, this has been a long-running event. It takes place at Seagaia. It’s divided into Jazz Night and Juke Night: Jazz Night features seasoned veterans, while Juke Night brings together trending bands and artists, drawing a lively crowd of all ages.

It’s the Kawaguchi Street Jazz Festival. In addition to live jazz performances, you can also enjoy dance and other performances at several venues around Kawaguchi Station.

The Hirakata-juku Jazz Street is an initiative led by a citizens’ group and has grown to attract as many as 10,000 attendees. Marking the 70th anniversary of the city’s incorporation this year, under the slogan “Hirakata City: 70 Years of Dreams, Soaring Even Higher,” they are taking a flexible approach—without limiting themselves to jazz—to energize the city.