[GW] Music Festivals Held During Golden Week [2026] — List of Rock and Outdoor Festivals

SANNOHE SOUNDS SHOWER is a music event held every year on May 4 at the event stage and plaza of Sannohe Castle Ruins Shiroyama Park, a nationally designated historic site in Sannohe, Aomori Prefecture. Launched in 2017 and organized by the local group “Sakura to Suteki na Nakamatachi,” it features around 14 performing bands, along with a green market of handmade artisans, kitchen cars (food trucks), and local shops, offering music, food, and shopping for the whole family. There are also playground facilities around the plaza, making it a comfortable place for visitors with children.

A one-day-only festival held at the Shuji Terayama Memorial Hall in his hometown of Misawa, Aomori, to coincide with Shuji Terayama’s memorial day, “Shuji-ki.” Hosted by Terayama World, the event will unfold across the outdoor multipurpose space and inside the hall, featuring a reading of “Ware ni Gogatsu o” by students of Misawa Municipal Horiguchi Junior High School, the Odradek Roadside Theater by Shoichi Fukushi, a woodworking play area, the Terayama Market, and more. The finale will be a special live performance by actor Hiroshi Mikami. Scheduled for May 2026.

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.

Iizaka Onsen Ongura is a music event held on the outdoor stage of the Lower Storehouse at the Former Horikiri Residence, a nationally registered tangible cultural property in Iizaka Town, Fukushima City. Set within a tourism and exchange facility developed from the estate of a prosperous farming family dating back to the Edo period, the event features a layout that lets audiences enjoy live performances up close in a space that highlights the earthen storehouse’s charm and the calm ambiance unique to a hot spring town. Hot springs and historic buildings are scattered around the venue, making it perfect to enjoy alongside a stroll through the town. It will be held during Japan’s Golden Week in May 2026.

A multi-festival combining music, dance, and a bazaar will be held at the Fussa Civic Hall. The event, previously known as the “Fussa Machinaka Art Festival,” will be relaunched under a new name as its first edition. The Main Hall will feature dance performances, the Small Hall will host a music festival, the first-floor lobby will have a bazaar, and gourmet offerings from kitchen cars will be available outdoors. Free admission and no advance reservation required—feel free to drop by. Scheduled for May 2026.

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.

Set against the grounds of Senshōzan Senryū-ji, an ancient temple said to have been founded in the Nara period, this is a handmade festival of coffee and music presented by “comaecolor,” a pro bono team of Komae citizens. Eighteen roasters from Japan and abroad gather day by day along the verdant approach, while 15 acoustic-centered artists perform on stage nearby. Held over three days during Golden Week in May 2026, it is a beloved, homegrown event that has grown with each edition.