January Music Festivals [2026]: Winter Fests, Outdoor Live Shows, and a Roundup of New Year Music Events

Hosted by the web magazine “earth garden,” this event is a community festival themed around an “organic and ecological lifestyle,” featuring not only live performances but also talk sessions, eco- and organic-focused shops, and food and drink booths lining the venue. While earth garden originally functioned as an event production office, it gradually began operating media as well, approaching the management of outdoor festivals as a form of media in itself. This edition is the first of the four annual events and marks the winter installment.

This event takes a novel approach by combining hot springs and music. It involves renting out a hot spring inn in Fukushima and holding a live concert for 150 people in the grand banquet hall. The audience can enjoy being close to the artists as well as the hot spring ryokan itself—what a wonderful event. After the earthquake, a third of the establishments in the host area, Tsuchiyu Onsen Town, closed down. This event was launched to help bring vibrancy back to the hot spring town.

This event, launched with the hope of brightening and energizing Niigata, is a jazz festival held at venues such as restaurants, jazz cafes, and halls throughout Niigata City. Influenced by the postwar occupation forces and the American Cultural Center, Niigata has long had strong ties to jazz. On this day, the city becomes a “music theme park,” offering a day of enjoyment for everyone from adults to children.