Kansai Music Festivals [2026]: Spotlight on Must-See Outdoor Fests & Events

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.

A new experiential outdoor festival produced by the team behind ONE MUSIC CAMP, one of Kansai’s flagship open-air festivals, is coming soon. Built around the concept of offering a special outdoor festival experience unlike your usual weekend, you can enjoy not only live music, but also delicious food, outdoor activities, and workshops at a venue rich in natural beauty. The site is about an hour away by public transport from Kobe or Osaka, making it easy for families to attend. How about spending a fulfilling holiday together, stretching out and relaxing in an open, spacious setting?

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.