Spring music festival to be held in western Japan [2026]

The Hateruma Island Music Festival is a remote-island fest that began in 1997, launched by singer and island native Isamu Kajiiku and volunteers from the local alumni association to revitalize the island. The venue is an open-air stage on Hateruma Island, which floats north of Iriomote Island and has only a few dozen residents, offering a stunning location overlooking an emerald-green sea. With the theme “Let it reach you! Big energy from a small island,” island songs, sanshin, and pop music resound as locals and visitors come together in rhythm and applause. It will be held in May 2026 during the Golden Week holiday.