[2026] Guide to Music Festivals and Outdoor Events in Hokkaido and the Tohoku Region

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.

The AOMORI Spring Festival is a spring celebration held in the central shopping streets of Aomori City. Centered around Shinmachi-dori and Honcho-dori, the city is enlivened with music and dance, including the operation of large Nebuta floats, Haneto dancers, Yosakoi performances, an opening parade by the Aomori Yamada High School marching band, and Nebuta HIP HOP. In 2026, the festival marks its 19th edition, featuring a special parade commemorating the 400th anniversary of Aomori’s city development, as well as a Tokyo Disney Resort Special Parade. The festival takes place in April.