Winter Music Festival in Western Japan [2026]

Entertainment might be transformed by the power of young people. Organized by Y-PU ENTERTAINMENT, this is a new kind of festival planned and run mainly by university students. HANGEKI FES is being held with the desire to revitalize entertainment through our own efforts, at a time when everyday life can no longer be enjoyed as before due to the spread of COVID-19. Keep an eye on the lineup, featuring artists selected through auditions and picks curated by trend-savvy young generations. It’s a wonderful event where simply taking part lets you support entertainment in many different ways.

As a spin-off of hoshioto, which is held annually in Okayama Prefecture, this event is titled machioto because, unlike hoshioto—which takes place at a campground under starry skies—it is held in live music venues in the city. It’s a circuit-style event that takes place across several live houses in Okayama City. Why not come and discover some new music?

A showcase festival that brings together up-and-coming artists active in Japan and abroad. Festival and music industry professionals are invited to discover new talent. In Japan, one of the earliest and most notable organizers is the Music Lane Festival Okinawa. Because it receives many participation offers from overseas, this format is more common outside Japan, and it’s an exciting event where general audiences can encounter artists who may soon break through.

Launched in 2007 under the concept that every form of expression—music, film, painting, and words—serves as our modern-day asylum (a temporary refuge), this event also embodies the desire to foster cultural and personal exchange and to enliven the Sakurazaka area. The venues are spread across 20 locations around Sakurazaka, with some offering free admission.