Winter Music Festival in Western Japan [2026]

Music Festival Master / Editor-in-ChiefHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC and in charge of music festivals. When I attended my first music festival as a freshman in college, I was captivated by its charm—“I can’t believe there’s a place this free and this fun.” I share information about wonderful music festivals every day to help grow the community of festival fans.

Even in the cold winter, just staying at home can feel a bit boring, right?

So here are some festivals that will make you want to head outside, even in the chilly season.

We’ve put together a list of winter music festivals held in western Japan.

Check these out and let’s make it through the cold winter with some fun!

Past events

Rock’n’Roll CircusSat 1/10 – Sun 1/11, Hyogo Prefecture

Schedule	Saturday–Sunday, January 10–11, 2026
place	Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, Kobe VARIT. / Chicken George / Starting Over / THE CASTLE / BLUE PORT
Website	https://sites.google.com/armtechpublishers.com/rockandrollcircus/home
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Hofu Music Festival New Year ConcertFri 1/9 – Mon 1/12 Yamaguchi Prefecture

aspirante-hofu.com

The Hofu Music Festival, held in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture at the start of the new year, is designed so that citizens can enjoy music casually. Under the title “Street Corner Live Concert,” there are free-admission performances at several venues around the downtown area, open clinics by wind and percussion players, and ticketed concerts featuring a full, star-studded orchestra with guest performers active in Japan and abroad. The program changes daily to keep things fresh and enjoyable for everyone. It’s a recommended event that even beginners can enjoy!

Schedule	Fri, Jan 9, 2026 – Mon, Jan 12, 2026
place	Yamaguchi Prefecture, Hofu City, Design Plaza HOFU / Aspirato 1st Floor Civic Space / Tenjin Pia / Aspirato 3rd Floor Music Hall
Website	https://aspirante-hofu.com/event/newyear-consert2026/

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ROCK IN WINTERJan 4 (Sun), Aichi Prefecture

Schedule	Sunday, January 4, 2026
place	Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya City — Diamond Hall / SPADE BOX / Shangri-La / HeartLand / CLUB ROCK’N’ROLL
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Countdown Festival Kobe IlluminarieWed, 12/31, Hyogo Prefecture

illuminagegroup.com

Schedule	Wednesday, December 31, 2025
place	Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, Roadside Station Kobe Fruit & Flower Park Osawa
Website	https://illuminagegroup.com/
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Huis Ten Bosch CountdownWed, 12/31 Nagasaki Prefecture

http://www.huistenbosch.co.jp

This is a New Year’s Eve event held at Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park in Nagasaki Prefecture. Fireworks are launched along with the countdown, making it a festive way to ring in the New Year. It’s said to be the largest fireworks display in Japan held on New Year’s Eve.

Schedule	Wednesday, December 31, 2025
place	Nagasaki Prefecture, Sasebo City, Huis Ten Bosch
Website	http://www.huistenbosch.co.jp/event/countdown/

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CIRCUS×CIRCUSTue, 12/30, Osaka Prefecture

This is an outdoor hip-hop festival held at Sora no Hiroba in Maishima Sports Island, Osaka. The event has previously featured up-and-coming rappers who are gaining attention worldwide. Amid the challenge of holding the festival safely during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, it will be conducted with attendance limited to one-third of the venue’s capacity, alongside simultaneous online live streaming. Why not join in from home and discover a new way to enjoy festivals?