Featured Spring Festivals in Hokkaido & Tohoku [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.

With the exhilarating arrival of spring, music festival season kicks off across Hokkaido and the Tohoku region.

At open-air venues surrounded by magnificent nature, you can look forward to awe-inspiring performances by artists active nationwide.

There’s nothing quite like experiencing live music amid the gentle spring warmth and the scent of fresh greenery—one of the unique pleasures of spring festivals.

Local gourmet food and activities are also abundant, making it perfect for creating special memories with friends.

From Hokkaido to Tohoku, we present music celebrations unique to this time of year.

Past events

Tohoku Live House Daisakusen “LIFE” Tohoku/Kanazawa EditionSat 3/14 – Sun 3/15, Miyagi Prefecture

Schedule	Sat, Mar 14–Sun, Mar 15, 2026
place	Miyagi Prefecture, Ōfunato City, KESEN ROCK FREAKS / Ishinomaki BLUE RESISTANCE
Website	https://life.livehouse-daisakusen.com/
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Okuma School Festival OKUMA ODYSSEYSaturday, March 14 – Fukushima Prefecture

Schedule	Saturday, March 14, 2026
place	230 Shimonokami Shimizu, Okuma Incubation Center (multiple venues / Ono Station West Exchange Area attached), Okuma Town, Futaba District, Fukushima Prefecture

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Ueyama Music FestivalMar 20 (Fri)–29 (Sun), Yamagata Prefecture

kaminoyama-spa.com

Schedule	Fri, Mar 20–Sun, Mar 29, 2026
place	Yamagata Prefecture, Kaminoyama City, Kaminoyama Castle Multipurpose Hall
Website	https://kaminoyama-spa.com/news/event/4738.html
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Onagawa Spring FestivalSaturday, 3/21, Miyagi Prefecture

onagawa-matsuri.jp

Schedule	Saturday, March 21, 2026
place	Onagawa Station, Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture
Website	https://onagawa-matsuri.jp/spring/
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NEXT NOTE FESSunday, 3/22, Hokkaido

NEXT NOTE FES is a music event from Sapporo that supports music and young wind ensemble members, whose opportunities to perform often become limited after retirement from their school clubs. Under the slogan “Don’t let ‘I want to do it’ end,” the first edition was held in February 2025. In 2026, it will take place at the Sapporo Convention Center Grand Hall, where professional musicians such as HAMBURGER BOYS and Hyoe Ebata (TRIPLANE) will perform together with local school wind ensembles and music clubs. The event will be held in March 2026.

Schedule	Sunday, March 22, 2026
place	Sapporo Convention Center, Main Hall, 1-1, Higashi-Sapporo 6-jo 1-chome, Shiroishi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Appearance	HAMBURGER BOYS / Hyoe Ebata (TRIPLANE) / KEI_HAYASHI / SULLIVAN’s FUN CLUB / Ashita to Sunao / Abira Town Hayakita Gakuen Brass Band / Otaru Futaba High School Brass Band / Sapporo Area University Brass Band Union / Andante Wind Ensemble
Website	https://nextnotefes.jp/
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