Hokkaido & Tohoku Summer Festivals [2026]: The Complete Guide to Outdoor Music Events

A music event that focuses on music—which surely played an important role in the lives of our predecessors—and aims to recreate the roots of how it was enjoyed. In addition to music, there’s food and workshops to enjoy. It’s a festival where you can have fun while thinking about and experiencing country living.

JOIN ALIVE has been held every year since 2010 at Iwamizawa Park, which features an open-air music hall and the Hokkaido Greenland amusement park. You sometimes hear about music festivals held at amusement parks, but a unique feature of JOIN ALIVE is that you can actually enjoy the rides there as well. This means families can attend without younger children getting bored. Admission is also free for junior high school students and younger, so this event may inspire many children to fall in love with music.

Held since 2009 under the name KESEN ROCK, this event wasn’t started by band members or event promoters, but by ordinary people. It’s described as an event “made entirely by hand without even knowing what a rock festival is,” making it a celebration of true DIY spirit.