There’s lots going down in Japan this Summer. Whether you’re already planning to head out this August or you’re resisting stepping out into the sweltering heat, you’d best check out these hot upcoming events, festivals and concerts happening in Japan! There’s plenty going on that you can easily get involved with, so step out of your usual routine and have fun with all 5 of your senses at any of the following events!

KAWAII MONSTER CAFE “1 Year Anniversity ” × TOKYO POP “Summer Festival” SPECIAL SUPPORTED BY PASSOA

Friday August 5th, 2016
Location: KAWAII MONSTER CAFE HARAJUKU
Line-up: AMIAYA、Una、FEMM、Shimoda Kageki＆HiBiKi MaMeShiBa、CLM（Nakata Kurumi）、Sebastian Masuda、MARIA FUJIOKA、KENKEN（FALINE）
http://asobipress.jp/event/event_detail.php?id=aq7fSWOF

TOKYO POP is an event that is held on the first Friday of every month. This year’s August installment will themed around Japan’s cultural “Natsu Matsuri” or “Summer festival”. In addition, as part of their 1-year anniversary, the KAWAII MONSTER CAFE in Harajuku will feature a number of special guests for the event. Not only that, there will also be a fashion show from “jouetie”, a brand from Japanese duo-models AMIAYA who serve as its creative directors.

ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2016
Saturday August 6th～Sunday August 7th & Saturday August 13th～Sunday August 14th
Location: Hitachi Seaside Park
Line-up:
【Aug. 6th】Inoue Sonoko, indigo la End, UVERworld, Charisma.com、Kyuso Nekokami, Crossfaith, Sukima Switch, Straightener, Aoi Teshima, 10-FEET, TEMPURA KIDZ, Mika Nakashima, Base Ball Bear, BABYMETAL, Gen Hoshino, miwa, Yoru no Honki Dance, and more
【Aug. 7th】Eir Aoi, Leo Ieiri, Ikimono-gakari, Elephant Kashimashi, Ai Otsuka, Seiko Oomori, ORANGE RANGE, Miliyah Kato, Kaela Kimura, 9mm Parabellum Bullet, Kuso Iinkai, Gesu no Kiwami Otome。, Zainichi Funk, WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA, Chara, BUMP OF CHICKEN, Frederic, Magokoro Brothers, Mrs. GREEN APPLE, UNISON SQUARE GARDEN, Yoshizawa Kayoko, RIP SLYME, and more
【Aug. 13th】Aqua Timez, [Alexandros], THE YELLOW MONKEY, KANA-BOON, Kankaku Piero, CreepHyp, KREVA, Ken Yokoyama, Golden Bomber, Kavka Shishido, Team Syachihoko, Dempagumi.inc, Naoto Inti Raymi, Fujifabric, and more
【Aug. 14th】ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, androp, Okazaki Taiiku, OKAMOTO’S, CAPSULE, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, ℃-ute, Good Morning America, Silent Siren, Sambomaster, Superfly, NICO Touches the Walls, Negoto, PUFFY, Ryota Fujimaki, THE BAWDIES, Mito Natsume, MONGOL800, LiSA, WANIMA, ONE OK ROCK, and more
http://rijfes.jp

ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL – Japan’s biggest music festival – returns again this year with another gargantuan line-up. Is there anyone that doesn’t understand “rocking”? Definitely not, and this is the true festival to really rock out. With an absolutely enormous venue to hand, you are sure to power up from this one. There will be many artists performing that you wish to see, so many in fact that you might not even be able to fit them all in your schedule! But don’t worry, it has all the Japanese music you could hope for. If you’ve never experienced a festival before, this is the place for you – you are going to have an awesome time ♪

Tabi Matsuri 2016 (旅祭 2016)
August 11th, 2016 (Thursday, national holiday)
Location: Odaiba Toritsu Shiokaze Park, Taiyou no Hiroba
Line-up:
＜LIVE＞Caravan, GAKU-MC, Goose house, SUIYOUBI NO CAMPANELLA, MAN WITH A MISSION, and more
＜TALK＞Yasuo Ikarashi, Kuro, Sunplaza Nakano-kun, Tanaka Rina, Akihiro Nishino（King Kong）, Hide, Homeless Kotani, Momo, and more
＜PERFORMANCE＞Rio Matsumoto, 球舞 CUBE, Chunhen., Sampoco, Alawodudu, tomio, and more
http://tabimatsuri.com/2016/

Yama no Hi, or “Mountain Day”, is a recent new entry to the string of Japanese national holidays, and the event “Tabi Matsuri” is to be held on it! Based around the concept of experiencing the world via a trip to an outdoor festival, Tabi Matsuri is an event packed full of acts from around the world, from performances to concerts, talk shows, and even yoga, you will most definitely be able to feel like you are on holiday by the sea with the Summer breeze on your face if you head on over to Odaiba for the “Tabi Matsuri”!

J-WAVE LIVE SUMMER JAM 2016
Saturday August 20th～Sunday August 21st
Location: Yoyogi National Gymnasium
Line-up:
【Aug. 20th】Shikao Suga, Superfly, Motohiro Hata, BEAT PLANET BAND（TRICERATOPS/K/Ryoyta Fujimaki）, THE BAWDIES, UNISON SQUARE GARDEN
【Aug. 21st】Ayaka Iida, Miliyah Kato, JUJU, Superfly, miwa, Ken Hirai, Trio Ohashi, and more
http://www.j-wave.co.jp/special/live2016/

“Yeah, outdoor festivals are great and all, but I want to feel the togetherness you feel when seeing a performance indoors…” For those of you thinking this, we have just the thing for you. With a round stage in the middle of the venue, you are sure to feel the packing punch of the fantastic sound and acoustics from the performers inside this venue. 100% satisfaction guaranteed. You won’t be able to take your eyes off the brilliant performers attending this one.

TOKYO SKA JAMBOREE vol.6
Saturday August 6th, 2016
Location: Yamanakako Communication Plaza KIRARA
Line-up: TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA, Hiromi Uehara, Rina Katahira, Ken Yokoyama, Sakana-kun, Yusuke Chiba, CHARAN-PO-RANTAN, MANNISH BOYS (Tatsuya Nakamura/Kazuyoshi Saito), Rei, and more
http://www.red-hot.ne.jp/tokyoskaj/2016/

Headlining the event will be TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA. Joining them will be a string of different artists, with even Sakana-kun, who is known for appearing in commercials, also attending. Just what kind of chemical reaction will occur with all of these guests performing…!? With a diverse range of genres, as well ska bands, this show is sure to deliver and demonstrate great individuality from each of these amazing performers.

WORLD HAPPINESS 2016
Sunday August 28th, 2016
Location: Yumenoshima Park
Line-up: Akiko Yano, WEAVER, WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA, Moonriders, TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA, Ykiki Beat, METAFIVE, Denki Groove, Seiko Oomori, GLIM SPANKY, Scha Dara Parr, Pocaskajan, and more
http://www.world-happiness.com/

WORLD HAPPINESS – the music festival that boasts a diverse audience, from children to adults alike. The venue will have a kids’ area as well as a workshop area set up, so you can feel at ease taking your children along while you enjoy the music. There will also be artists performing at the Mitsukoshi Ginza store. Be sure to head on over to the shop to pick up CDs and merchandise from your favourite artists!

PEANUTS CAMP
Saturday August 20th, 2016～Sunday August 21st, 2016
Location: Chiba Star★Village, Ichihara Auto Camp
Line-up: Hideki Kaji, ayU tokiO, Oki Harayuki (The Pees), Ooki Tomoyuki (TOMOVSKY), Awesome City Club, Kaseki Cider & HUGTONES, GAMARJOBAT, GOING UNDER GROUND, KONCOS, THE NATSUYASUMI BAND, Sunny Day Service, siamese cats, Scha Dara Parr, DJ Miso Shiru & MC Gohan, DJ Yatsui Ichiro (elecomi), never youngbeach, Maki Nomiya, Hidaka Toru, HICKSVILLE, Hoff Dylan, Rei, and more

http://peanuts.camp/

70-minutes from Tokyo by car is the PEANUTS CAMP, a huge grassland where you can sit and relax comfortably while enjoying music. There’s lots of things to do there besides listen to music too, including outdoor activities and workshops, as well as enjoy delicious food. Be sure to check out their extremely cute website ☆

And there you have it. Japan has so many unique events to look forward to, from those very Japanese-y to more individual and original ones. Get out there and meet some new people, listen to some new music, and discover a new you. Make lots of life-long memories this Summer in 2016 by heading over to these events!