Fuji Rock Festival 2018

The daily lineups and timetables have been announced for this year's Fuji Rock Festival.


Tickets:

Haven't got tickets yet? You can buy some here from within Japan or overseas. One day GA (general admission) tickets are 20,000, two days are 36,000 and it is 45,000 for the full three days. Camping tickets are 3,000 extra for the whole festival.

Lineup:

27th July (Friday)

[Friday Timetable]

Green Stage
N.E.R.D, Sakanaction, YEARS & YEARS, ROUTE 17 Rock'n'Roll ORCHESTRA (feat. Nakaido”CHABO”Reiichi, Komoto Hiroto, Okuda Tamio, Tortoise Matsumoto), GLIM SPANKY, MONGOL800, more

White Stage
POST MALONE, ODESZA, THE ELEPHANT KASHIMASHI, ALBERT HAMMOND JR, PARQUET COURTS, My Hair is Bad, go!go!vanillas

Red Marquee
MAC DEMARCO, TUNE-YARDS, STRAIGHTENER, LET’S EAT GRANDMA, mitsume, neconemuru

Planet Groove
JON HOPKINS, PEGGY GOU, TAKKYU ISHINO, HVOB, Ichiro Yamaguchi

Field of Heaven
HANAREGUMI, MARC RIBOT'S CERAMIC DOG, THE TESKEY BROTHERS, GOMA & The Jungle Rhythm Section, Ovall, jizue

Gypsy Avalon
gnkosaiBAND, RABIRABI+Takashi Numazawa+Naoyuki Uchida, FU-CHING-GIDO, Mr.MOMIJI BAND, ATOMIC CAFE: Rina Katahira (Guest:TOSHI-LOW/Takeshi Hosomi), ATOMIC CAFE TALK: [Tsuda Daisuke, Hoshida Hidetoshi], Upendra and friends plus Mr. Sunil and Tilasmi

Crystal Palace Tent
THE FISHBONE SOUND CLASH!!! DR MADD VIBE MEETS PHD FISH, NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS, ASTRO BLACK, THE TESKEY BROTHERS, KAZ SUDO a.k.a Sudo Kazuhiro (Caribbean Dandy/Zoot Sunrise Sounds), ESNE BELTZA, CARIBBEAN DANDY

Palace Arena
MARTINEZ FAMILY WITH JOSSELIO

Naeba Shokudo
Naeba Ongaku Totugekitai, outside yoshino, ZOMBIE-CHANG, Wool&The Pants, INTERACTIVO, Hothouse Flowers, HoboMatashita90cm

Mokudo Tei
Nick Moon, mei ehara

Pyramid Garden
RAY BARBEE, RIKI HIDAKA, DJ/ZAMIANG, DJ/Hamada Daisuke, HUMBERT HUMBERT, Yoga Workshop / BASEWORKS

Cafe de Paris
BIG WILLIE'S BURLESQUE, RANCHO APARTE, Ren Takada, Sato Taiji & KasumiRen

Day Dreaming & Silent Breeze
MASAYASU, ASANO TADANOBU, The SAMOS, FUNKY GONG

Rookie A-Go-Go
Tokyo ShioKouji, sokonashinobaketsunoyouni zarazara, paionia, Kiyomaru Togo, Totsuzen Shonen

Gan-Ban Square
DAITO MANABE, Sokabe Keiichi, SUGIURUMN

Blue Galaxy
JIM WEST - Jim’s Vinyl Nasium, Salam Unagami, DJ GONCHAN and friends, ChontaDJ, Cumbia Kid, Naoki Ienaga, Sim Cass

Unfairground Tent
[Jagz's Acid Lounge Presents] PYRATRIX CIRCUS, JAGZ KOONER, SAPPHIRE SLOWS, RORY PHILLIPS, D.A.N. (DJ SET), KEN ISHII

Unfairground Bar
[Son of Acid Presents] UNFAIR DJ's, JOEY JACKSON, HAVANA DUB, JACK BERRY, MUSHY, GOTH TRAD


28th July (Saturday)

[Saturday Timetable]

Green Stage

KENDRICK LAMAR, SKRILLEX, MAXIMUM THE HORMONE, JOHNNY MARR, The Birthday, eastern youth

White Stage

BRAHMAN, FISHBONE, UNICORN, ASH, STARCRAWLER, ESNE BELTZA, OLEDICKFOGGY

Red Marquee

MGMT, D.A.N., SUPERORGANISM, Obukuro Nariaki, MORE THE MAN, LEWIS CAPALDI, SIAMESE CATS

Tribal Circus

5lack, PRINCESS NOKIA, Chaki Zulu (DJ SET), PUNPEE (DJ SET), THE AVALANCHES (DJ SET)

Field of Heaven

NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS, CARLA THOMAS & HI RHYTHM W/ VERY SPECIAL GUEST VANEESE THOMAS, Humbert Humbert, JOY-POPS, RANCHO APARTE, toconoma

Gypsy Avalon

CUBANA FIESTA, TENDRE, Orisaka Yuta (Gassou), Tortoise Matsumoto, ATOMIC CAFE: Makigami Koichi & PIKA, ATOMIC CAFE TALK: [Tsuda Daisuke, Kimura Sota], Umino Soko Band, Tomofumi Tanizawa

Crystal Palace Tent

MARIO GALEANO, RANCHO APARTE, Fukuda Shunsuke, Minyo Crusaders, YOSUKE BAOBAB, BIG WILLIE'S BURLESQUE, BRAIN DEAD

Palace Arena

MARTINEZ FAMILY WITH JOSSELIO

Naeba Shokudo

Naeba Ongaku Totugekitai, Gagaku - Japanese Traditional Theatrical Art, Inoue Daichi & Izakaya Band, And Summer Club, NONE THE WiSER, JABBA DA FOOTBALL CLUB

Mokudo-Tei

KENJI JAMMER, MITSUKAZE, Sasagawa Miwa

Pyramid Garden

WONK, Kumagai Kazunori, DJ/TAN IKEDA, DJ /GOMA, Kotringo, Yoga Workshop / BASEWORKS

Cafe de Paris
Tokiko Kato, ROBERTO CARCASSES TRIO, BIG WILLIE'S BURLESQUE

Day Dreaming & Silent Breeze
Tomomi Ukumori feat. Hideo Kobayashi, Bryan Burton-Lewis a.k.a BBL, SEKITOVA, KEN ISHII

Rookie A-Go-Go
THE RODEOS, RiL, ANYO, 1inamillion, Ratai

Gan-Ban Square
SUNSEAKER, TAKKYU ISHINO, SUGIURUMN plays MADCHESTER & ACID HOUSE CLASSICS

Blue Galaxy
JIM WEST - Jim’s Vinyl Nasium, Salam Unagami, DZ (from Esne Beltza), Astro Black, Yusuhisa Arai, Doc Koyamantado, Txako / Satol.F / Kaz Sudo

Unfairground Tent
[Salon Carousel Presents] PYRATRIX CIRCUS, DJ SHARPNEL vs LOCTEK, M - PROJECT, SHOT BASS IDIOTS (DJ WILDPARTY & USAO), DUSTVOXX & DELIVERY HZ & URAMESHI UKO, MY BAD SISTER (LIVE), ARIES, KELVIN 373, JMAN, STIVS, MANDIDEXTROUS, TANUKICHI

Unfairground Bar
[Jag'z Acid Lounge Presents] UNFAIR DJ's, SMASH LONDON DJ'S, BRYAN BURTON LEWIS, JAGZ KOONER, MILO, RORY PHILLIPS, JOSHUA MOYLETT

29 July (Sunday)
[Sunday Timetable]

Green Stage
BOB DYLAN & HIS BAND, VAMPIRE WEEKEND, JACK JOHNSON, ANDERSON .PAAK & THE FREE NATIONALS, Suchmos, KODO, SPECIAL GUEST: G&G Miller Orchestra

White Stage
CHVRCHES, cero, MISIA, KALI UCHIS, KACEY MUSGRAVES, Kenichi Asai & THE INTERCHANGE KILLS, THE FEVER 333, more

Red Marquee
DIRTY PROJECTORS, serpentwithfeet, Awesome City Club, HINDS, LEO IMAI, King Gnu, odol

Sunday Session
A-TRAK, BERHANA, Chip Tanaka, CHAI, FRONTIER BACKYARD

Field of Heaven
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS, HOTHOUSE FLOWERS, BEN HOWARD, INTERACTIVO, WESTERN CARAVAN, HIRAIDAI

Gypsy Avalon
Afro Begue, Sekitori Hana, Hanah Spring, ATOMIC CAFE: Tokiko Kato, ATOMIC CAFE TALK: [Tsuda Daisuke, Tokiko Kato], Keropons, Tegan & Kaylen

Crystal Palace Tent
KING NABE, MITSUKAZE & GREEN MASSIVE, OSADASADAO, FRENTE CUMBIERO, Toshio Matsuura, CUBANA FIESTA, DJ. JIM, MURASAKI BABYDOLL with JVC FORCE TYO

Palace Arena
MARTINEZ FAMILY WITH JOSSELIO

Naeba Shokudo
Naeba Ongaku Totugekitai, Gagaku - Japanese Traditional Theatrical Art, Honjitsukyuen, Taifuclub, WESTERN CARAVAN, THE CHINA WIFE MOTORS, Tommy Tomioka

Mokudo Tei
UPENDRA&FRIENDS, Yuichi Ohata Trio ft. Sakana Hosomi, Kanekoayano

Pyramid Garden
SUNIL and TILASMI, Hotel New Tokyo, DJ YAS & DJ QUIETSTORM, DJ/JOSHUA MOYLETT, LOVE FOR NIPPON STAGE: Junpei Kokubo, yae and more, Yoga Workshop / BASEWORKS

Cafe de Paris
SANDII＆DENNIS BOVELL, FRENTE CUMBIERO, Hula Hula Circus, HARMONICA CREAMS

Day Dreaming & Silent Breeze
Naoki Serizawa, 53+84, HIFANA, DISCO MAKAPU'U (Kawanabe Hiroshi / Saito "JxJx" Jun)

Rookie A Go-Go
Manhole New World, Asagaya Romantics, Ihatov, NOT WONK, GLARE SOUNDS PROJECTION

Gan-Ban Square
Naruyoshi Kikuchi (DJ) feat. SPANK HAPPY, Daigo Sakuragi (D.A.N.), SUGIURUMN plays MADCHESTER & ACID HOUSE CLASSICS

Blue Galaxy
JIM WEST - Jim’s Vinyl Nasium, Salam Unagami, Koichi Hanafusa, Nozomu Kitazawa, Bamboo Boy and Toyo P, CLUB SKA ALL STARS (KING NABE, PRINCE MATSUOKA, RAS TARO, Dr. IHARA, YOSSY, BOBO, KO-TA-RAW)

Unfairground Tent
[Son of Acid Presents] PYRATRIX CIRCUS, JOEY JACKSON B2B JACK BERRY, HAVANA DUB, MUSHY

Unfairground Bar
[Salon Carousel Presents] SUPER CHILLED FAMILY MASH UP, BOXXI, STIVS, KELVIN 373, ARIES, TANUKICHI


On Tokyo Gig Guide:

Fuji Rock Festival 2018 Day One
Fuji Rock Festival 2018 Day Two
Fuji Rock Festival 2018 Day Three

Fuji Rock Festival 2018 tickets

Tips for Fuji Rock Festival
Photos from Fuji Rock 2017

Fuji Rock Festival Tips 2017

Going to Fuji Rock Festival this year? Here is some useful advice for festivalgoers.

PACKING LIST

• Hat. You will be spending most of your time without shelter. Not only will it protect you from the sun, but it will also help keep the inevitable rain out of your eyes. 
• Sunscreen. Don't end up a red lobster.
• Waterproof shoes. It is usually muddy and you'll be doing a lot of walking. Hiking boots or rubber boots are good, otherwise some old shoes that you don't mind destroying. A spare pair is a good idea.
• Raincoat. It is likely to rain and umbrellas are not allowed in the festival site, so bring a light raincoat or poncho. Many people also bring rain pants.
• Spare clothes. You will get wet, muddy and sweaty.
• Small towels are very handy for mopping up sweat and rain, protecting your neck, washing your face etc.
• Cash. There are no ATMs on site or in the surrounding area.
• Batteries. For your smartphone recharger, camera and torch.
• Rubbish bags. Not only for rubbish but for keeping things dry and to sit on when the ground is wet. These are usually freely given out at some places in the festival site.
• Something to sit on. You usually have to sit on the ground so just a plastic bag can be enough, or a small cushion or fold-up chair.
• Painkillers for headaches and hangovers.
• Portable smartphone recharger. You will probably be relying on your phone a lot.
• Insect repellent. Especially useful for campers. You will be in the forest.
• Umbrella. You can't bring it in the festival site but it's ok in the campsite and while you're queuing for tickets and the bus.
• Plastic covers or things to keep your gear dry while you're walking around and waiting in the rain.
• Something to sleep on. Seriously, campers. Bring a blow-up mattress or at least a roll-up mat.

FROM THE 100 YEN SHOP

Visit a large 100 yen shop and pick up a few useful things. Here are some ideas:

• Disposable rain coats, rain suits and ponchos. These are cheap and will break but are good for a backup.
• Plastic zip-lock bags to keep your camera, phone and wallet dry.
• Torch. Absolutely necessary for campers but good for everyone else too. Parts of the festival site can be pretty dark at night.
• Pocket tissues and wet tissues to keep clean.
• Plastic tarps (blue sheets).
• Spare tent pegs.
• Mallet for banging in tent pegs.
• Small fold-up chair or fold-up cushion for sitting on.
• Rope. Can be useful for campers.
• Pocket knife. Also useful for campers.
• Insulated PET bottle cover or portable water bottle.

ALCOHOL 

Buying it there:
Most alcoholic drinks in the festival grounds cost 600 yen. The beer is almost always Heineken but you can also get some craft beer at Craft Beer Market at Orange Cafe, Happa in the campsite and Tokoro Tengoku. Naeba Shokudo sells some good nihonshu (sake) and shochu. The Tokoro Tengoku/Cinema Fuji has some decent cocktails, fresh juice and cheap chu-hi. For real bars and wine, go to Palace of Wonder or Cafe de Paris. Some cheap drinks and makeshift bars can usually be found near the festival entrance and the surrounding area.

Bringing it in:
Glass bottles and cans are not allowed to be brought into the festival grounds and your bags will be checked each time you enter. But don't worry - alcohol is allowed to be brought in, so you can mix up drinks in plastic bottles in your tent/room and then carry them into the festival. Bring a cooler box/bag along to keep in your tent/room and get ice from the store near the front of the Prince Hotel. There are vending machines around the entrance which mainly only sell Pocari Sweat, water and Coca-Cola so bring some spirits which you can mix with coke (vodka, bourbon, rum etc.) or water (shochu, whisky etc.).

FOOD
This is Japan so food is a huge part of the festival and you will find plenty of good choices. The biggest concentration of food stalls is the Oasis/World Restaurant area near the Red Marquee. You will also find clusters of them in front of the festival site, at Palace of Wonder, Gypsy Avalon, and other stages and spots. Most food is around 600yen. Good, simple and cheap Japanese food can be had at Naeba Shokudo. Some food details have been announced at Fujirockers.org.

VEGETARIAN FOOD
Unfortunately most of the food is meat-heavy, but vegetarians can try the Mumbai Indian stall, the pizza stall, the omusubi (rice ball) stall, Pommeke fries and Naeba Shokudo in the Oasis food area, veggie curry at Big Cake and an inari sushi stall in the Blue Galaxy area, Toyama Aozora and possibly some other things in the Avalon area, the bakery and pizza stalls at Field of Heaven and there are likely to be a few other options here and there. It is advisable to bring a bit of extra food yourself too.

WALKING

The festival site is an enormous ski resort in the mountains so expect to spend a lot of time walking, walking and walking. You'll need to study the timetable and factor in long walking times between stages on opposite ends of the festival. It can take up to half an hour. Remember that crowds, mud and walking in the dark can hold you up. The paths and boardwalks between stages take you through beautiful green forests so the walking is usually pleasant. The boardwalk can be a quick way to get between the Green Stage and Field of Heaven. It will also take a long time to walk into the festival from the campsite, nearby hotels and the bus stop.

SENDING AND STORING STUFF
You can get stuff sent to and from the festival by Yamato at reasonable prices. There is a counter near the entrance where you can pack and post stuff. This is very useful if you're too tired to carry all your stuff home. The Yamato counter can also store your luggage throughout the festival.

INFORMATION CENTRE
In the Oasis food area there is an information centre that you can go to if you lose anything, have any problems, need first aid etc. Nearby there is also a notice board where they will post any changes to the schedule and people can leave messages for each other. Fujirockers also has a tent around here where you can use the Internet.

THURSDAY NIGHT
The kick-off party on Thursday night is highly recommended. It's free to the public so some locals come and hold a bon-odori (traditional dance) and fireworks. Surprise bands and DJs play on the Red Marquee and Ganban stages while everyone gets hyped up and ready for the festival.

CAMPING

• The campsite covers a large golf course and surrounding area on the front left of the festival site. Unfortunately, most of it is hilly so flat land is at a premium. The earlier you can get there, the better. Definitely try to arrive on Thursday when it opens if you can. All the best spots get snapped up on Thursday. You can camp from Thursday at 12:00 to Monday at 12:00.
• For women, there is a girls-only area in a great spot near the entrance. 
• The ideal place to pitch your tent is on flat ground (seriously! You will see some tents on crazy angles), not too far from (or close to) the entrance, not at the bottom of a hill as the lower areas get flooded and muddy, near (but not too close to!) toilets, ideally near some trees for shade and to use as a post for a clothesline (but you're not supposed to do this), and not right next to the path (unless you want people falling on and kicking mud on your tent).
• At the entrance to the campsite there is a camping service station. The staff there can help you if you have trouble pitching your tent and other things. There is also a BBQ area here for campers who bring their own food. You are not supposed to use fire or barbecues in the campsite.
• There are some showers and onsen (hot spring bath) you can use near the campsite entrance. Expect long queues and no privacy. Around the campsite there are some toilets which have sinks next to them that you can use to wash up. Some of the nearby hotels will let you use their public baths for a small fee.
• A tent with a shaded entrance is ideal so you can escape from the hot tent, sun and rain during the mornings.
• A fly for your tent will help you keep dry.
• If you buy a different ticket, you can camp in another camping area called Pyramid Garden. It is a flat, grassy area with its own stage. There is also a Moon Caravan camping area where you can camp with your car or dog.
• Before you go to the festival, good place to find cheap camping and outdoor gear is at a 'home centre' (big DIY/furniture shops) like Simachu, Cainz, Komeri etc or cheap department store type places like Don Quixote or Olympic. You can find good quality stuff at outdoor stores like L-Breath. Amazon.co.jp has a big range of outdoor gear too. 
• Ganban offers tent rental for the festival but unfortunately it's already sold out.

TRANSPORT

• Most people take the shinkansen from Tokyo or Ueno station. You need to get off at Echigo-Yuzawa station. It takes just over an hour and costs 5940 yen (unreserved seat) or 6660 yen (reserved seat) from Ueno one-way. There are about one or two trains an hour. You can get tickets from the JR counter of any major JR station. You could get the return tickets in advance as well, or just get them when you get to Echigo Yuzawa. Check train times at Hyperdia.
• Local trains cost almost half the price of a shinkansen (3350yen), but take almost four hours. Get the JR Takasaki line from Ueno to Takasaki, then the JR Joetsu line to Minakami, then the infrequent Joetsu line extension to Echigo-Yuzawa. Plan the train times in advance at Hyperdia. A seishun juhachi kippu is even cheaper. This ticket gives you five daily coupons of unlimited travel on JR local and rapid trains (not express or shinkansen) between July 20 and September 10 for only 11850yen. You can divide the 5 tickets among your friends and it'll work out to be only 2370yen to get to the festival! You will need to travel together though. Even if there are only two of you, if you use it on the way there and back, it'll only cost you 2962yen each way. You can take the above local train route. The seishun juhachi kippu is available at the ticket counters of most major JR stations.
• There are some official bus services available from Tokyo and other places. They take longer and cost more than the shinkansen though, Details at Ganban or the official tour centre.
• You can of course drive there. A car rental agency with English support is Nippon Rent-A-Car. 
• Shuttle buses run to and from Echigo Yuzawa station from 12:00 on Thursday to Monday. There is no real timetable; they just keep going back and forth. Be prepared for long queues in the sun or rain. The buses also stop at Tashiro, Mitsumata and Asagai if your accommodation is around there. Don't worry if you don't have your festival ticket yet, the driver won't check. The bus costs 500 yen but the return trip is free.
• You could get a taxi from Echigo-Yuzawa station to the site if you are in group of three or four, or if you are rich. It will probably cost around 7000 yen.
• If you're leaving by shinkansen on Saturday or Sunday night, you will have to leave early enough to get the last train. This will mean missing the headliners on that day.
• More transport details on the official site.

NOT JUST THE BIG STAGES

The big name acts will be on the Green Stage, White Stage, Red Marquee and Field of Heaven but make sure you check out some of the other stages and areas of the site too.

• Mokudo Tei is a tiny stage set up on the boardwalk in the middle of the forest where bands play intimate sets. 
• Day Dreaming/Silent Breeze is a 20-minute cable-car ride away up on top of a mountain. Some cool hip-hop and electronica acts play up there, there are weird games and costumes, a flying fox, a restaurant, dragonflies and a really fun relaxed atmosphere where you are allowed to act like children. It costs 1500 yen return to get the gondola there.
• Naeba Shokudo is near the world food area/Red Marquee. You can sit undercover on the tatami, get some nice Japanese food and sake, as well as catch some performers on the small stage. 
• The Crystal Palace tent and Palace of Wonder area is a bizarre place near the festival entrance where you can have some all-night fun. Dance, play, have some cocktails and watch the Mega Globe of Death. Check out some up-and-coming bands late at night on the Rookie A Go-Go stage. 
• If you have time, go right down to the very end of the festival beyond the Field of Heaven to the Cafe de Paris tent. You can get some good cocktails and wine, catch some interesting entertainment and cool down your feet in the creek. Also checkout the nearby Orange Cafe and Busker Stop areas.
• There are hammocks you can use in the forest at the back between the Gypsy Avalon stage and NGO area. Take a look at the NGO booths while you're there and catch a performance on the Gypsy Avalon stage.
• Ganban has a small stage near the World Restaurant area where DJs play. This is a fun and casual area to dance late at night.
• Cinema Fuji is a cool area to hang out and watch some late night films or buskers. There are also some good cocktails, juice and food here at Tokoro Tegoku. You can cool your feet in the creek here too. It's past Kids Land, between the Green and White stages.
• There are also a couple of areas behind the Prince Hotel called Pyramid Garden and Moon Caravan open only to campers.

SMARTPHONE APP

There is a great free app you can download to help decide which bands to see and plan your timetable. In the App Store or Google Play.

MORE INFO

Official Japanese site

Official English site

Fujirockers (Japanese)

Fujirockers (English)

Ganban

Day One (Tokyo Gig Guide)

Day Two (Tokyo Gig Guide)

Day Three (Tokyo Gig Guide)

See you there!

Music Festivals 2017

Here are some of the best festivals coming up in summer and beyond, all accessible from Tokyo.

TAICOCLUB
May 27, 28
Beautiful and fun camping festival in Nagano.
@ Kodama no Mori Campsite, Nagano
Lineup: Acid Arab, Battles Bibio, Cero, Clammbon and more.
Tickets: ¥14,000
Day One, Day Two

COLEMAN OUTDOOR RESORT PARK
May 27, 28

Free outdoor, camping, food and music festival
@ Meiji Jingu Gaien, Tokyo
Lineup: bird, bunbuku, Michael Kaneko, The Natsuyasumi Band, Yasei Collective, more
Tickets: Free entry
Day One, Day Two

SHIMOKITAZAWA SOUND CRUISING

May 27, 28
Wander around Shimokitazawa checking out up-and-coming indie bands.
@ various venues in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
Lineup includes 100s of local bands like Gezan Mass of the Fermenting Dregs, Tempalay, skillkills.
Tickets: ¥5,900, day only ¥4,800, night only ¥3,000
Details

OOO! Vol. 6

June 3
Chaotic experimental event at a live house and studio in Shinjuku.
@ JAM, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Lineup: Kuruucrew, Blackphone666, T. Mikawa (Incapacitants) x Kazehito Seki, The Dead Pan Speakers, Foodman, more.
Tickets: ¥2,500 advance, ¥3,000 door
Details

THE CAMP BOOK 2017

June 10, 11
Friendly camping festival with Japanese artists in the mountains.
@ President Resort Karuizawa, Gunma
Lineup: SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS, Seiko Oomori, never young beach, D.A.N, more
Tickets: 1 day ¥7,500, 2 days ¥14,000
Day One, Day Two

SPRING BREEZE
June 11
Urban festival in a park near Ginza.

@ Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall, Tokyo
Lineup: Ame no Parade, DATS, DYGL, Tensai Band, Humbert Humbert, bonobos
Tickets: ¥3,500
Details

TOKYO BOREDOM

June 17
Crazy Tokyo bands at a live house and studio in Akihabara.
@ Club Goodman, Akihabara, Tokyo
Lineup: SAYUU, Energish Golf, Elephant Noiz Kashimashi, Bossston Cruizing Mania, Compact Club, more
Tickets: ¥1,000
Details

YATSUI FESTIVAL
June 17, 18
Wander around the love hotel district of Shibuya checking out a wide range of Japanese artists.
@ various venues in Shibuya, Tokyo
Lineup: 100s of local bands including Urbangarde, Shibusashirazu Orchestra, toddle, Negicco, Puffy, more.
Tickets: 1 day ¥6,800, 2 days ¥12,500
Day One, Day Two

SATANIC CARNIVAL

June 17, 18
Sold out urban festival of Japanese pop-punk bands.
@ Makuhari Messe, Chiba
Lineup: coldrain, Ken Yokoyama, Oi-Skall Mates, Mongol800, Garlicboys, more
Tickets: sold out!
Day One, Day Two

TONOFON FESTIVAL

July 25
Chilled-out day in Saitama with some quirky Japanese pop bands.
@ Tokorozawa Kōkū Kinen Kōen, Saitama
Lineup: Shugo Tokumaru, Nikaido Kazumi with Gentle Forest Quintet, never young beach, Open Reel Ensemble, Ide Kensuke to Bosen
Tickets: ¥4,500
Details

ZIPANG
July 24, 25
Dance music based festival near Tokyo.

@ Shirahama Flower Park, Chiba
Lineup: Dachambo with Saori Kanda, Killer-Bong, Bryan Burton-Lewis, DJ Shhhhh, Gonno, more
Tickets: ¥7,000
Day One, Day Two

SASAKURE FESTIVAL

July 8
Small one-day event at a club in Shibuya.
@ Womb, Shibuya, Tokyo
Lineup: Zazen Boys, Dotama, imai (group_inou), Kindan No Tasuketsu, more
Tickets: ¥3,800
Details

GFB '17

July 15, 16
Otherwise known as Goose Fresh Beat or Tsukuba Rock Fes, a nice and cheap camping festival in Tsukuba.
@ Tsukuba Auto Camping Ground, Ibaraki
Lineup: avengers in sci-fi, Homecomings, Owarikara, Denims, Chiina, Chai, Marquee Beach Club, more
Tickets: 1 day ¥5,500, 2 days ¥10,500
Day One, Day Two

NATSUBIRAKI MUSIC FESTIVAL
July 15, 16, 17
A family-friendly festival, also held in Osaka and Fukuoka.

@ Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park, Saitama
Lineup: Soil & "Pimp" Sessions, Rhymester, Pushim, Nabowa, more
Tickets: 1 day ¥4,500, 3 days ¥12,000
Day One, Day Two, Day Three

RURAL
July 15, 16, 17

Electronic music camping festival up in Nagano.
@ Uchiyama Camping Village, Nagano
Lineup: GAS, Svreca, Roly Portwe, Solar, DJ NOBU, Felix K, Sapphire Slows, more
Tickets: ¥15,000
Day One, Day Two, Day Three

PEANUTS CAMP

July 22, 23
A cute camping festival in Chiba with a very Shibuya-kei lineup this year.
@ Ichihara Auto-camp ground, Star Village, Chiba
Lineup: Hideki Kaji, Bridge, Konishi Yasuharu, Keiichi Sokabe, more
Tickets: 2 days ¥13,000, 1 day ¥7,000
Day One, Day Two

FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL

July 28, 29, 30
The mother of all music festivals in Japan in a beautiful location with international and domestic artists over multiple stages.
@ Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata
Lineup: Gorillaz, Aphex Twin, Bjork, Queens of the Stone Age, LCD Soundsystem, Lorde, more
Tickets: 1 day ¥18,000, 2 days ¥34,000, 3 days ¥39,800
Day One, Day Two, Day Three

ROCK IN JAPAN

August 5, 6 + 11, 12
Huge festival over 2 weekends featuring popular Japanese artists.
@ Kokuei Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki
Lineup: B'z, Love Psychedelico, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Polysics, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, more
Tickets: 1 day ¥13,000, 2 days ¥24,500, 4 days ¥42,000
Day One, Day Two, Day Three, Day Four

METEO NIGHT
August 5, 6

Some of Tokyo's most interesting experimental bands between 3 venues in the same building.
@ O-West/O-Nest/7th Floor, Shibuya, Tokyo
Lineup: Groundcover., Limited Express (has gone?), Lostage, Energish Golf, Oshiri Penpenz, aoiswimming, more
Tickets: 5th ¥3,500, 6th ¥3,800, 2 days ¥6,000
Day One, Day Two

WORLD HAPPINESS

August 6
This year is the 10th anniversary of this urban Japanese festival.
@ Kasai Rinkai Koen, Tokyo
Lineup: Denki Groove, Hana Sekitori, Towa Tei, Taiiki Okazaki, Zombie-Chang, more
Tickets: ¥10,800
Details

SUMMER SONIC

August 19, 20
Large urban festival with a lineup covering a wide range of genres.
@ ZOZO Marine Stadium & Makuhari Messe, Chiba
Lineup: Cavin Harris, Foo Fighters, Black Eyed Peas, Man With A Mission, Kasabian, SUM41, more
Tickets: 1 day ¥16,500, 2 days ¥30,500
Day One, Day Two

SONIC MANIA
August 18

All-night event the night before Summer Sonic.
@ Makuhari Messe, Chiba
Lineup: Kasabian, Liam Galagher, Justice, Orbital, Perfume, Denki Groove, Shobaleader One, !!!, more
Tickets: ¥11,500
Details

HOSTESS CLUB ALL-NIGHTER

August 19
All-night event during Summer Sonic.
@ Makuhari Messe, Chiba
Lineup: Mogwai, Ride, The Horrors, Beak, Cigarettes After Sex, Blanck Mass, Matthew Herbert, more
Tickets: ¥9,500
Details

SWEET LOVE SHOWER
August 25, 26, 27

Three-day festival presented by Space Shower with popular Japanese artists.
@ Yamanakako Exchange Plaza Kirara, Yamanashi
Lineup: Elephant Kashimashi, Kana-Boon, [Alexandros], Cornelius, never young beach, more.
Tickets: 3 days ¥28,000, 2 days ¥19,000, 1 day ¥10,000
Day One, Day Two, Day Three

TOKYO JAZZ FESTIVAL

September 1, 2, 3
Indoor and outdoor jazz festival with paid and free performances.
@ NHK Hall/Yoyogi Park/WWW/WWWX, Shibuya, Tokyo
Lineup: Chick Corea, Amore&Lulu, The Danish Radio Big Band, Al Di Meola, Peter Erskine, more
Tickets: various prices, some free
Day One, Day Two, Day Three


BAYCAMP

September 9
Japanese rock bands in a park in Kawasaki.
@ Higashi Ogishima East Park, Kawasaki
Lineup: Awesome City Club, BIGMAMA, The Birthday, cinema staff, Creepy Nuts, Czecho No Republic, more
Tickets: ¥8,500
Details

NATSU NO MAMONO

September 10
Eclectic lineup of Japanese artists in a park in Kawasaki.
@ Higashi Ogishima East Park, Kawasaki
Lineup: Guitar Wolf, BiS, Mikami Kan, Tomovsky, Ningen Isu, more
Tickets: ¥8,000
Details

LOUD PARK
October 14, 15
Big heavy metal festival near Tokyo.

@ Saitama Super Arena, Saitama
Lineup: Michael Schenker Fest, Alice Cooper, Anthem, Apocalyptica, Cradle of Filth, Opeth, more
Tickets: TBA
Day One, Day Two

Fuji Rock Festival 2013 - Recommended Japanese artists

Here are some of my recommended Japanese artists to see at this year's Fuji Rock.


ONI NO MIGUIDE (鬼の右腕)
http://oninomigiude.blogspot.jp/
A new young band incorporating elements of alternative, dub and psychedelic with a singer playing steel drums. Catch these girls on Sunday at 1am on the Rookie A Go-Go stage before they become big.


Homecomings
http://homecomings.jp/
Another young band on the Rookie A Go-Go stage, Homecomings play lo-fi twee pop. 11pm on Saturday.


UHNELLYS
http://www.uhnellys.com/
On the little Naeba Shokudo stage at 20:10 on Sunday, the incredible Uhnellys will be looping guitars, rapping and generally entertaining you while you sip your sake.


Dustin Wong (with Special Guest: Takako Minekawa)
http://www.artuniongroup.co.jp/plancha/top/artists/takako-minekawa-dustin-wong/
For more guitar looping, check out Japanese-American Dustin Wong and his new project with whispering Shibuya-kei artist Takako Minekawa.


SHUGO TOKUMARU (トクマルシューゴ)
http://www.shugotokumaru.com/
Multi-instrumentalist indie pop with a mix of complex and simple arrangements and melodies.


BO NINGEN
http://boningen.info/
Get up early on Sunday to start the day off with these four long haired stoner noise punks. 10:20 in the Red Marquee.


MAENO KENTA TO SOAPLANDERS (前野健太とソープランダーズ)
http://maenokenta.com/
Acid folk singer Maeno Kenta will be joined by experimental musicians Jim O'Rourke, Eiko Ishibashi, Sudoh Toshiaki and Tatsuhisa Yamamoto on the fitting Field of Heaven stage on Saturday at 12:30.


For some interesting takes on hip-hop, catch THE OTOGIBANASHI'S on the Rookie A Go-Go stage at 2am on Sunday, DJ Misoshiru & MC Gohan ( DJみそしるとMCごはん) up at Day Dreaming on Saturday afternoon, STERUSS first up at the Red Marquee on Saturday, or Fragment x Keikouto band at 4am.

For something totally out there, watch OBORETA EBI NO KENSHI HOUKOKUSHO (溺れたエビの検死報告書), a WTF band of prawns playing Rookie A Go-Go at 3am on Saturday.

For something else quite different, ASAKUSA JINTA will fit in well in the Cafe De Paris tent on Saturday afternoon with their Showa swing ska rockabilly.

Getting back to rock, check out the popular mystery pop/rock band SOTAISEI RIRON (相対性理論) and disco rock band the telephones, both playing the White Stage on Sunday. QUATTRO will be a good start to the first day at the Red Marquee with their nice indie-pop/alternative rock. The next day on the same stage, catch electro-pop supergroup LAMA, then see instrumental math-rock group LITE the next morning.

To dance in the wee hours, see RYUKYUDISKO's Okinawan techno at 3am on Saturday (well, actually Sunday) or Caribbean influenced ska dance band YOUR SONG IS GOOD an hour earlier in the Palace of Wonder tent.

To chill out for a bit, see some electronica artists like Miyauchi Yuri (宮内優里) and KILLY&a7e up on the Day Dreaming stage on Saturday afternoon. Otherwise catch indie kids Mitsume (ミツメ) at midnight on the same day at Rookie A Go-Go or the soft voiced guitarist Nanao Tavito (七尾旅人) the next morning at 11:30.

For some nostalgic Japanese pop, alternative diva Chara will be collaborating with a bunch of musicians in the Red Marquee on Friday. Also, take some time out to see one of Mari Natsuki's (夏木マリ) performances at Naeba Shokudo or Orange Court on Saturday.

Links:
Fuji Rock Festival 2013 
Fuji Rock Festival Tips
Fujirockers

Fuji Rock Festival tips 2013

Have you got your Fuji Rock tickets yet? Here's some advice for preparing for and enjoying the festival.

WHAT TO BRING

General:

• Hat. The peak will protect you from the sun and keep the rain out of your eyes. A waterproof one would be very practical if unfashionable.
• Light raincoat. This is essential because umbrellas are not allowed in the festival site and rain is extremely likely. Some people wear plastic rain pants too. I usually bring a couple of cheap rain ponchos as well.
• Strong shoes or boots. You will be doing a lot of walking. Bring spares. Don't bring your best ones because they will get full of mud. Although uncomfortable, wellingtons/gum boots are popular and make it a lot easier to walk around if there's a lot of mud. Bring some spare insoles.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen. You will be outside all day. 
• Jacket. It sometimes gets cold at night, so bring something long-sleeved. 
• Towels. Big towels for the shower, but also bring lots of small towels for mopping up sweat and rain, washing your face, protecting your neck from the sun, wiping the inside of your tent etc.
• Cash. There are no ATMs. 
• Batteries. For your phone recharger, torch, camera etc. 
• Portable ashtray. If you smoke. 
• Tissues. Bring some little packs in case there's no loo paper, you get a runny nose or if you're a messy eater.
• Insulated plastic bottle cover. You can get them from a 100yen shop. 
• Something to sit on. Small tarp, light fold-up chair, or even just a plastic bag. After it has been raining, it can be very difficult to find a dry place to rest your weary legs.
• Plastic zip-lock bags. To keep your phone, camera and wallet dry.
• Small backpack. Preferably waterproof, to carry your drinks and camera and things around the festival.
• First aid kit. Just bring some painkillers and band-aids.

For campers: 
You can get many of these things from a 100yen shop.

• Torch/flashlight. The camp site is dark. Some parts of the festival are pretty dark too. A light you can hang in your tent will also be handy.
• Plastic covers. For your backpack and camping gear on the way to/from the festival. Otherwise, if it is raining while you're waiting for the bus or waiting for your wrist band, all your gear will get soaked.
• Plastic garbage bags. To keep your gear dry, for dirty clothes, sitting on and many other uses.
• Blue sheets (plastic tarps). These come in handy to put in front of your tent, to put your gear on the wet ground, makeshift shade etc.
• Umbrella. As explained above, this will help keep you and your stuff dry while queuing. You can bring it into the camp site but not the festival site.
• Insect repellent. You will be in the forest. 
• Rope. This is very handy when camping to rig up a clothesline or to secure broken tents. Remember a knife to cut it with! 
• Mallet or hammer. You can't bash in tent pegs with your bare hands. 
• Extra tent pegs. Some of them always bend or get lost.
• Small padlock. Theft isn't really a problem, but if you're worried about leaving stuff in your tent/backpack, put a small lock on the zipper. 
• Something to mark your tent. There are thousands and they all look the same, especially when you're drunk! Tape or a flag or something.
• Something to sleep on. Of course you will bring your sleeping bag to sleep in, but many people try to sleep directly on the ground. It can be hard and cold so at least bring a roll-up mat.

ALCOHOL 
Buying it there: 
Most alcoholic drinks in the festival grounds cost 600 yen. The beer is almost always Heineken but you can usually get some nice microbrewery and organic beer down around the Field of Heaven stage. Naeba Shokudo sells some good nihonshu (sake) and shochu. The Tokoro Tengoku/Cinema Fuji has some nice cocktails, fresh juice and cheap chu-hi. For real bars, go to Palace of Wonder or Cafe De Paris. Some cheap drinks and makeshift bars can usually be found near the festival entrance and the surrounding area.

Bringing it in: 
Glass bottles and cans are not allowed to be brought into the festival grounds and your bags will be checked each time you enter. But don't worry - alcohol is allowed to be brought in, so you can mix up drinks in plastic bottles in your tent/room and then carry them into the festival. Bring a cooler box/bag along to keep in your tent/room and get ice from the store near the front of the Prince Hotel. There are vending machines around the entrance which mainly only sell Pocari Sweat, water and Coca-cola so bring some spirits which you can mix with coke (vodka, bourbon, rum etc) or water (shochu, whisky etc).


FOOD
Food is a big part of the festival so you will find plenty of good choices. The biggest concentration of food stalls is the Oasis/World Restaurant area near the Red Marquee. You will also find clusters of them in front of the festival site, at Palace of Wonder, Gypsy Avalon, Orange Court and other spots. Most food is around 600yen. Good, simple and cheap Japanese food can be had at Naeba Shokudo. To see what food stalls will be at this year's festival, check Fes Gohan (in Japanese).

Vegetarians
Apparently the Thai stall called Amrita at Orange Court will have some vegetarian food this year and there will be a vegan stand called CORI at the Dog Wonderland area behind the Prince Hotel. In the Oasis area, you will find a stall selling pizza and pasta, and another selling onigiri (rice balls). At Naeba Shokudo you will find simple Japanese food. Ask them what they have without meat and fish. They should have a couple of things. In the world restaurant area, the Gan-ban bar has chips with salsa which might be vegetarian. At Tokoro Tengoku/Cinema Fuji you will find tokoroten and fresh juice, and possibly a vegetable burger if you're early. In the NGO Village at Avalon there should be some options like bagels from The Atomic Cafe stand. At Field of Heaven, a stall called Levain sells some interesting home made breads and there is also a good pizza stall called Sakuragumi. Big Cake at Orange Court has a vegetable curry that might be vegetarian. Otherwise, you could try your luck at other food stalls. They might be able to make something without meat. I always bring some food with me too.

WALKING
The festival site is an enormous ski resort in the mountains so expect to spend a lot of time walking, walking and walking. You'll need to study the timetable and factor in long walking times between stages on opposite ends of the festival. It can take up to half an hour. Remember that crowds, mud and walking in the dark can hold you up. The paths and boardwalks between stages take you through beautiful green forests so the walking is usually pleasant. The boardwalk can be a quick way to get between the Green Stage and Field of Heaven or Orange Court. It will also take a long time to walk into the festival from the camp site, nearby hotels and the bus stop.

MOBILE PHONES
Bring your phone but don't rely on it too much as you often can't get reception at the festival site. Plan places and times to meet friends in advance. Bring a battery-operated phone recharger and a plastic bag to keep your phone dry.


SENDING AND STORING STUFF
You can get stuff sent to and from the festival by Yamato at reasonable prices. There is a counter near the entrance where you can pack and post stuff. This is very useful if you're too tired to carry all your stuff home. The Yamato counter can also store your luggage throughout the festival.


SHOP
It took me a couple of years before I realised there was a small shop in front of the Price Hotel selling drinks, snack food, instant ramen, a little bit of camping equipment and other bits and pieces. Of course some of the prices are inflated. This can also be a good place to shelter from the rain and use real toilets.


INFORMATION CENTRE
In the Oasis food area there is an information centre that you can go to if you lose anything, have any problems, need first aid etc. Nearby there is also a notice board where they will post any changes to the schedule and people can leave messages for each other. Fujirockers also has a tent around here where you can use the Internet.

NOT JUST THE BIG STAGES
The big name acts will be on the Green Stage, White Stage, Red Marquee, Orange Court and Field of Heaven but make sure you check out some of the other stages and areas of the site too.

• Mokudo-tei is a tiny stage set up on the boardwalk in the middle of the forest where bands play intimate sets. 
• Day Dreaming/Silent Breeze is a 20-minute cable-car ride away up on top of a mountain. Some cool hip-hop and electronica acts play up there, there are weird games and costumes, a flying fox, a restaurant, dragonflies and a really fun relaxed atmosphere where you are allowed to act like children. 
• Naeba Shokudo is near the world food area/Red Marquee. You can sit undercover on the tatami, get some nice Japanese food and sake, as well as catch some performers on the small stage. 
• The Crystal Palace tent/Palace of Wonder area is a bizarre place near the festival entrance where you can have some all-night fun. Dance, play, have some cocktails and watch the Invisible Wall of Death. Check out some up-and-coming bands late at night on the Rookie A Go-Go stage. 
• If you have time, go right down to the very end of the festival beyond the Orange Court to Cafe De Paris tent. You can get some good cocktails, cool down your feet in the creek, and jam on the drums at Stoned Circle. 
• There are hammocks you can use in the forest at the back between the Gypsy Avalon stage and NGO area. Take a look at the NGO booths while you're there and catch a performance on the Gypsy Avalon stage.
• Ganban has a small stage near the World Restaurant area where DJs play. This is a fun and casual area to dance late at night.
• Cinema Fuji is a cool area to hang out and watch some late night films or buskers. There are also some good cocktails, juice and food here at Tokoro Tegoku. You can cool your feet in the creek here too. It's past Kids Land, between the Green and White stages.
• There are also a couple of new areas behind the Prince Hotel called Pyramid Garden and Moon Caravan open only to campers.

THURSDAY NIGHT
The kick-off party on Thursday night is highly recommended. It's free to the public so some locals come and hold a bon-odori (traditional dance) and fireworks. Surprise bands and DJs play on the Red Marquee and Ganban stages while everyone gets hyped up and ready for the festival.

CAMPING

• The campsite covers a large golf course and surrounding area on the front left of the festival site. Unfortunately, most of it is hilly so flat land is at a premium. It must be a ridiculously difficult golf course! The earlier you can get there, the better. Definitely try to arrive on Thursday when it opens if you can. All the best spots gets snapped up on Thursday.
• For women, there is a girls-only area in a great spot near the entrance. 
• The ideal place to pitch your tent is on flat ground (seriously! You will see some tents on crazy angles), not too far from (or close to) the entrance, not at the bottom of a hill as the lower areas get flooded and muddy, near (but not too close to!) toilets, ideally near some trees for shade and to use as a post for a clothesline (but you're not supposed to do this),  and not right next to the path (unless you want people falling on and kicking mud on your tent).
• At the entrance to the camp site there is a camping service station. The staff there can help you if you have trouble pitching your tent and other things. There is also a BBQ area here for campers who bring their own food. You are not supposed to use fire or barbeques in the camp site.
• There are some showers and onsen (hot spring bath) you can use near the camp site entrance. Expect long queues and no privacy. Around the camp site there are some toilets which have sinks next to them that you can use to wash up.
• A tent with a shaded entrance is ideal so you can escape from the hot tent, sun and rain during the mornings.
• A fly for your tent will help you keep dry.
• If you buy a different ticket, you can camp in another camping area called Pyramid Garden. It is a flat, grassy area with its own stage.
• Before you go to the festival, good place to find cheap camping and outdoor gear is at a 'home centre' (big DIY/furniture shops) like Simachu, Cainz, Komeri etc or cheap department store type places like Don Quixote or Olympic. You can find good quality stuff at outdoor stores like L-Breath. Amazon.co.jp has a big range of outdoor gear too. 

TRANSPORT

• Most people take the shinkansen from Tokyo or Ueno station. You need to get off at Echigo-Yuzawa station. It takes just over an hour and costs 6490yen from Tokyo or 6290yen from Ueno one-way. You can get tickets from the JR counter of any major JR station. You could get the return tickets in advance as well, or just get them when you get to Echigo Yuzawa. Check train times at Hyperdia.

• Local trains cost about half the price of a shinkansen (3260yen), but take more than twice the time. Get the JR Takasaki line from Ueno to Takasaki, then the JR Joetsu line to Minakami, then the infrequent Joetsu line extension to Echigo-Yuzawa. Check train times at Hyperdia. A seishun juhachi kippu is even cheaper. This ticket gives you five daily coupons of unlimited travel on JR local and rapid trains (not express or shinkansen) between July 20 and September 10 for only 11500yen. You can divide the 5 tickets among your friends and it'll work out to be only 2300yen to get to the festival! You will need to travel together. Even if there are only two of you, if you use it on the way there and back, it'll only cost you 2875yen each way. You can take the above local train route. The seishun juhachi kippu is available at the ticket counters of most major JR stations.
• You can of course drive there. A car rental agency with English support is Nippon Rent-A-Car. 
• Free shuttle buses run to and from Echigo Yuzawa station from 12:00 on Thursday to Monday. There is no real timetable; they just keep going back and forth. Be prepared for long queues in the sun or rain. The free buses also stop at Tashiro, Mitsumata and Asagai if your accommodation is around there. Don't worry if you don't have your festival ticket yet, the driver won't check. 
• You could get a taxi from Echigo-Yuzawa station to the site if you are in group of three or four, or if you are rich. It will probably cost around 6000yen.

Here's a good Japanese site to help you plan your timetable: http://www.onyou.jp/tametebo

See you there!

MORE INFO 

Official English site

Official Japanese site

Fujirockers

English Facebook group

On Tokyo Gig Guide:

2013 Day One

2013 Day Two

2013 Day Three

2010 day one review

2010 day two review

2010 day three review

2009 review

2008 review

Fuji Rock Festival 2012 - Recommended Japanese Acts

There are a lot of good Japanese artists to see at this year's Fuji Rock. Here are some of my choices.

Friday 27th

I recommend dancing on Friday night to the dubstep of GOTH-TRAD in the Red Marquee.

For more good electronic music in the Red Marquee, catch eli walks.

Take the chairlift way up in the mountains to the peaceful and weird Day Dreaming and Silent Breeze stage where there is a great lineup of electronic and ambient music like moshimoss, Ametsub (DJ set), Dorian, Eccy and YAKENOHARA.


Enough electronic music? OK, down at Orange Court try to catch the wild instrumental nu-jazz of mouse on the keys.


More interesting stuff is happening over at the little Gypsy Avalon stage with the U-zhaan × mabanua percussion collaboration. On the same stage, you should also try to catch tonchi's experimental steel pan pop. At the tiny Naeba Shokudo stage, drink some nihonshu and trance out to SARATOGA.


For more famous stuff on the big stages, there's Boom Boom Satellites on the Green Stage or DJ Kentaro and Tha Blue Herb on the White Stage.

After 11pm on the Rookie A Go-Go stage outside the entrance, Gezan are sure to be crazy. For math rock, watch Ningen OK, or for something more low key, check out The Keys.




Saturday 28th

Don't miss the atmospheric quiet-loud post-rock of MONO with The Holy Ground Orchestra on the White Stage.

See SPECIAL OTHERS doing their jazzy pop jam on the Green Stage. For jam trance see ROVO on the White Stage.


Denki Groove will fill the Red Marquee with their well-loved techno at midnight. Meanwhile, KINGDOM☆AFROCKS will fill the Palace Of Wonder tent with their Japanese take on afrobeat.


Also around midnight, KINOCOHOTEL will be rocking the intimate Naeba Shokudo bar. Earlier in the day, MOUNTAIN MOCHA KILIMANJARO's funk will be well-suited to Orange Court.


The best band on the Rookie A Go-Go stage on Saturday night will be Yasei Collective.

KETTLES , Tam Tam and STERUSS might also be interesting.

Sunday 29th

There are plenty of good Japanese bands to see on Sunday. A definite highlight will be the theatrical avant jazz of Shibusashirazu Orchestra at Orange Court.

Graduating to the huge Green Stage, toe and their instrumental post-rock will pick things up after lunch.

Hikashu and guests calling themselves GOJIRA・HOSHANO・HIKASYU will bring their orchestral avant-pop to both Orange Court and Gypsy Avalon.


Red Marquee is where it's at on Sunday. If you can get up early enough, Lostage will blow away your hangover. After midnight, dance the night away with DJ BAKU, DE DE MOUSE + Drumrolls and Mop Of Head.

Just before midnight, try to break away from Radiohead or At The Drive-In to see group_inou's electro-hip-hop.

Late at night in the Palace Of Wonder tent, catch Matsuda "CHABE" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico). At the same time, CHARAN-PO-RANTAN will bring their gypsy folk to the little Naeba Shokudo Stage. Go back to Palace Of Wonder at 3:30am for the bizarre MURASAKI BABY DOLL with JVC FORCE TYO performance. Also after midnight, Kyoto's bakebakebar and Fukuoka's macmanaman will be rocking on the Rookie A Go-Go stage.

On the hippy Gypsy Avalon and Field Of Heaven stages, catch the beautiful mellow pop of cero, the alternative rock of tricot and the nu-jazz/post-rock of jizue.

Fuji Rock related posts:

Fuji Rock Festival 2011 Recommended Japanese Acts

Fuji Rock Festival Tips 2010

Fuji Rock Festival Tips 2009

Fuji Rock Festival 2010 Day One Review

Fuji Rock Festival 2010 Day Two Review

Fuji Rock Festival 2010 Day Three Review

Fuji Rock Festival 2009 Review

Fuji Rock Festival 2008 Review

On Tokyo Gig Guide:

Fuji Rock Festival 2012 Day One

Fuji Rock Festival 2012 Day Two

Fuji Rock Festival 2012 Day Three