Beat the Heat: Fuji Rock Festival Preview
With rainy season all but over, it is now time to enjoy summer’s sunshine whether that is by heading to the beach or having a barbecue with friends. Of course, nothing quite says summer like an outdoor musical festival in the foothills of Mount Naeba in Niigata, Japan. Fuji Rock Festival, presented by Smash Corporation, is your opportunity to catch three days of sun, smiles, and satisfaction. Think Coachella at a serene Japanese ski resort without (for better or worse) the copious drug use.
This year’s festival will be held from Friday, July 25 to Sunday, July 27. However, if three days seem a bit excessive, or maybe just too expensive, one and two day options are available also. 
As for accommodation, it is hard to beat piling into a car with your closest friends, pitching a tent, and camping on the festival grounds (although special tickets are required). If you have never camped at a music festival before, it is recommended to try at least once. In three days you create a communal atmosphere with the neighboring tents and cars and happily share what seems to be an infinite supply of alcohol and good vibes. You also stop caring about how you look and smell and become entirely focused on enjoying the music. Unfortunately, that nice bronze tan you work hard for disappears as soon as you shower, as you come to realize that dust and dirt caked your body and optimistically applied sunscreen further ensures tan prevention. Needless to say, if you are not the outdoorsy type there are plenty of hostels and hotels in the area, though you will need to take a bus or train to reach the venue. Information for first timers can be found here.
Although Fuji Rock provides a wonderful natural setting and attractions for all ages, (“Hey Mom, can we go to Kids Land?â€), the only thing that really counts is the music. A wave of disappointment spread over potential festival-goers when earlier this year headliner Kanye West canceled. However, there are still more than enough great and arguably better musicians to keep excitement high. The festival is unique for Japan in that artists come from a variety of genres and nationalities with some being more recognizable than others. Headliners for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are Franz Ferndinand, Arcade Fire, and Jack Johnson, respectively and with over thirteen other stages there are destined to be more than enough bands to maintain your interest. A few of the other bigger names to grace Japan with their presence include The Flaming Lips, Foster the People, Outkast, Disclosure, First Aid Kit, Bombay Bicycle Club, Lorde, MOE., St. Vincent, The Lumineers, and the one and only Yoko Ono with her Plastic Ono band. Of course music festivals are also the perfect time to find new artists or DJs while enjoying some of your favorites.
Given the limited time in Japan of most of us on JET, it comes down to one question: what is the likelihood of experiencing this event again? If you are like me and unsure of how long you will be in Japan, the sooner you go to Fuji Rock, the better. Or maybe you simply want to be able to spit out a ridiculous number of concert events you have been to – which is why Sasquatch, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, and Burning Man are still on my list. That too is a valid reason to check it off your list as soon as possible. If, however, Fuji Rock Festival is unlikely to be a part of your summer plans, keep an eye out for our August issue for a preview of Osaka’s Summer Sonic lineup. Summer is a time to take advantage of the numerous unique opportunities Japan has to offer – how many matsuris and music festivals can you see in one season?
Sean Mulvihill
