Best summer music festivals in and near Tokyo in 2022

When: Aug 20-21
Where: Zozo Marine Stadium, Chiba
Tickets: from ¥17,000 

After cancelling in 2020 (thanks Covid!) and downsizing to a smaller scale festival called Supersonic in 2021, Summer Sonic is making a full-fledged return this year with an impressive lineup of local and international artists.

The two-day summer fest, which is also held in Osaka concurrently, has announced that American rapper Post Malone and English rock band The 1975 will be the headliners. Alongside them will be artists from a wide range of genres, including pop icon Carly Rae Jepsen (who will celebrating ten years since her breakout hit ‘Call Me Maybe’), K-pop girl group 2NE1, hip hop hitmaker Megan Thee Stallion, punk band The Offspring, Japanese rock band One Ok Rock, and many more. 

Tickets are currently sold out. Keep an eye on this website to see if more tickets will be released.

When: September 17-18
Where: Odaiba, Tokyo
Tickets: from ¥17,000

Miami's Ultra Music Festival, one of the largest EDM events in the world, is coming back to Tokyo after a three-year hiatus. It will be held outdoors over the September 17-18 weekend in Odaiba, next to the Symbol Promenade Park.

The lineup for this year has yet to be announced, but Ultra has always managed to deliver a stellar roster of superstar DJs in the past, including Hardwell, Steve Aoki, Afrojack and Zedd. 

Get your tickets here.

When: August 6-7, 11-13
Where: Soga Sports Park, Chiba
Tickets: from ¥14,000

Few music magazines have a better grasp of what the public wants than Rockin' On, the influential periodical behind this long-running music festival. For the first time ever, Rock in Japan will be held at Soga Sports Park, an attractive coastal spot in Chiba.

The festival consistently sells out in advance each year, despite (or maybe because of) the fact that the lineup has more repeat performers than any other summer music fests. This five-day music soiree will feature Japanese bands, singer songwriters and even idol groups, including Alexandros, Bish, Millet, Okamoto’s, Yuuri, Yoasobi and the like.

Get your tickets here.

When: August 14
Where: Makuhari Messe, Chiba
Tickets: from ¥18,000

Download music festival from Donington Park in England has expanded worldwide to countries like Japan, France, Spain and Australia. The rock music event is back in Tokyo for the first time since the pandemic, after hosting its inaugural Japan edition in 2019.

This year Download is bringing in American progressive metal band Dream Theater and Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine, as well as Mastodon, Steel Panther and all-girl Japanese metal band Band-Maid. 

Get your tickets here.

When: September 3-4
Where: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, Yokohama
Tickets: from ¥9,800

This music festival at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse features a wide range of musicians including American rock band Chk Chk Chk, Japanese rapper Awich, singer-songwriters Trio Ohashi and Tavito Nanao, and many more. There will be food trucks as well as an outdoor market, where you can shop for houseplants, fresh produce and vintage clothes, all to keep you entertained in between live performances.

Get your tickets here.