Things You Can Do Around Fuji Rock and Summer Sonic Music Festivals
After Japan's borders fully reopened in 2022 there has been a steady rebound of tourism, however the revival of the tourist experience in Japan has not come without hiccups along the way. With the recent blocking of the most instagrammable Lawson view of Mt. Fuji and tourists now banned from entering parts of Kyoto's famed Gion District this year, both seasoned Japan lovers and first time travelers may be left wondering "What else is there to do in Japan?" As many popular tourist destinations in major cities throughout Japan have become congested with tourists and an overall overwhelming experience, is it still possible to have a fun unique summer holiday in Japan?
At Canyons, our answer is "Yes!", the secret is in the outdoors and we are excited to suggest a perfect way to kick off your trip to Japan this summer with your heart pumping and head bopping!
If you are planning a Tokyo trip in July:
In this 2 day itinerary, you will be able to experience an exciting rafting or canyoning tour in Minakami, Gunma a little over 1 hour away from Tokyo by Shinkansen. Spend your time exploring the natural beauty of Japan as the best way to escape the city bustle and enjoy a unique adventure. Relax with BBQ and stay the night at our glamping site, before hopping over the next day to Yuzawa to have an epic time at the Fuji Rock festival.
Canyons Minakami
Our home base is located in Gunma Prefecture, Minakami which is home to beautiful onsens (hot springs), lush canyons, and the Tone River where we run our famous rafting trips! The town of Minakami also offers a local experience with various souvenir shops, eateries, and restaurants.
In Minakami, we offer canyoning tours which involves rappelling off mountainsides, sliding down gushing waterfalls, jumping into natural pools and occasionally ziplining across canyon valleys OR summer rafting tours that allow you to flow down the river while taking the surrounding views and jumping out the raft to play in the river.
Check-out our Minakami booking page to see half-day tour or combo tour availability and more in July to plan your pre-Fuji Rock festivities.
What is Fuji Rock?
Fuji Rock Festival is an annual rock festival held in Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata Prefecture. The 3 day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians, making it the largest outdoor music event in Japan. The average attendance is between 100,000 and 150,000 people in most years. Green Stage is the main spot for headliners at Fuji Rock, and one of 12 stages representing different vibes and genres, mostly in the open air. You can get a separate ticket to ride the Dragondola, Japan's longest gondola ride, for a 25 minute scenic panoramic view of Mt. Tairappyo and Lake Futai with the entire Fuji Rock festival below to arrive at the easy-going Day Dreaming and Silent Breeze rock stage. Fuji Rock is also family and kid friendly with a dedicated playground area for children and plenty of rest spots. Many people also visit the Board Walk which is a beautifully decorated wooden plank path which also allows wheel chair users to enjoy a stroll through the woods and view illumination art at night. With lots of delicious food stalls and festival merchandise also on display as well, it will be a mission to try to experience everything in one day.
Dates: July 26, 27 & 28
Open from 9:00AM ~ 5:00 AM next day
Tickets: Check out the official site to get tickets while you can!
Access
By Train
Canyons provides a shuttle service so we can pick you up from with Jomokogen or Minakami Station before your tour starts. Please check the Train Timetables and advise us at the time of your booking if you require a pickup and we will let you know the shuttle time.
To get to Fuji Rock from Canyons Minakami, just take the JR Joetsu Line from Yubiso Station (15 minute walk from Canyons) to Echigo Yuzawa Station to catch the Fuji Rock shuttle bus.
TIP: If you are a non-Japanese passport holder that plans on traveling a lot between Tokyo and neighboring prefectures, save extra cash by getting the JR Tokyo Wide Pass (3 days) which allows you unlimited rides for three consecutive days on JR operated lines including the Shinkansen. Also consider the JR East Pass (Tohoku area OR Nagano, Niigata area) which is valid for five consecutive days and allows a wider range of travel usage. See JR East official website for more information.
By Car
The Kanetsu Expressway (toll road) runs through Minakami. The journey from Nerima IC in northern Tokyo to Minakami IC will take approximately 2 hours without traffic. Our Canyons Minakami base is just 15 minutes from the Kanetsu Expressway and we have FREE parking onsite.
To get to Fuji Rock from Canyons Minakami, you can continue taking the Kanetsu Expressway to Yuzawa IC and Route 17 which is convenient for those with 1 day parking tickets.
Food
Hungry after your tour? Grab our Canyons Signature 100% Beef Burger for 2,000 JPY from our Alpine Cafe. We also offer chicken, fish, and vegan burger options (please enquire if you have any dietary restrictions).
Or add-on a hearty barbeque plan to your tour booking to make the most of your trip!
Accommodation
Why not camp out at Canyons Riverside Oasis in one of our luxurious glamping tents for the night?
We have a range of glamping tents from five to six person tents suitable for small families or friend groups like our new Sunshine or Safari tent to more cozy two person tents for couples in our Waterfront tents.
For those on more of a budget, you can add-on a room at our Alpine Guesthouse along with your tour booking.
Area Info
Looking for something else? Visit the famous Takaragawa Onsen ryokan or the Kiyotsu Gorge's Tunnel of Light. Check out our Minakami Area Info page for more suggestions.
Coming to Japan during August instead:
Below are 2 day trip itineraries for those of you staying in Tokyo or Osaka to go check out our canyoning tours nearby and get psyched to attend Summer Sonic the next day.
Tokyo
Canyons Okutama
Our other base is in Okutama, a popular weekend getaway destination for locals living in Tokyo Prefecture. The journey takes about 2 hours from Tokyo Station. Here, there are pristine valley views of the Tama River and green mountain ranges all around which you would not expect from a place close to the capital city.
In Okutama, we offer mostly canyoning tours and occasionally packraft tours.
Our two main canyoning courses are called the Mononoke and Big Mononoke. Click on our Okutama Canyoning page to check our availability for tours in August.
If you would like to read more about the courses and the difference in levels, check out our guide on choosing the right canyoning tour for you.
Summer Sonic / Sonic Mania
Summer Sonic is an annual music festival with both major Japanese and international artists held on one weekend in August simultaneously in both Chiba and Osaka. This 2024 Summer Sonic will be held at the ZOZO Marine Stadium and the warm-up party event Sonic Mania will be held at the Makuhari Messe. At Tokyo Summer Sonic there are a total of six stages split into two venue zones, each showcasing artists from different music genres. The venue ZOZO Marine Stadium area contains the main Marine Stage with the headline acts, while there is also the popular Beach Stage with a chill mood right on the sand facing Tokyo Bay. Meanwhile, the Makuhari Messe area encompasses the Mountain Stage for break-out acts, Pacific Stage for artist from Asia, and Spotify Radar: Early Noise Stage for artists making music on Spotify. Tokyo Summer Sonic is family friendly with a kids play area, rest areas, and lots of amazing food stalls. You also find autograph signing booth for a rare chance to meet the artist and popular artist goods for sale for a very eventful day.
Dates: August 16 (Sonic Mania), 17 & 18 (Summer Sonic)
Open from 19:00 (Sonic Mania), 9:00 (Summer Sonic)
Tickets: Tokyo Summer Sonic ticket have sold out on June 3, but you can still get tickets for Sonic Mania! Check out the official website for more information.
Afraid you might miss out on Summer Sonic? You can still get tickets for Ultra Japan - a two day outdoor EDM festival hosted by the world's top DJ's on Sept. 14 & 15! Here's the official website for more information.
Access
By Train
We provide a free shuttle service so we can pick you up from Mitake station (JR Ome Line) and you can join the tour from there. Please check train timetables in English and advise us at the time of booking if you require pickup and we will let you know the shuttle time.
To get to Summer Sonic / Sonic Mania in Chiba, the nearest station is Kaihin-Makuhari Station. It is a 7 minute walk to get to Makuhari Messa for Sonic Mania and about 15 minutes walk to ZOZO Marine Stadium for Summer Sonic.
By Car
Canyons Okutama is within easy access from Japan's capital city, the journey from central Tokyo will take approximately 120 minutes without traffic. The best route will depend on your start location in Tokyo.
The nearest expressway exits are:
Ome or Hinode exits on the Ken-O Expressway
Hachioji exit on the Chuo Expressway
To get to Summer Sonic / Sonic Mania, there is general parking around the venues, but limited spaces. Public transportation is highly encouraged.
Food
Got post-canyon cravings? Stop by our Awa Cafe located in Canyons Okutama base and try our mouth-watering Volcano - a tender pile of roast beef laid on a mountain of rice, topped with a raw egg and wasabi mayonnaise. Check out Awa's menu for other lunch options!
Area Info
How about another unique experience to stimulate the senses? Visit TeamLab Planets in Toyosu, Tokyo while you can! This immersive interactive art installation and light exhibit is only around until the end of 2027. Check the official site to reserve your tickets in advance. Our pro-tip is to visit in the evening to view the cool outdoor illuminations in its full glory.
Osaka / Kyoto
Canyons Kiho
Located in Mie Prefecture, Canyons Kiho is our first Kansai base and was proudly established in 2022. After 20 years of research in the Kii Peninsula, we are super excited to offer our world-class style of canyoning and packrafting experiences within 3 hours from Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya.
In Kiho, we offer mostly canyoning tours and occasionally packraft tours.
The main canyoning courses here are the Hisetsu Canyon and Kiri Canyon courses. Click on our Kiho page to check out tour availability in August.
Summer Sonic
Summer Sonic in Osaka in 2024 will be held at the Expo '70 Commemorative Park. Featuring four stages with headliners performing at the main Air Stage, a spacious Mountain Stage, Sonic Stage which is located right by the 70 meter tall statuesque Tower of the Sun, and the Massive Stage where you can see the artists from up close.
Dates: August 17 & 18
Open from 10:00
Tickets: Get your tickets while there are available. Check out the official website for more information.
Access
By Train
From Nagoya to Canyons Kiho is approximately 3.5 hours.
Nagoya Station (JR Nanki Line) --> Shingū Station
From Osaka to Canyons Kiho is approximately 4 hours.
Osaka Station (JR Kuroshio Line) --> Shingū Station
Canyons provides a free pick up service from Shingū Station or nearby accommodations. Consult with us about pickups when making your tour booking.
To get to Summer Sonic in Osaka, the closest station is the Expo'70 Commemoration Park.
By Car
From Nagoya to Canyons Kiho it takes approximately 2.5-3 hours.
From Osaka to Canyons Kiho it takes approximately 3.5 hours.
To get to Summer Sonic in Osaka, there are several parking lots located near the Expo'70 Commemorative Park within 15 minutes walk to the venue. Parking fees may apply.
Area Info
Feeling extra adventurous? Try hiking the famous Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trails - a thousand year collection of interconnecting ancient pilgrimage trail south of Kyoto where you can walk from guesthouse to guesthouse. You can do a few minutes walk to a week-long trek through the mountains while experiencing the unique cultural landscape of the spiritual countryside.
What to bring:
Canyons Tours
Please bring your own swimsuit to wear under the Canyons wetsuit and a towel. If you do not have a swimsuit, you will be asked to keep on your underwear to wear under the Canyons wetsuit. The wetsuit provided by Canyons is approximately 5mm thick which keeps you warm in cold water and protects against abrasions. The set includes neoprene salopettes, long sleeve neoprene jacket, canyoning shoes, life jacket and helmet.
Waterproof sunscreen is good to have especially on sunny days.
If you wear glasses, we do recommend wearing contact lenses instead. You can still participate in glasses. We can provide a simple strap, but if you are worried we recommend bringing your own strap to avoid losing them during the tour.
If you have any medication for allergies or in case of emergency treatment for minor medical conditions, please bring them.
Canyons rents out all the necessary equipment for the tour, but the smallest size available is 22 cm. If your shoe size is less than 22 cm, please bring marine shoes that can get wet. *Please note that flip-flops and crocs are not permitted for safety reasons.
Music Festival (Outdoors)
As much as outdoor music festivals sound fun, summer heat and humidity in Japan is no joke. In Japan, summer season usually begins in June, but the hottest months are July and August. A day in July could reach average temperature highs of 35°C (95°F) with humidity ranging from 78% to 83% in and around Tokyo. Stay cool and hydrated by bringing with you the following summer necessities:
Hats (preferably wide-brimmed for more UV protection coverage)
Water bottle
Hand held fans (electronic or traditional)
Neck-cooling scarf or gel pack
Towel or handkerchief (to wipe sweat)
Sunglasses
Thin short sleeved shirt and loose shorts OR wide dress
Light-weight breathable outer jacket with long sleeves to protect against sunburn or sudden change in weather
Comfortable walking shoes or sandals
Need more styling hints on how to dress appropriately and still be fashionable at a Japanese music festival? Take some inspiration from previous Fuji Rock and Summer Sonic festival goers!
Last but not least, POSITIVE ENERGY!!
OVERVIEW:
Traveling Japan
You don't have to be a travel expert to make the most of your trip in Japan. There are a lot of Japan travel resources available, so make sure to do your research beforehand and follow local etiquette. Of course, visiting places like Mount Fuji is a must-do for many travelers in Japan, but we also urge you to explore the equally as beautiful and lesser known parts of Japan too.
Music
You don't have to know the artists or the language to enjoy the music festivals! If you are curious, you can preview the line up of artists for the event in advance. Otherwise, go with an open mind and think of it as an opportunity to experience music in multiple languages - who knows, maybe you'll discover new favorites. After all, good music is good music and the welcoming vibe which brings people together is all the fun you need.
Canyoning / Rafting
At Canyons, we welcome a lot of first timers and veteran thrill seekers on our tours. You don't have to know how to swim or have previous experience to enjoy our canyoning and rafting tours! Your safety is our top priority and our guides make sure you are well looked after. You might even realize canyoning or river rafting is your new summer hobby.
Did you know Canyons also takes and provides photos for free for all tour participants? Forget about waiting in long queues to take photos with a monument, let us capture your excited and funny faces so you can focus on the thrill!
