Hakuba Mountain Festival
- Hakuba StationŌito Line
- Walk 13 minutes
- 5 minutes bus drive to 白馬八方バスターミナル
HAKUBA Mountain Festival 2026 takes place at Usagidaira Terrace — the 1,400-meter summit area of the Happo Gondola Lift "Adam" at Hakuba Happo-one in Nagano Prefecture.
Unlike the previous edition, which used multiple venues across the mountain, this year's festival consolidates all programming at Usagidaira Terrace, the summit station area served by the Adam gondola. The setting places the stages directly against a backdrop of the Northern Japan Alps, including Hakuba Sanzan — the three main peaks of the Hakuba range.
Two stages are planned:
Sky Stage — the main outdoor stage at the gondola summit at 1,400 meters, with the Northern Alps as backdrop.
Rooftop Stage — an open-air deck on the roof of Usagidaira Terrace, part of the seasonal "Hakuba Mountain Beach" installation.
The two stages are within a few minutes' walk of each other, allowing audiences to move between them throughout the day.
Headliners
The first announced acts include:
Shōnan no Kaze (湘南乃風) — A long-established Japanese reggae and hip-hop group active since 2003, known for hits including Junrenka and Suirenka. The group performed at Hanshin Kōshien Stadium in November 2025.
DJ Dienoji — A DJ duo made up of Nobuhiko Ōtani and Yōsuke Oochi of the comedy duo Dienoji. Active as DJs since the 2000s, they are past winners of the Air Guitar World Championship and are known for a performance style that combines DJing with talk segments and audience participation.
Programming Around the Festival
The organizers are positioning the festival as a full weekend experience that combines music with the resort's natural setting.
Day 1 (August 29): Gates open at 12:00 and the show runs until 19:00. The day closes with a fireworks display launched from the 1,400-meter summit, weather permitting.
Day 2 (August 30): Lifts and gondolas begin operating at 7:30 AM, giving festival-goers time to hike further up the mountain before the day's performances begin. A popular route from Usagidaira climbs about an hour on foot to Happo Pond (Happo-ike), an alpine pond at 2,060 meters known for mirror reflections of the Hakuba Sanzan when weather conditions are right. The pond was featured in CNN's "31 Most Beautiful Places in Japan." Gates open at 10:00 and the show runs until 18:00.
Views of the fireworks, starry skies, sea of clouds, and Happo Pond's mirror reflections are all dependent on weather conditions.
The festival will proceed in light rain. However, if strong winds force the gondola lift to halt operations and venue access becomes difficult, or visitor safety cannot be assured, the event will be cancelled. The full cancellation and refund policy is available on the official website.
Around Hakuba
Hakuba Village offers a range of summer activities beyond the festival grounds, including paragliding, aerial athletic courses, and canyoning. The neighboring Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort is home to the panoramic HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR terrace and the "Yaho! Swing," a swing positioned to look out toward the Northern Alps.
Tickets are available on the Lawson Ticket platform.
At Hey Japan!, we strive to keep the events listed on our website as current as possible. However, it is important to note that event organizers may make changes to their plans, including cancelling events, altering schedules, or modifying admission requirements, without prior notice. To ensure that you have the most accurate information, we recommend checking official websites before attending any events.
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