JOIN ALIVE 2026 takes over Iwamizawa Park on July 18-19 with BUMP OF CHICKEN, Sakanaction, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Aimyon, ELLEGARDEN, EGO-WRAPPIN', BUCK-TICK, and Sukima Switch. This is the one you plan your summer around.
JOIN ALIVE started in Iwamizawa in 2012 as a fairly modest two-stage event with a regional booking focus. The founding idea was simple: Hokkaido has a short, brilliant summer, and the people who live here deserve a proper outdoor festival that does not require a flight to Honshu. The first year drew a few thousand people, the site was muddy after a Thursday rain, and the headliner's monitor rig blew a fuse twenty minutes into the set. The crew fixed it with gaffer tape and a borrowed cable from the support act. That is roughly the spirit the festival has carried ever since.
By 2016 the lineup had grown to include acts that were selling out Budokan, and the OASIS camping zone was added after enough attendees asked whether they could just stay on-site rather than catch the last train back to Sapporo. The 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled or heavily modified, which hurt. Coming back in 2022 with a full two-day card felt like something. The team spent those two quiet years reworking the food vendor selection and the site flow, which is why the current layout feels more considered than a lot of festivals twice the size.
+Are 1-Day and 2-Day tickets still available?
Both the 1-Day (¥14,500) and 2-Day Through (¥27,000) tickets are currently sold out. The official ticket page at joinalive.jp sometimes releases returned or unclaimed inventory in the weeks before the festival, so it is worth checking back. The OASIS Camp Plot (¥6,000) is still available as of the last update. See the site for current allocation.
+Which acts play on which day?
The full day-by-day schedule has not been published yet. When it drops it will be on the official JOIN ALIVE site and social channels. If you have a specific act you cannot miss, the 2-Day Through ticket (when available) is the safest option. For 1-Day buyers, check the schedule announcement before selecting your date.
+How do I get to Iwamizawa Park from Sapporo?
Take the JR Hakodate Main Line from Sapporo Station to Iwamizawa Station, about 40 minutes. Shuttle buses run from the station's east exit to the park gate throughout both festival days. If you are driving, the official site has parking lot guidance. The park's own lots fill early on Saturday, so arriving before 9:30 is advisable.
+What is the OASIS Camp Plot and how does it work?
The OASIS Camp Plot is a reserved 5x4 metre pitch inside the festival grounds at Iwamizawa Park, priced at ¥6,000. You add it to your existing ticket. It means you can camp on-site for the full weekend without commuting back to Sapporo each night. Plots are limited. Check the official site for remaining availability and the rules on what you can bring.
+What is the weather usually like at Iwamizawa in mid-July?
Hokkaido summers are cooler and drier than the rest of Japan. Iwamizawa Park sits at moderate elevation with a consistent westerly breeze off the Sorachi plain. Average highs in mid-July are around 26-28 degrees Celsius. Rain is possible, so a light waterproof layer is worth packing, but the oppressive humidity of a Tokyo or Osaka summer is not something you will encounter here.
Both the 1-Day (¥14,500) and 2-Day Through (¥27,000) tickets are currently sold out. The official ticket page at joinalive.jp sometimes releases returned or unclaimed inventory in the weeks before the festival, so it is worth checking back. The OASIS Camp Plot (¥6,000) is still available as of the last update. See the site for current allocation.
The full day-by-day schedule has not been published yet. When it drops it will be on the official JOIN ALIVE site and social channels. If you have a specific act you cannot miss, the 2-Day Through ticket (when available) is the safest option. For 1-Day buyers, check the schedule announcement before selecting your date.
Take the JR Hakodate Main Line from Sapporo Station to Iwamizawa Station, about 40 minutes. Shuttle buses run from the station's east exit to the park gate throughout both festival days. If you are driving, the official site has parking lot guidance. The park's own lots fill early on Saturday, so arriving before 9:30 is advisable.
The OASIS Camp Plot is a reserved 5x4 metre pitch inside the festival grounds at Iwamizawa Park, priced at ¥6,000. You add it to your existing ticket. It means you can camp on-site for the full weekend without commuting back to Sapporo each night. Plots are limited. Check the official site for remaining availability and the rules on what you can bring.