The HAKUBA Mountain Festival 2026 is scheduled for August 29 (Saturday) and 30 (Sunday), 2026, at Usagidaira Terrace near the summit of the Happo Gondola Lift "Adam" in Hakuba Happo-one, Nagano Prefecture. Staged at an elevation of 1,400 meters, the festival brings together live music and panoramic views of the Northern Alps, with two stages set up within a short walk of each other for a seamless experience throughout the day.
Artists Performing at HAKUBA Mountain Festival 2026
Shonan no Kaze
Shonan no Kaze — known for tracks such as "Junrenka" and "Suirengaho" — is set to perform at the festival. Since their 2003 debut, the group has delivered high-energy live shows that have drawn fans of all ages. Additional sub-events tied to their appearance are also planned.
- Official site: https://www.134r.com/
DJ Dainoji
DJ Dainoji is a DJ unit formed by Nobuhiko Otani and Yosuke Daichi of the comedy duo Dainoji. Active as DJs since the 2000s, they also hold consecutive world championship titles in air guitar. Their sets blend DJ performance with talk, staging, and audience participation to create an inclusive, entertainment-rich atmosphere.
- Official site: https://dienoji.jp/
A Two-Day Mountain and Music Experience
DAY 1 — Alpine Flowers, Live Sets, and a Starlight Fireworks Finale
An approximately 8-minute gondola ride from the base leads to the Sky Stage, set against the backdrop of the Hakuba Three Peaks of the Northern Alps. Visitors can move between the two stages throughout the day, take in alpine wildflowers at their feet, and breathe the clean mountain air. The first day closes with a fireworks display launched at close range from 1,400 meters, framed by a starlit sky (subject to weather conditions).
- Happo Alpine Line: https://www.happo-one.jp/trekking/alpenline/
DAY 2 — Morning Trek to Happo Pond, Then Afternoon Music
On the second day, gondola and lift operations begin at 7:30 AM. Arriving early makes it possible to trek to Happo Pond (elevation 2,060 m), about one hour on foot from the gondola summit. The pond is known for mirror-like reflections of the Hakuba Three Peaks and has been featured on CNN's list of 31 Beautiful Sceneries of Japan. Cloud seas may also be visible depending on conditions. After the hike, the afternoon music program picks up again at the festival stages.
- Happo Pond: https://www.happo-one.jp/happo-ike/
Two Stages Above the Clouds
Sky Stage
Located at the gondola summit at 1,400 m, this premium outdoor stage has the Northern Alps directly behind it, providing a sweeping panoramic backdrop for every performance.
Rooftop Stage
Set on the open sky deck of "Hakuba Mountain Beach," the beach resort concept atop Usagidaira Terrace, this stage offers a relaxed, open-air atmosphere.
Activities in the Surrounding Area
The Hakuba area offers outdoor activities such as paragliding, aerial adventure courses, and canyoning for those looking to extend their stay beyond the festival. The nearby Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort is home to the scenic terrace "HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR" and the social-media-popular "Yahoo! Swing," both of which make for a worthwhile side trip between festival days.
- Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort: https://iwatake-mountain-resort.com/green
- EX Adventure: https://ex-adventure.jp/
Aerial adventure course at EX Adventure
Hakuba Mountain Harbor at Hakuba Iwatake
Yahoo! Swing at Hakuba Iwatake
Getting to Hakuba
- Train: Limited express "Azusa" from Shinjuku to Hakuba (direct morning service only), approximately 3 hours 40 minutes
- Shinkansen + Bus: Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano (approx. 90 minutes), then express bus (approx. 1 hour 40 minutes)
- Car: Approximately 4 hours from central Tokyo
Event Details
- Event name: HAKUBA Mountain Festival 2026
- Dates: August 29 (Sat) and 30 (Sun), 2026
- Venue: Usagidaira, Hakuba Happo-one (near gondola summit station)
- Hours:
- August 29 (Sat): Open/Start 12:00 PM, End 7:00 PM
- August 30 (Sun): Open/Start 10:00 AM, End 6:00 PM
- Tickets:
- 1-Day: Adult ¥7,900 / With parking ¥9,400 / Children (ages 4 to elementary school) ¥2,000
- 2-Day: Adult ¥12,000 / With parking ¥15,000 / Children (ages 4 to elementary school) ¥4,000
- Children aged 3 and under: Free
- All tickets include unlimited gondola rides
- Official site: https://hakuba-mt-fes.com/
- Ticket sales: Lawson Tickets — https://l-tike.com/hakuba_mtfes2026/
- Early-bird tickets: First-priority early-bird sales (first-come, first-served) from April 23 (Thu) 12:00 PM through May 6 (Wed, holiday) 11:59 PM
Note: The event proceeds in rain. It may be cancelled if strong winds cause the gondola to suspend service and venue access cannot be ensured safely. Please check the official website for cancellation criteria and refund policies.
