RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL - An All-Night Outdoor Music Festival in Hokkaido, Japan That Thrills Everyone!

The RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 2025 in EZO will once again take place this year on August 15 and 16 at Ishikari Bay New Port (Special Outdoor Stage beside Tarukawa Pier). Last year, more than 68,000 people gathered to enjoy live music from over 70 artists across five stages, both large and small, sharing unforgettable moments under the sky - through the day and into the night.

Celebrating its 25th edition since its inaugural event in 1999, RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL (RSR) has become a dream destination for music lovers - a rock festival that many hope to attend at least once in their lives. With a growing number of international visitors from both overseas and within Japan, the energy of the festival continues to evolve. We at the SPICE editorial team interviewed several first-time international visitors to hear what drew them in, and what truly captivated them. Here are their honest impressions - straight from the heart!

Music in the Nature of Hokkaido. Amazing Local Food, Too!

Ishikari, the location of the RSR festival, is situated in western Hokkaido. Access is convenient - it takes about 40 minutes by shuttle bus or car from Sapporo. Surrounded by beautiful nature, the venue offers camping areas where you can enjoy barbecues and spend the night in your tent. (There are all-night shows on the second day.)

While the summer heat has become a serious issue across Japan, Hokkaido remains relatively cool - even chilly at night - allowing you to enjoy the festival without uncomfortable sweating. Each show is about 50 minutes long per artist or band, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the music to the fullest.

Let’s meet Cliff and Sian! They are English teachers in Japan, and both love heavy metal rock. They attended the festival for two days. LiSA, UVERworld, and SKS Zigzag were their favorites, and they were thrilled. They usually discover Japanese music through Spotify, anime theme songs, or even their students. As for RSR, they were amazed at how well-organized the event is and how great the food is - offering a wide variety - especially compared to one of the biggest festivals in the UK, the Download Festival, where Iron Maiden, Metallica, and AC/DC have performed in the past.

That’s the point: the variety and quality of food at RSR truly impresses foreign visitors. Just name any dish - ramen and mutton barbecue from local Hokkaido producers, fresh corn and vegetables from the region, sweets made with Yubari melons. They’re all delicious, and you feel like you can’t miss any of them. Cliff and Sian enjoyed pizza, ramen, and mutton barbecue. They even went on a hunt for a hot dog at the food area because they wanted to try one.

We met Ross at the entrance gate. He works for a Japanese consulting firm and is currently on summer vacation. He previously lived in Japan and is fluent in Japanese. Participating in RSR was his debut at a music festival, coming to see his favorite Japanese artists, even though many music festivals also take place in China. He traveled all the way from China for Vaundy, Naotaro Moriyama, Hitsujibungaku, and Ryokuoushoku Shakai. Before the festival, he enjoyed touring Sapporo and Jozankei, famous for its hot springs. After RSR, he even went to Ado’s concert, fully enjoying his holiday plans.

Here we have Jerry from Seattle, USA, a first-timer at RSR, and Kaitland, attending RSR for the third time. They enjoyed amazing Hokkaido food like miso ramen and sushi in Sapporo the day before. They were thrilled by the festival’s location and its scale. The show by Awitch was especially exciting for them. After the interview, they couldn’t wait for the shows by Vaundy and KID FRESINO.

Jerry usually listens to Japanese songs on a radio program specializing in Japanese music. He was a bit surprised to see kids playing on a snow slide at the snow-play booth set up in the PROVO area - obviously, it was summer.

Svetlana from Russia, who lives in Sapporo, isn’t very familiar with Japanese music but loves rock music. She had dreamed of coming to RSR one day, and this time she finally made up her mind to come with her friends. After studying abroad in Japan, she started working here. Although she doesn’t know much about the musicians, she believes rock & roll doesn’t need words to be loved. The shows truly resonated with her and made her smile from the bottom of her heart. Growing up in a small town in Russia, RSR is the biggest festival she has ever experienced. She said she would definitely come again and have fun next year.

Here’s Bastiaf from France. He is studying abroad and learning Japanese in Tokyo. A few years ago, he had planned to visit Japan, but couldn’t because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he started enjoying learning Japanese and eventually moved to Tokyo. He got into Japanese music through anime. He often goes to music festivals and concerts in Tokyo. This was his first time attending RSR, and he was looking forward to the shows by Vaundy, Lucky Kilimanjaro, LiSA, Saucy Dog, Frederic, and ammo. Back in France, they have one of the biggest metal rock festivals, HELLFEST, held in Clisson. While there is a world-class festival in his country, Bastiaf appreciated RSR’s strengths: easy access to the venue, comfort, and variety of food. He planned to return to France soon after RSR, so he wanted to enjoy the festival, including the all-night shows, right up until the last minute.

Last but not least, here is Euan from Scotland, who moved to Hokkaido seven years ago and works for the snowboard brand, Island Snowboards, located in Niseko, famous for its rich-quality snow. His girlfriend, Maya, has been in love with RSR and has been attending every year since she was 9 years old. Her father has been coming to RSR for more than 20 years. He is an “Ezo Rocker,” a name for people who love RSR. This is Euan’s first time at the festival, and he brought his Australian friend, Bochan. They all enjoyed the full two days, spending the nights at the campsite. Euan was amazed by the energetic show of Dohatsuten and the powerful show by Awitch.

Interviewing visitors from other countries, everyone said they want to come to RSR again. The nature and food of Hokkaido captured their hearts deeply. We all share precious moments through music that transcend language, culture, and borders. Actually, we asked them a tough question: What challenges did you face? Some said they couldn’t use the app since it’s all in Japanese, and others mentioned that purchasing shuttle bus tickets wasn’t easy. We believe RSR can attract even more international visitors by addressing these obstacles.

The RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 2025 in EZO is officially scheduled to take place again this year on Friday, August 15 and Saturday, August 16. Tickets for international visitors are now on sale, so be sure to check them out!

Interview, writing, and photos by Kento Onishi
Translated by Kazumasa Ueda