Why did you come to Fuji Rock? -Visitor interviews at Fuji Rock Festival'25-【2】

This is a SPICE original project “Why did you come to Fuji Rock?” that investigates the appeal of Asia's largest outdoor music festival, Fuji Rock Festival, from various viewpoints about how Fuji Rock is seen in their eyes by conducting interviews with visitors from overseas. We interviewed at Naeba Ski Resort in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture from July 25 to July 27 in 2025.
“Fuji Rock Festival '25” featured over 200 domestic and international artists, including headliners Fred Again.., Vulfpeck, and Vampire Weekend, and attracted a total of 122,000 attendees over the four days, including the pre-festival party.Foreign visitors accounted for 20% of the total, and nearly half of them traveled from overseas.
This article introduces the fascination of “Fuji Rock” as reflected by 15 groups of overseas music fans.

Name  / Nationality / Age / Occupation
Question1: How many times have you been to Fuji Rock?
Question2: What is your purpose for coming to Fuji Rock?
Question3: What are you looking forward to at Fuji Rock?
Question4: What is your impression of Fuji Rock?
Question5: Any tips for people visiting from overseas to enjoy Fuji Rock?

 

■Just be prepared ahead of time. And do your research beforehand too. 

Umair Khalil / USA / 31 / Software engineer

Q1: “First time.”

Q2: “My wife always wanted to visit Fuji Rock. So we actually came to Japan just for Fuji Rock.”

Q4: “I like Fuji Rock. I heard of a lot of new artists for the first time. Sunset Roller Coaster, Hiroko Yamamura and a few others whose names I can't remember right now. But yeah, it's a nice place, nice time. Fred again.. was great too.”

Q5: “Prepare for the heat. Carry a lot of bug spray. You know, just be prepared ahead of time. And do your research beforehand too. Make sure you bring everything you need.”

 

■Buy merch as soon as possible, too.

Ray / Canada / 34 / Forklift operator, Actor and Comedian

Q1: “First time.”

Q2: “This for sure. I went to Osaka for Universal One Piece show but now I'm here. This is big and so cool.”

Q3: “Originally, why I came to Japan was just so I could see Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, who played this morning, who were amazing. I'm also excited to see Balming Tiger. I'm going to Haim. Gosh, there's so many.”

Q5: “Bring your own water bottle if possible. Sunscreen. And make sure you get in the shade as much as possible. And buy merch as soon as possible, too.”

 

■Wear comfortable shoes, there's lots of walking.And just be nice to people around.

Goldwin / India / 36 / Advertising
Semir / India / 38 / Company employee
JJ / India / 38 / Musician
Stuart / India / 39 / Musician

Q1: “First time / second time.”

Q2: “Fuji Rock mainly and also to see Japan altogether. We went to Hokkaido, Osaka, Kyoto, Okinawa and more places. We've been here for two weeks now.”

Q3: “Wolfpack, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Ginger Root, Balming Tiger, Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge, and Tatsuro Yamashita. I really like his music. He's the first time to play here. And he's 72, right? Hope it goes well.”

Q5: “Water, sunscreen and Fields of heaven. Fields of heaven is the best stage.”

“I would say stay hydrated, wear comfortable shoes, there's lots of walking, and visit the Fuji Rock website. And just be nice to people around.”

 

■It's really good. So nice. Really genuinely.

Keumsong / South Korea / 30 / Company employee
Yousun / South Korea / 30 / Company employee

Q1: “First time.”

Q3: “Heim!”

Q4: “It's really good. So nice. Really genuinely. I'm really, really surprised. In Korea, Pentaport Rock Festival, that is the biggest festival in Korea. But compared to Fuji, it's really different, bigger and more nature. There are a lot of people from international too.”

Q5: “Nothing buy in Korea, just buy in here. This is our first time to come to this festival. So, we bought everything for camping but it doesn't need. I mean, you can buy everything here. Just bring your money and yourself.”

*Editor's note: There are limitations to what can be purchased at the venue, so we recommend that you bring anything you need yourself.

■I should bring my child someday here. The kids land, I do like here.

Layla / China / 36 / Equity analyst
Hana / China / 42 / Finance
Eilen / China / 30 / Finance

Q1: “First time / second time.”

Q3: “Vaundy and Fred again.. were very cool. Vaundy’s performance was really good. I think it's better than I listened in a music app. We are expecting like She Her Her Hers and a lot of R&B or jazz shows tomorrow.”

Q4: “It combines nature and music and the vibe is really good.”

“Fuji Rock is like a utopia world for me.”

“I think I should bring my child someday here. The kids land, I do like here.”

Q5: “Please, nearby. As near as possible to find accomodation. We're not camping here, but a 25-minute walk is a bit far.”

 

FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL '26, scheduled to be held from July 24th to 26th, will feature headliners such as The xx, Khruangbin, and Massive Attack, as well as Japanese acts such as Fujii Kaze, XG, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, and Hi-STANDARD. Keep an eye out for the artist lineup and ticket information being announced one after another. Make this summer even more exciting with Fuji Rock!

 

Interview and text by Yuko 'Dora' Soutome

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