Rural Festival
The open-air electronic extravaganza combines the festival experience with onsens and nature-based activities.
Rural is a wild embrace of community and nature. Electronic music and natural settings often compliment each other well, but at the Japanese festival they're uniquely combined to create an idyllic, one-of-a-kind event.
Last year's edition took place in the mountains of Niigata's ski resort haven, Yuzawa. For this year's chapter, rural is upping sticks to nowhere CAMP: a site situated in the town of Inawashiro that's surrounded by verdant greenery and the wonders of nature. It's at the base of Mount Adatara, too, that's been ranked as one of the 100 most famous mountains in the country.
Japan may also be known for its onsens, but not many festivals can boast an onsen experience. This unique festival combination can be found a short drive away from rural at the renowned Numajiri Onsen – the highest single-source natural spring in Japan. The extreme onsen option features open-air baths in the wilderness. Furthermore, the campsite offers various nature-based activities such as trekking and mountain biking.
That’s not to say the music takes a back foot either, with last year’s chapter featuring a roster of well-loved acts within the global underground scene whilst championing east and southeast Asian selectors, such as Wata Igarashi and Chee Shimizu. This year, you can experience sets from the likes of Bangkok's Sunju Hargun, Taiwan's Yoshi Nori, Detroit's Patrick Russell and UK-based producer Jane Fitz.
Rural Festival is one of the finalists for Trippin 50, a cultural calendar featuring the best events around the world. Check out the Trippin 50 hub here.
Date and Location
Rural Festival runs from 12-15 July 2024 at nowhere CAMP, Inawashiro.
Price
Several categories of tickets are available, and many have now sold out. These range from 13,000 to 21,000 yen.
Weather & Accomodation
The temperature at rural is predicted to range from 27° to 17°. There are nearby hotel options, and camping is available onsite.
Transport
Bus tickets can be purchased online.
Accessibility
There is currently no information on accessibility.
