Hitokiwa Music Festival 2026

Why You Should Visit

A free open-air music festival where artists of different abilities, ages, nationalities and genres share one stage. It began in 2022 at Sannomiya Plats in Kobe and has moved through Amemura, Umeda and Expo 2025; this fifth edition takes over Toki-no-Hiroba, the rooftop plaza directly above JR Osaka Station, with pop-up booths including children's workshops and food and drink stalls alongside the stage. The line-up includes KANARU, a blind junior-high-school artist, rapper GOMESS, BAGDAD CAFE THE trench town, and Helicopter Secondhand as the first overseas act, with collaboration sets between performers and short talks after each performance. Tsunagari Band, a large ensemble of children with developmental differences, also plays. It is right at the station, needs no booking, and is the kind of show you can stop for on your way past. Planned and run by Hitoto Neiro, a company based in Tarumi, Kobe.

Essentials

location

Toki-no-Hiroba plaza, 5F, Osaka Station City (JR Osaka Station)

period

October 11, 2026 (Sun)

Time

12:00-22:00 (times may change)

cost

Free to watch

Links

Official Website

Kobe · Gluten-free

Basque cheesecakeBaked with rice flour, no wheat. Whole 12cm, serves 2-3¥4,700 incl. shipping (Japan only)

access

Directly connected to JR Osaka Station: the plaza is the 5th-floor bridge between the North Gate and South Gate buildings, reached by escalators inside the station. Drivers can use the paid Osaka Station City car park.

There are 11 car parks within a 12-minute walk of Toki-no-Hiroba plaza, 5F, Osaka Station City (JR Osaka Station), and 6 public restrooms within 8 minutes. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

TICKETS / REGISTRATION

No booking or ticket is needed. A crowdfunding campaign to fund the festival runs on CAMPFIRE from 4 September (target 1.5 million yen, all-in, until late October).

NOTE

Announced line-up (A to Z)

BAGDAD CAFE THE trench town
DIVERz
GOMESS
Helicopter Secondhand (the festival's first overseas act)
KANARU (blind junior-high-school artist)
Chihiro Watanabe
Tsunagari Band (a large ensemble of children from the Tsunagari Music Lab. school)
and more

Site layout (planned)

Music stage, dance performances and talks
Pop-up booths including children's workshops
Food and drink stalls
Expected attendance: 10,000 or more

About the stage

Many collaboration sets between performers are planned
Short talks with the artists follow each performance

Previous editions

2022: 1st edition, Sannomiya Plats (Kobe)
2023: 2nd edition, BIG STEP (Amemura, Osaka)
4 November 2024: 3rd edition, Hankyu Sun Plaza (Umeda)
25 May 2025: 4th edition, Healthcare Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai (over 30,000 visitors, organiser figure)

* The timetable has not been announced. Performers and times may change.

FAQ

Do I need a ticket or reservation?

No. Watching is free and there is no ticket or booking. You can come and go during the event.

What happens if it rains?

Toki-no-Hiroba is an outdoor plaza under a roof, so light rain does not stop the show. Any changes for severe weather are announced on the official website and social media.

Is it okay to bring children?

Yes. The festival is designed for people of all ages and abilities, and a children's band is on the bill. Being at the station makes it easy to leave whenever you need to, so a short visit works well.

Calendar

Add it to your calendar so you can check back on it later.

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