Summer Sonic – Festival tips

Going to the festival

To get to the festival, you can either take the train, drive, or use the shuttle bus system Summer Sonic offers. I was staying in Shin-Osaka, which is a bit far from the venue, so I wanted to buy a shuttle bus ticket.

The shuttle took about 30 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station to Expo’70 Commemorative Park, where it was held this year. It was very convenient, with shuttles running every 30 minutes during the morning, and shuttles running in the evenings from 6pm. You also have the option to buy a return shuttle ticket at Summer Sonic for about 1,000 yen.

I recommend getting the shuttle if you’re an hour train ride away from the venue. You do have to pick a time slot to go in the morning, but it’s easier, faster, and you can get a drink ticket to use on the day.

Festival tips

Make sure to bring a towel. You will be sweating. Everyone had a towel around their necks to wipe off their sweat during the day.
Bring water, or money for buying water and energy drinks. It felt like over 40 degrees celsius during the event, and people were passing out from the heat. I would recommend buying drinks at the event, since all of them are kept cold, but it can add up as each bottle is 300 yen. I drank about 4-5 bottles in one day.
Bring a handheld fan, sunbrella, and a hat. There isn’t a lot of shade, so when you aren’t watching a performer, you can use the sunbrella to make shade and protect you from the sun.
Plan out who you want to see perform. The event area is big since it’s a park, and you will have to walk a lot to get from one stage to another. Planning out who you want to see before the event and seeing what stage they are performing at will save you lots of time.
Go get merchandise early in the day, or when a big artist is performing. The line for merch was so long. I recommend getting a towel or a t-shirt!

Attending Summer Sonic was an incredible experience that I’ll never forget. At my first music festival, I loved to see the blend of Japanese and foreign performers. Whether you have been to many or you’re a first-timer like me, I highly recommend adding Summer Sonic to your bucket list if you find yourself in Japan during August. Thank you for reading, and I’m excited to share more of my adventures in Japan soon!