How to Search For Concerts in Japan – From Unknown and Local to Major Artists

Attending a major or local show in Japan should be on the top of anyone’s to do list. The live music scene here is booming and there are tons of wonderful artists to discover!

But you might be thinking,

of course I want to see some music, but how do I find shows in the first place?!

Whether you are going to see a popular artist or an artist with no online presence at all… here is how you can easily find concerts in Japan.

Major and Highly Popular Artists (ex. Ado, Yonezu Kenshi, Radwimps, AKFG)

Popular artist’s concerts can be found on the main ticket vendor websites like Ticket Pia and E-plus. They are like the Ticket Master of Japan – but less bots and price hiking.

Personally, I like searching on E-plus as they are the most overseas friendly.

Type the name of your artist (in Japanese) in the search bar to see if they have any upcoming shows. It will show you all their shows, including any festivals they will play.

The homepage has a nice overview of popular shows happening soon in Japan.

If you have a specific artist in mind, the artist’s website is also a good resource.

Their shows will be listed under the “公演” page.

Here is an example from AKFG’s website.

*Remember that major artist’s shows sell out fast and usually have a “lottery” style system where you have to apply for a ticket first and wait to see the results.

Mid-size and Indies Artists (ex. Mass of the Fermenting Dregs, Haru Nemuri)

Like major artists, ticket vendor websites and the artist’s homepage are still a good resource. Mid-size artists use SNS more, so I recommend checking their Instagram and Twitter pages for upcoming and surprise shows.

This website is hard to navigate, but its a great list of artist who are the best of indies in 2025. They are projected to have a big break and become mainstream soon.

If you like supporting mid-size artists in their journey, try listening to some of the songs provided in the article. You might get a chance to see them in Japan before they hit it big!

Small and Local Artists (ex. Shimokitazawa artists)

Small artists (around <100 capacity shows) stick to using Instagram and Twitter.

Check their pinned posts, bio, and story archive for show details.

I recommend following them so you can get information for last minute shows not on their official show list.

Artists of similar styles usually follow each other or play on the same bill. If you are searching for similar artists to see while you are visiting, check their show posters or following list.

For example, here is a random show poster I took from the artist, Geloomy, above on twitter.

Doona, who is on the same bill, is the same genre and style as Geloomy. All the artists on the bill will more or less have something in common.

This is a great way to discover new artists and get a taste of the local scene!

Super Underground and Artists With No Online Presence

For artists with no online presence, show posters at your local record store or bar are a good place to start looking.

My personal favorite way is to pick a bar you like and go to a random show.

For first timers, I recommend BASEMENT BAR for the best of up-and-coming artists in Shimokitazawa, DAISY BAR for general indies rock, and GAMUSO in Asagaya for global bands (great place to meet other travelers, too).

Bars usually stick to an overall theme.

If the owner likes funk, for example, a majority of the shows will be from local funk artists.

The bar will hang their show posters directly in the bar or post it on their SNS.

Artists are often friends of the bar owner, or friends of the other bands playing on the bill. Even if the band doesn’t have any online presence, you can still discover them and enjoy their show.

Were you able to find the concert you were searching for?

Have a great time! Until next time. ❤

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