The Fuji Rock Festival is one of those magical events. Fantastic food at a great price, no queues to buy beer, all night hot spring baths, a stunning mountain setting, an incredibly friendly crowd and of course, some of the best in British, American & Japanese indie, dance and world music.
With past line ups featuring international mega stars Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis, The Pixies, Bjork, Coldplay and Eminem; the best of British indie such as Arctic Monkeys and Super Furry Animals; and festival favourites Scissor Sisters and Happy Mondays, you would have thought that Japan's annual Fuji Rock festival would be better known to music lovers across the globe.
But in an era when you have to stump up a deposit nearly a year in advance to get your hands on a ticket for Glastonbury, Fuji Rock remains an undiscovered gem on the world festival circuit; a festival where the original counter-culture ideals of Glastonbury still hold true, 'alternative' still carries some meaning and where relentless consumerism can be left behind for the weekend. Oh, and the toilets are clean, there are showers, not a spot of litter is to be seen, and there is a steak eating competition with the chance to win a year's supply of beef!!
Fuji Rock is a festival to treasure and we can guarantee you will have a fantastic time!
Dates 2013
Fuji Rock Festival 2013 is at Naeba ski resort on 26th, 27th & 28th July 2013
Our package is designed for arrivals in Japan on Tuesday 23rd July (extra nights or tailored arrangements can easily be arranged however).
Prices:
2013
Standard:
Twin: £820 Single: £910
Upgrade:
Twin: N/A Single: N/A
What's Included:
- 3 nights' accommodation at the Toyoko Inn Shinjuku (alternatives available on request)
- Light breakfast in Tokyo
- 4 Day Flexi JR East Rail Pass (covers all transfers)
- 3 day ticket to the Fuji Rock Festival
- Camp site ticket
- Tent delivered to festival site
- InsideJapan Tours' handy Info-Pack
- International Flights
- Local transport in Tokyo
- Any entrance fees for shrines, temples and museums
- Baggage handling (except for tent) - you will be expected to carry your bags for the duration of the trip!
Please note: InsideJapan Tours Ltd are not an official representative of the Fuji Rock Festival or of the festival promoters SMASH. Nor are InsideJapan Tours Ltd an official ticket agent for the Fuji Rock Festival. Tickets will be purchased for you by our Japan Office from an official agency. If for any reason we are unable to obtain tickets your deposit will be refunded in full.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 Tokyo
Meals: None
Tue 23rd July 2013: Arrive Tokyo Narita Airport and transfer by express train to the amazing Shinjuku district of the city. This is Tokyo's most buzzing district; to the west of the railway tracks the towering hotels and office buildings soar skyward; elevated roads keep the traffic moving, whilst travelators ferry thousands of businessmen and government officials from the station to their offices and back again. To the east of the tracks you'll be met by a sea of neon lights, flashing and whirling to entice you into the thousands of bars, restaurants, karaoke boxes and pachinko parlours that make up Tokyo's number one entertainments district. With mega department stores and top boutiques aplenty to choose from, you won't want for chances to stock up on the latest Japanese fashions! This is a truly intense introduction to modern life Tokyo style.
Day 2 Tokyo
Meals: Breakfast
Wed 24th July 2013: Today you will have a full day to check out the sights of the city. Tokyo is made up of several districts each with their own character and charms. Shibuya is the fashion capital of Japan, packed with ultra-trendy clothes shops and anime stores; Asakusa is a glimpse of pre-war Japan with the bustling Sensoji temple at its centre and an array of street stalls and local foods to choose from; in the Ginza you can visit the Sony building for a view of technology yet to arrive in the west; Odaiba offers an artificial beach (sand imported from Hawaii!), great shops, the Toyota exhibition hall and an enormous Ferris wheel. There is something for everyone in what is one of the greatest capital cities of the world. In the evening be sure to head out for some local cuisine whether it be ramen or yakitori under the railway tracks or tempura on the 40th floor of a Shinjuku skyscraper. If you fancy a dance tonight the clubs in Shibuya stage pre-festival party nights which often feature unannounced appearances from festival bands. Well worth checking out.
Day 3 Naeba
Meals: Breakfast
Thu 25th July 2013: Japan is known around the world for its ultra-efficient, ultra-fast 'Bullet' Trains and today you will ride the Shinkansen north to Echigo Yuzawa, a journey of just over 1 hour. Here you will join the queues for the free shuttle bus to the Naeba ski resort, home to the Fuji Rock Festival. Located deep in the mountains, the festival site is like no other on earth; soaring peaks tower up on either side of the valley whilst a crystal clear mountain stream runs the length of the site. Camping is on the fairways of the resort's golf course so be sure to arrive early as the flat ground gets taken quickly!
Day 4 to Day 6 Naeba
Meals: None
Fri 26th July 2013 to Sun 28th July 2013: Fuji Rock is like no other festival; great music is performed side-by-side with the likes of eating contests and some bizarre stand up comedy (Japanese is not required!). Helicopter rides over the festival site are available for just 3000 yen (around £20) and the Dragondola cable car will take you over the mountains to a high-up plateau for some stunning views and festival games! 6 stages provide an eclectic mix of rock, indie, pop, dance and jazz. You'll also have a chance to sample some great food with no fried chicken or burger van selling over priced fried carboard in sight! Festival food Japanese style is a great mix of noodles, curry, kebabs, Thai, Indian, grilled meats and rice dishes all at extremely reasonable prices - pretty much everything is 500 yen (approximately £3). That goes for the beer too and Fuji Rock sells quality beers with not a Budweiser to be seen (thank God!). Be sure to check out the late night stages after the main festival shuts down for the night at around midnight. This is also the best time to visit the natural hotspring bath house for a good scrub and a soak!
Day 7 Tokyo
Meals: None
Mon 29th July 2013: Sadly the festival is all over and it is time to return to Tokyo. The shuttle buses leave every 30 minutes or so, transporting the festival hoards back to Echigo Yuzawa station where you will board the Shinkansen back to Tokyo. You'll have a final night back in Shinjuku to sample the delights of the capital before heading back to the airport the following morning. For those of you with enough energy be sure to head down to Shibuya clubs for the post festival party nights; the prefect way to end your Fuji Rock Festival adventures in Japan.
Day 8 Depart
Meals: Breakfast
Tue 30th July 2013: Your Japan experiences are at an end as you return to Narita Airport for your flight home. We hope you had a great time at what we think is the world's greatest festival and that you will be back for more next year!
Photos
The campsite is somewhat hilly to say the least. Our advice: Arrive early!
The enchanted mirrorball forest
The site as viewed from the air
The main site entrance beckoning you in...
The main stage is in a spectacular natural bowl at the foot of the mountains
Night is when the site is at its most dramatic
Fuji rock is still a hippy festival... sort of
It might be raining but everybody's still happy!
Fire breathing robots - all part of the after hours madness
A festival goer is surprised by the resident bouncer
Shark attack!
Crystals
Pricing Information
| 2013 | |||
| Standard Price: | £820 (Single Price: £910) | ||
| Upgrade Price: | N/A (Single Price: N/A) | ||
Extra Nights: |
|||
Standard Grade |
|||
| Start: Twin Share pp £45
Single pp £70
End: Twin Share pp £45 Single pp £70 |
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Accommodation
Toyoko Inn Shinjuku Kabuki-cho
Tokyo
Business Hotel
Located in the heart of Shinjuku's famous entertainment district of Kabuki-cho, the Toyoko Inn offers great value accommodation with all the amenities you will need. A light complimentary breakfast is also included.
Tent!
Naeba
Red
For your trip to the Fuji Rock Festival we will be supplying you with a tent, delivered direct to the festival site for you to pick up upon arrival. Your tent will be a basic but sturdy dome style with 1, 2, 3 and 4 man versions available depending on your group size. After the festival is over you can either return the tent to us using the pre-paid form provided or take it home for all your future festival fun!
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© InsideAsia Tours Ltd. 2013