A new festival begins in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture—a location rapidly gaining attention! “Kiryu Festival” has been officially announced.

“Lately, Kiryu is the place to be.”

You may have heard such rumors recently.

The inaugural “Kiryu Festival” will be held over two days on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Shinkawa Park in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture!

SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP is implementing this festival as part of an internal project. Through promotional support, we are helping to share the unique charm of Kiryu with a wider audience.

The lineup features artists that music lovers won’t want to miss, including Ovall, DONGROSSO, DÉ DÉ MOUSE, and TENDRE. Venue production will be handled by GREENROOM, the team behind festivals at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse and other major locations.

This promises to be a “culture-oriented festival” where visitors can enjoy not only the music but also the space and the city’s unique atmosphere.

Why hold a festival in Kiryu?

The Kiryu Festival began with the vision of Kondo from SUNNY SIDE UP, a Kiryu native, who wanted to give people a reason to visit the city.

In recent years, Kiryu City has been gaining national attention, having been featured on TV Tokyo’s economic documentary “Dawn of Gaia” and appearing in various “Most Desirable Places to Live” rankings.

While vintage clothing and textile cultures are deeply rooted in the city’s history, Kiryu also actively supports new challenges through initiatives like subsidy programs for new entrepreneurs. As a result, highly creative individuals and entrepreneurs are beginning to gather here. The unique charm of Kiryu lies in the natural blend of new culture—such as vintage shops, cafes, and saunas in renovated vacant buildings—with traditional streetscapes.

The festival is designed to allow visitors to experience not just the music, but also the culture and the inherent appeal of the city.

Another key point is the ease of access.

The city is accessible via a single limited express train from Asakusa or Kita-Senju Station, reaching the area in approximately two hours from central Tokyo. It is close enough for a casual visit without the need for extensive travel planning.

Two days to enjoy the entire city, not just the festival

Some of the performing artists are actually based in Kiryu.

A unique aspect of this festival is the ability to experience the local culture and atmosphere alongside the music. Furthermore, the area surrounding Shinkawa Park is dotted with spots perfect for exploring, including vintage clothing stores, coffee shops, and local eateries.

Enjoy the live performances, then take a leisurely stroll through the city.

This relaxed, unhurried festival experience is perhaps the greatest appeal of the Kiryu Festival.

This summer, choose to “visit a city for a festival.”

Using a music festival as an entry point to encounter a city’s culture and people—the Kiryu Festival is set to be an event that offers this new way of enjoyment.

On a weekend in June, why not travel just a bit further from Tokyo to Kiryu, the city currently rising in popularity?