Jozenji Street Jazz Festival
The Jozenji Street Jazz Festival is one of Japan’s largest and most popular city-wide music events.
This massive festival transforms the entire city of Sendai into a vibrant stage for a whole weekend.
It is held annually in mid-September, with the city’s beautiful tree-lined Jozenji-dori Avenue serving as the main hub.
Despite its name, the festival features an incredibly diverse range of musical genres beyond just jazz.
You can hear everything from rock, pop, and blues to world music, gospel, and ska.
Hundreds of amateur and professional bands from all over Japan and beyond perform throughout the city.
Dozens of stages are set up in parks, public squares, shopping arcades, and on street corners.
The entire event is run by volunteers and operates under the philosophy that the city is the stage, with no barriers between performers and the audience.
It is a wonderful expression of community and the love of music, with a joyful and relaxed atmosphere.
Event Details
- Dates
- The festival will be held over a weekend in mid-September.
- The dates are Saturday, September 13th – Sunday, September 14th, 2025.
- Time
- Musical performances typically run from around 11:00am until the evening on both days.
- Location
- Various locations throughout central Sendai, with the main stages located along Jozenji-dori Avenue and in Kotodai Park, Miyagi Prefecture.
- Admission
- All outdoor performances are free to watch.
- Please Note
- With hundreds of bands playing on dozens of stages, it is essential to check the official festival guide or website to find the locations and times of specific performances.
- The city becomes very crowded, so be prepared for a lively atmosphere.
Directions & Travel Information
- By Train
- The festival is centered in downtown Sendai, which is easily accessible via the main train station.
- Sendai Station
- Sendai Station is a major hub served by the Tohoku Shinkansen, making it easily accessible from Tokyo and other parts of Japan.
- It is also served by numerous local JR lines.
- From Sendai Station to the Venue
- The main festival areas are accessible from Sendai Station via subway or a pleasant walk.
- Sendai Subway Namboku Line
- Take the subway two stops from Sendai Station to Kōtōdai-kōen Station.
- This station opens directly into the heart of the festival area.
Event Summary
| calendar_month DATE | Sep 13 2025 - Sep 14 2025 |
|---|---|
| schedule TIME | ALL DAY |
| payments Cost | FREE |
| info Website | Official Website |
| location_on Location | Sendai |
|---|---|
| map Area | Miyagi Sendai |
| category CATEGORY | Music |
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