Looking to enjoy a different side of Japan this autumn? Ibaraki Prefecture is gearing up for one of its biggest community festivals, with IBARAKI DREAM LAND transforming Kasama into a giant, theme park-style celebration this October.
Held at the Kasama Art Forest Park Event Plaza, the festival attracted around 20,000 visitors in 2025 and returns this year with even more experiences packed into its two-day program.
The idea is simple: rather than just watching a festival, visitors are encouraged to jump in and enjoy it. Live music and dance performances will share the venue with local and international food, a beer garden, crafts, fashion, Taiwanese cuisine, workshops and family activities.
The program blends traditional Japanese festival-style entertainment with contemporary attractions, including fireworks, nighttime illuminations, a 1,000-person choir, sauna facilities and hot air balloon rides. A dedicated dog area will also be added this year.
The festival runs from 10am to 8pm, making it possible to experience the atmosphere throughout the day before settling in for the evening entertainment and fireworks.
Admission is priced at just 500 JPY, with free entry for junior high school students and younger.
For inbound travellers, IBARAKI DREAM LAND offers an opportunity to experience a lively local event while exploring an area of Japan that sits outside the country's most familiar tourist routes. And with the festival taking place in Kasama, known for its art and pottery traditions, there's plenty of reason to make a wider trip of it.
