When & where: Metamorphose 2006 will be held Aug. 26-27 at the Japan Cycle Sports Center in Shizuoka Prefecture. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, music begins at 6 p.m. and goes on until 9 a.m. Sunday.

Inside track: The electronica dance event for Japan. Beautiful countryside and onsen galore in a place where you're never far from a view of Mount Fuji. Have faith in the guys that organize this party, they will provide you with world-class, underground electronic music. Techno, drum 'n' bass and house are all represented, as is jazz and post-rock. Trance will be nowhere to be seen.

Crowd: No punks, no rockers. Generally weekenders.

Crowd pleasers: If you want dancing, the place to be is the Lunar Stage: Mark Farina, who recently performed a live Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1 from the Miami music conference, will be playing the bass-heavy vocal house that his DJ reputation is growing on. DJ Patife, often paired with Brazil's other famous DJ, Marky, will be playing Jazz and samba influenced drum 'n' bass.

Could be interesting: Metamorphose has a reputation for knowing what is going on and what was going on in the dance/jazz/crossover/abstract/postrock scene. This year is no different. Manuel Gottsching will be performing his 1984 ambient-tech classic album "E2-E4" at 4 a.m. on the Solar Stage. Earlier on the same stage there's a live improvised electro set from U.K. act The Bays.

Chilling the crowd: The third and final stage, the Planet Stage, is acting as a chillout area. Mark Farina will be playing another set, this time "Mushroom Jazz" -- acid jazz mixed with elements of hip-hop and house. Also on this stage are Britain's The Idjut Boys, who mix everything from techno to house to funk to breaks and Eye from Vooredoms, who'll be playing a solo DJ set.

Damage: 12,000 yen in advance, 15,000 yen on the day. Parking is an extra 2,000 yen (3,000 yen on the day) and camping costs 2,000 yen per tent.

Getting there: From Mishima Station in Shizuoka Prefecture, take the Izuhakone line to Shuzenji Station, then take a 15-min. ride on the Naka Izu Toukai bus to the Japan Cycle Sports Center. By car, head down Route 136 from Mishima to Shuzenji. For more information check www.metamo.info