As Yo La Tengo once sang, "summer's what you make it," and that's especially true in Japan this year. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are likely to throw a major wrench (or should that be hammer?) in the works for next summer's festival calendar, so it's worth enjoying things while the going is good.
And there's certainly no shortage of stuff to enjoy. In addition to the traditional matsuri (festivals) that pop up across the country throughout the summer, Japan hosts an increasingly diverse range of outdoor events, many of which have as much to offer for families as for bright young things looking to get blotto in the sun.
The organizers of Summer Sonic (Aug. 16-18; www.summersonic.com) have already announced that they'll be taking next year off, as one of their main venues is being requisitioned for the 2020 Games, but not before they've had a chance to mark their 20th anniversary with an extended three-day bash. B'z becomes the first Japanese act ever to headline the event — which is split between locations in Chiba and Osaka — alongside fellow rock warhorses Red Hot Chili Peppers and EDM duo The Chainsmokers. Don't sleep on getting tickets: This one's going to sell out.