I went to hoshioto Camp’23 (Hoshioto Camp), held on Saturday, October 28, 2023.
hoshioto (Hoshioto), held every May in Ibara City, is a historic local outdoor music festival that has continued for 12 years since 2012 as a completely independent event.
While hoshioto has six stages, “hoshioto Camp” is a somewhat more laid-back acoustic version, scaled down to three stages.
Here’s a brief look at what it was like, focusing on a practical report that may be useful when attending next time.
The information presented was current when this article was published in November 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
hoshioto Camp: Overview
The day was sunny, with a high, clear autumn sky.
The sky was beautiful—perhaps even more so than at hoshioto in May—up on a small mountain about a 10-minute drive from central Ibara City.
2023 marked the third time “hoshioto Camp” was held.
It began in October 2021 as a comeback for hoshioto, which is held in May but had been canceled for two years, in 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although “camp” appears in the event title, you don’t necessarily have to camp.
If you plan to pitch a tent, you’ll need a paid “Camp/Tarp Ticket,” separate from your admission ticket.
hoshioto Camp: Practical Report—Getting There
The event started at 10 a.m., but after taking care of chores and errands, I arrived at around 1 p.m. at a leisurely pace.
Even if you’re not camping, we recommend securing a base for resting and storing your belongings when you arrive.
There’s a seating area behind the main stage, “SKY FILED.” You can simply spread out a picnic blanket you brought and claim a spot.
Everyone can enjoy the event however they like, and some people pitched tents in areas quite far from the stages.
Relaxing in nature as professional performances drift over on the breeze…
It’s an experience you don’t get to enjoy in everyday life.
What’s the most comfortable way to get there?
I bought a ticket with on-site parking, which gives direct access to the venue, and a Camp/Tarp Ticket for pitching a tent, and came fully prepared.
There are three main ways to get to the event venue.
- Drive directly in your own car. Note: You’ll need a ticket with parking, which is somewhat more expensive.
- Take a paid shuttle bus from Ibara Station. To get to Ibara Station, you can take the Ibara Line or drive and park at the Ibara Station South Parking Lot.
- Take a paid shuttle bus from Fukuyama Station (reservations required). For those coming from west of Fukuyama City.
At the previous event, I took the bus from Ibara Station.
We all rode up the mountain together in a large chartered bus. It felt like a tour, and I remember being excited as I watched the scenery from the window.
You don’t need gas or a car navigation system, and you can just sit back while the bus takes you there, so it’s easy.
But this time, after using the on-site parking right next to the venue, I was convinced.
“Next time, I’m getting the parking ticket too!!”
Having a car gives you a lot of flexibility.
Life is busy, so you can just throw in whatever you think you might need and set off without carefully selecting your luggage. You can leave anything you don’t use in the car and carry only what you need.
Best of all, you can go at your own pace without worrying about bus departure and arrival times.
There are advantages to both taking the bus and driving, so next time I’ll decide based on my budget.
Should you camp?
If you camp, you’ll need to pay an additional fee on top of the admission ticket.
It’s a reasonable price if you’re staying overnight, but it’s certainly not cheap if you’re only pitching a tent…
I’d envied the people relaxing in their tents at hoshioto in May, so I decided to try it and see how much more relaxing it would be.
I’m not a camper and don’t own a proper tent, so I used a simple pop-up tent that can be set up just by opening it. It was more than enough for a day camp.
One advantage is that you can avoid the sun, so you don’t have to worry about getting sunburned.
You can’t use a parasol in the seating area, so this makes a big difference.
Also, as expected, you can get a little privacy by being somewhat out of sight, and you have more freedom in how you spend your time.
You can lounge around or even sleep.
One thing to keep in mind is that, just like claiming a spot to watch a sports day, the best spots go to whoever gets there first.
If you want to watch the main stage while sitting in your tent, arrive early and claim the best spot.
hoshioto Camp: Practical Report—The Experience
Since there weren’t any artists I particularly wanted to see, I was able to enjoy the music freely at my own pace.
When I wanted to listen up close, I went to the front of the stage and felt the energy of the music and the artists.
I drank coffee, bought and ate delicious food from the stalls, and simply let the sounds wash over me, body and soul.
Without overthinking or tensing up, I listened to serious performances and powerful singing through top-notch sound equipment.
I suddenly realized how casually I was listening to music performed by a gathering of professionals, and thought it was the height of luxury.
A groundbreaking sound system
I went with my son, who plays guitar regularly and is sensitive to sound because he has performed on small stages.
He immediately reacted, saying, “The sound is insanely good.”
According to my son, “Normally you hear sound from the right and left, but here it feels like it comes from the center and spreads everywhere. There’s no unevenness or imbalance, and the sound mix is really good.”
hoshioto is known for its sound quality, and the official website explained that “hoshioto Camp’23” would introduce a groundbreaking system in some areas.
hoshioto Camp 23 will introduce “immersive sound,” a first for an outdoor music festival in Japan.
“Immersive” means a sense of immersion, and makes it possible to create a natural sound space that conventional LR (left-right) speaker systems could not reproduce.
Each note played by the artists on stage can be heard from exactly where it appears to be coming from, creating a deep sense of immersion.
Furthermore, this live immersive system delivers sound equally from anywhere in the service area, whether you’re in the center or at the edge, allowing many listeners to fully enjoy the live performances.
Japan’s first system of its kind!! “Immersive Sound”
My son didn’t know about this, but it’s amazing that “hoshioto Camp” can put together a project like this…!
A rare cultural event beyond music
The event always includes a talk session, and the guests and topics are interesting every time.
A talk session titled “Festivals in the Post-COVID Era” was held with Katsuya Minamida, a professor at Musashi University, and Junichi Nagai, an associate professor at Kansai University of International Studies.
An invaluable lineup like this is surely something only hoshioto could pull off.
There were also workshops and a show featuring street performers and professional kendama players, drawing crowds of children and creating a lively atmosphere.
On the mountaintop in Ibara on October 28
In the city, some October days can still be hot during the day, but up in the mountains of Ibara, it really felt like autumn.
Weather and temperature
When we arrived at around 1 p.m., the sky was clear, so we could still get by in short sleeves.
It started to feel chilly sometime after 3 p.m. Before sunset, we needed a jacket, and before long it was a cold autumn night.
As it got colder, people began gathering in droves around the bonfire area to warm themselves.
Could we see the stars?
The sun set at around 5:20 p.m., and the sky gradually took on the darkness of night, the kind you can only experience on a mountaintop beyond the reach of city lights.
The large moon, just short of full, made the night bright, so unfortunately the conditions were not right for stargazing by 7 p.m.
Reluctantly, we left the site at 8 p.m.
It seems that beautiful stars were visible during the event program “Stargazing + Night Sky Photography Session,” held from 9:30 p.m.
Afterward, I saw some incredibly well-shot photos of the starry sky being posted on social media.
So, if you want the full experience of enjoying a sky full of stars, I learned that you should stay until around 10 p.m., even if you’re not camping overnight.
From the Writer
After being deeply moved by hoshioto, held in May, I attended “hoshioto Camp” and was reminded once again that it is a handmade event.
I had attended another music event shortly before, which made the differences even clearer.
This isn’t about comparing which one is better or worse. What I want to convey is that “hoshioto Camp” is a one-of-a-kind, original event.
Everywhere you look throughout the event, you can really feel the presence of the people who created it, even when they’re not there.
And yet, it never feels overbearing.
The overall atmosphere isn’t flashy, but that doesn’t mean it’s understated; somehow, its confidence comes through.
A case for going “without a plan”
The outdoor music festival “hoshioto Camp” is a completely free-spirited event where you can fully enjoy a sense of openness and escape from the everyday.
Please follow the rules when attending
I recommend going without pressure and, deliberately, without a plan—it can be a surprise for yourself.
You might drop in and unexpectedly discover an artist, encounter cultures beyond music, or find yourself being soothed by nature without even realizing it.
The excitement is all the greater because you didn’t expect it.
At hoshioto and “hoshioto Camp,” where the “sound” and “artists” are always a sure thing, you can count on trust and comfort. I hope you’ll experience them for yourself someday.
hoshioto Camp ’23 Information
| Name | hoshioto Camp ’23 |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 28, 2023 |
| Location | 3535-3 Aono-cho, Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture (venue: Grape Ai Land Budoromankan) |
| Admission (tax included) | Reference: “hoshioto camp ’23” tickets ・Advance ticket ¥7,500 ・Same-day ticket ¥8,500 ・Student discount (high school students) ¥2,500 ・Advance ticket with on-site parking ¥12,000 ・Same-day ticket with parking ¥14,000 ・Same-day parking-only ticket ¥5,000 ・Camping ticket (per tent) ¥5,500 ・Livestream ticket ¥3,000 ※Prices may change for future events. |
| Website | hoshioto |
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