Turning Yahiko Village, Niigata into a JAZZ VILLAGE

The Yahiko Jazz Festa Executive Committee (Executive Chairperson: Naomi Yoshikawa) supports 'April Dream,' an initiative that encourages people to share their dreams on April 1st. This press release represents the dream of the 'Yahiko Jazz Festa.'

Launched in 2024, the 'Yahiko Jazz Festa' has been supported by many and is becoming established as an event that energizes Yahiko Village, one of Niigata Prefecture's premier tourist destinations. Through this event, we dream of providing participants with a rich, meaningful experience while realizing a one-of-a-kind JAZZ VILLAGE where nature, culture, and people come together in a session.

■ A high-quality experience only Yahiko can provide
Yahiko Village is known as one of the greatest 'power spots' in Niigata Prefecture. Yahiko Shrine, affectionately known as 'Oyahiko-sama,' has a history spanning over 2,400 years since its founding and is the birthplace of Echigo culture, even appearing in the Manyoshu. It is also a leading tourist destination in Niigata, with famous sites like the Yahiko Hot Spring Resort and Yahiko Park scattered within a compact area. We believe that listening to jazz in this rare location—a shrine town embraced by history and nature—has a special power to help people forget their daily routines and unwind.

■ A 'rich moment' as the hot spring town is colored by jazz
Starting in 2024, our second event in 2025 saw 31 groups and over 150 popular jazz artists from across the prefecture—ranging from young talent to veterans—gather in Yahiko across 10 locations in the hot spring town, filling the entire village with a pleasant rhythm. The sight of dedication performances at Yahiko Shrine, people stopping in front of traditional inns, and smiling faces surrendering to the music is the very form of the 'rich moments' we cherish most, and we are convinced this is a value that can only be created in Yahiko.

■ The 'dream' we want to fulfill
Our dream is not to overreach, but to carefully continue activities that are only possible because of this location.

Providing an experience that 'refreshes the five senses'
Wonderful performances, famous hot springs, and the air of the forest surrounding the shrine. By combining Yahiko's unique resources with jazz, we will deliver high-quality time that makes the hearts and bodies of our visitors feel light and refreshed.

Contributing to the regional revitalization of Yahiko Village
We hope that those who visit the village for jazz will also experience our hot springs, food, and history. By connecting the dots of these events into a line, we hope to contribute, even if only a little, to the vitality of the entire village.

Regional bonds connected by music
We aim to make Yahiko a place where artists, audiences, and local residents can interact through music, fostering an even deeper sense of attachment to the village.

■ 2026 and beyond...
As the next step in giving shape to this vision, we will hold 'Yahiko Jazz Festa Vol. 3' on Sunday, September 27, 2026. While cherishing the success of our previous events, we will continue to build our preparations one step at a time, working in even closer cooperation with the local community. We look forward to welcoming you with the pleasant rhythms that flow through Yahiko's rich nature and history. Through jazz, we will breathe new life into this village and expand the circle of smiles. We will walk toward that future, one step at a time.

[About the Yahiko Jazz Festa Executive Committee]
Official Website: https://yahikojazz.jp/