Kichiro Tanaka is Content Manager at Jasumo, the Tokyo-based consultancy that helps international visitors experience Japan without the barriers. He oversees Jasumo's event listings and guides, making sure every page gives overseas visitors accurate dates, venue details and ticket information, and explains clearly the practical steps (Japanese-only registration, phone verification, payment, ticket collection) that can stand between a visitor and the event. He works with Jasumo's ticket and concierge desk in Tokyo, so that what is published reflects how things actually work on the ground.
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July 2, 2026 at 10:00 am
Event date:
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August 21, 2026 at 6:00 pm
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The Taketa-Kuju Highlands TAO Summer Festival is a cool event in Japan. It has traditional drumming and it takes place in the beautiful Aso-Kuju National Park. The Taketa-Kuju Highlands TAO Summer Festival is held every year at the place where the famous drum group DRUM TAO performs. The Taketa-Kuju Highlands TAO Summer Festival is on for a weeks in the summer. People, from countries can come to the Taketa-Kuju Highlands TAO Summer Festival to see amazing drumming and martial arts. They can also learn about folk arts in a real mountain setting. The Taketa-Kuju Highlands TAO Summer Festival is a place to be.
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The Story: DRUM TAO and the Kuju Highlands Sanctuary
Founded in 1993 DRUM TAO started as a local group and became a big cultural name around the world. The group has played for millions of people in, than twenty countries. People praise DRUM TAO for modernizing traditional Japanese Wadaiko drumming. They use stage shows. However, they use physical dances. They use kinds of music. They mix rhythms with new sounds.
DRUM TAO tours around the world but they really consider Taketa City in Oita Prefecture as their home. This place is surround by the green hills of the Kuju Highlands. They have a facility here called TAO no Sato or TAO Village, where they practice, work and perform. It is on top of a hill so you can see the surrounding mountains clearly. This is something you cannot get in a concert hall.
The Taketa-Kuju Highlands TAO Summer Festival is the event that DRUM TAO has every year. It is not like a show it is more like a big summer party where the members of DRUM TAO are your hosts. They have shows on an outdoor stage every day. You can hear the sound of drums like miya-daiko and o-daiko all around the hills. There are also people performing on the streets small music sessions and food stalls that are run by the performers themselves. All of this creates a feeling of community between the artists and the people who come to visit.
Why Experience TAO Summer Festival Live
When you go to a show at TAO Village you really feel a strong connection to Japanese performance art. It is not like visiting a place. The sound of the Wadaiko drums is amazing. When you are outside under the big sky and feel the cool air of Oita it is really something special. You just cannot get this feeling from watching a video or listening to a recording.
If you are visiting from another country and travelling around Kyushu, the festival, at TAO Village is a place to start your trip. From here you can easily. See the beautiful scenery and old hot spring towns of Oita. Watching DRUM TAO perform on their stage is a very special thing. You get to see how hard they work and how talented they are which is what makes theatre so great today.
Current Edition: TAO Summer Festival 2026 Dates, Venues, and Tickets
The 2026 edition of the festival runs continuously from August 6th through August 22nd at the Kuju Highlands TAO Village.
August 6, 2026 (Thursday) – August 22, 2026 (Saturday)
Venue: Kuju Highlands TAO Village, Taketa City, Oita Prefecture
Performance Window: Daily summer festival schedule (venue open daytime through early evening)
| Ticket Category | Available Seats / Tiers (JPY) | Reference Price (USD) |
| General Admission / Reserved Festival Pass | ¥6,500 – ¥12,000 | $42 – $78 |
Ticket prices change over time with availability and demand, and are confirme at the time of enquiry.
Ticketing Conditions
- Tickets for this event are release via a first-come, first-serve general allocation window ending August 21, 2026.
- Paper or electronic ticket issuance depends on the seat selection and entry management rules of the venue.
- Booking systems require domestic verification steps and Japanese contact information.
Why Book TAO Summer Festival Tickets Through Jasumo
Overseas visitors routinely encounter barriers when attempting to reserve tickets for regional Japanese festivals. Jasumo removes these obstacles through a dedicated concierge service tailored for international travellers.
- Access: Primary ticketing channels in Japan frequently require local Japanese phone numbers, domestic address verification, and regional account registration. Jasumo secures genuine tickets through our wide network of domestic sources, including event organisers, official ticketing platforms, event owners, and verified secondary markets when primary allocations sell out.
- Communication: Event details, venue access directives, and scheduling updates are publishe exclusively in Japanese. Our team handles all correspondence with domestic partners and provides complete, clear updates to you in English.
- Payment: Domestic ticketing systems frequently reject international credit cards. We process your transaction securely using international payment options, handling all domestic Japanese payments internally.
Every ticket obtained through Jasumo is authenticate as genuine. Delivered directly to your hotel or Airbnb accommodation, in Japan by a reliable domestic courier or post before your event date. A service fee is charge to cover authentication, procurement and physical delivery which’s fully detailed when you inquire.
How It Works
- Submit Enquiry: Contact us with the event name, date, venue, and number of guests required.
- Review Quote: We verify seat availability across our domestic network and provide a clear quote.
- Payment & Confirmation: Complete payment securely online to confirm your order.
- Authentication & Delivery: We procure and verify your physical or digital tickets, delivering them safely to your Japanese accommodation with ongoing English support.
Frequently Asked Questions: TAO Summer Festival
The festival takes place at Kuju Highlands TAO Village in Taketa City, Oita Prefecture. Due to its scenic mountain location within Aso-Kuju National Park, accessing the site is best accomplishe via rental car from Kumamoto Airport or Oita Airport, or by taking a taxi from JR Bungo-Taketa Station.
The festival utilizes a combination of designated outdoor reserved seating and general festival grounds admission depending on the specific ticket category requested.
Yes, prime weekend dates and middle-residency performances frequently reach capacity early due to high domestic demand. Early reservation is strongly recommended to secure preferre dates.
Performances generally procee in light weather, though guests are advised to bring rainwear as umbrellas may be restricted in main viewing areas. Severe weather updates are monitored and communicate by our staff.
An order is made up of the face-value ticket price, the cost of domestic platforms used to source the ticket, and a Jasumo service fee. Because every event and order requirement differs, please contact us directly to receive a complete price quote for your specific booking.
Venue & Access
- Venue Name: Kuju Highlands TAO Village (TAO no Sato)
- Address: Kuju Highlands, Taketa City, Oita Prefecture, Japan
- Nearest Railway Stations: JR Bungo-Taketa Station (JR Kyudai Main Line / Hohi Main Line)
- Nearby Landmark: Kuju Flower Park / Aso-Kuju National Park Lookout
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