I went to Asagiri JAM 2024.

The 2024 Asagiri JAM has ended, and with it, my participation in this year’s festivals. The only event left is a solo performance by Thom Yorke. 2024 has had so many great live performances! I’m already thinking about what my best act of the year will be... just reminiscing about them makes me feel happy.

Anyway, I was fortunate enough to have great weather again this year, which made the whole experience very comfortable! During the day, it was only a bit hot, so a cold beer was especially refreshing!!

Of course, I enjoyed the live performances, and personally, Caribou and Kiasmos were absolutely fantastic. Kiasmos during the sunset was stunning—their sound was beautiful, and surprisingly, they really got the crowd going. I could have listened for another two hours. Caribou had even more precision and intensity than when I saw them 12 and 9 years ago, and the immersion was incredible. I also really liked their new album. Human-powered electronic music at its finest (I love Caribou, so I also went to their solo performance in Shibuya. It was the best!).

This year, I participated in Asagiri JAM by setting up my tent inside the venue (Camp Site A), not in the auto-camping area at the base of the mountain. The parking lot was also within the venue.

Pros of Camp Site A

• No need for bus rides to and from the venue, so no standing in long lines
• The stage is right nearby, so after a live performance, you can immediately rest in your tent
• You can leave your gear in the tent, making it easier to move around the venue
• The radio calisthenics were surprisingly enjoyable
• Listening to Naotaro Moriyama’s live singing while relaxing in the tent

Cons of Camp Site A compared to the auto-camping area at the Fumotoppara campsite

• You need to carry your gear from the car to the venue (and also during packing up)
• The distance to the toilets and water station is a bit far, and there were long lines at the water station in the morning, plus the water flow wasn’t great

Although carrying my gear was a bit of a hassle, the distance between the parking lot and Camp Site A was pretty close, so it wasn’t too much of an issue. As a solution, I opted for a compact dome tent and minimized my gear. I also brought a two-room tent, but due to space limitations, I ended up using the more compact one. However, since it was really sunny, I got pretty sunburned, so maybe a two-room tent with a vestibule that can provide shade would have been better (Camp Site A does not allow tarps). If I went with the two-room tent, I’d need a larger setup area, which would require securing the space.
The water station issue was because the same faucet was used for both washing hands after using the toilet and for face washing and brushing teeth in the morning, leading to long lines. I think I waited about 15 minutes just to wash my hands. Well, there are only so many water stations, so it’s understandable.

Also, since Camp Site A requires you to pack up by the evening of the second day, I started tidying up early and left the venue just before the final performance. I stopped at a service area to buy souvenirs and take a nap, and managed to get home without getting caught in traffic.
Overall, I think I’d like to participate again in Camp Site A next year!

Other Highlights

The best food at Asagiri JAM this year was the kiri-zai tororo rice (Naeba Shokudo) and chicken biryani (Spice6).

Italian beer Peroni was delicious and the aluminum cup was cute!

I also enjoyed hormone yakisoba (Yuguchi), rui-bi pork skewers (Fujiboku), and cream stew (Kogen’s Stew Shop), all of which were absolutely delicious!
However, I was really disappointed that there was no rainbow trout grilled with salt from Chisanya this year...

Also, I bought a pair of socks made from washi paper and hemp (from Nara Prefecture) at the market inside the venue.
They are incredibly comfortable to wear! Highly recommended ⇩

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That’s all for now! The next festival will be in the new year—rockin’on sonic!