metsä Village, a Nordic lifestyle experience facility nestled beside a lake in Hanno City, Saitama, will hold the metsä Midsummer Festival 2026 from May 23 (Saturday) through June 21 (Sunday), 2026.
The Midsummer Festival is a beloved Nordic tradition marking the summer solstice — the longest day of the year. In Nordic countries where summers are brief, it is celebrated with nearly the same enthusiasm as Christmas, and the festival at metsä brings a taste of those traditions to Japan. Past editions have drawn around 40,000 visitors over the course of the event.
Details: https://metsa-hanno.com/event/44694/
Craft Beer and Music: The "Forest and Lake Craft Beer Journey" Opens the Festival
The festival kicks off on May 23 (Saturday) and 24 (Sunday) with the "Forest and Lake Craft Beer Journey," now in its second edition after attracting over 10,000 visitors at its autumn debut. The event is curated by CARVAAN — a Hanno-based brewery known for expressing world cultures and history through beer — featuring approximately seven breweries selected from the Saitama area and the wider Musashino region for their craft and distinct brewing philosophies.
The opening weekend includes live music performances, a Finnish traditional midsummer dance by the group Usva, and as evening falls, a communal midsummer bonfire (known as "kokko" in Finnish) accompanied by a fire dance performance by NOBU. The combination of lakeside scenery, craft beer, and the warmth of the bonfire creates a hygge-filled atmosphere unique to this time and place.
Date: May 23 (Saturday) and 24 (Sunday), 2026, 11:00 AM–7:00 PM
Venue: Metsä Aukio
Details: https://metsa-hanno.com/event/44695/
Participating Breweries
CARVAAN Brewery & Restaurant — Based in Hanno, CARVAAN creates beers inspired by the cultures and histories of the world. Their signature Arabian Lime Ale features lime peel from Alexandria, Egypt, and the aromatic spice cardamom for an exotic drinking experience.
Mugi Zakkoku Kobo — Founded in 2003 in Ogawa Town, Saitama, this small farmhouse brewery practices field-to-glass production. Their flagship "Zakkoku Weizen" is brewed using homegrown wheat, rye, millet, and foxtail millet, delivering a rich, spicy, and fruity wheat beer character.
Chichibu Beer Brewery — Brewing in Chichibu City, Saitama since 2017, the brewery crafts approachable and enjoyable beers under the theme of "beers that bring comfort to people."
Nobody Brewing by TEENAGE — A second brand born from the DNA of Teenage Brewing's precision craft brewing, aiming to make craft beer an accessible everyday choice rather than a special occasion drink.
Honjo Ginza Brewery — Located in Honjo City, Saitama, this brewery uses local hard water to produce full-bodied, crisp beers that keep drinkers coming back for more.
U.B.P BREWERY — A Urawa-based brewery combining a passion for football culture with craft beer, spreading a new way to enjoy beer from Urawa to the world.
Igarashi Sake Brewery — A sake brewery in Hanno City known for the "Tenranzan" brand, producing clean and quality sake using traditional methods and pure local water.
Nordic Market by the Lake: Midsummer Weekend
On June 20 (Saturday) and 21 (Sunday), an outdoor market called the "Nordic Market by the Lake" will fill Metsä Aukio with 15 or more vendors each day. Visitors can browse goods from well-known Nordic brands, handcrafted items including himmeli (traditional Finnish straw ornaments), vintage finds, and food stalls. Flower crown workshops will be held on-site, and participants are encouraged to wear their handmade creations and join the Finnish midsummer dance.
(Top row from left: Knut Sweden, Lemmik; Bottom row from left: kaori emori, GiuminG)
Date: June 20 (Saturday) and 21 (Sunday), 2026, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Venue: Metsä Aukio
Details: https://metsa-hanno.com/event/44696/
Nordic 8 Nations Flower Wreath Road and Maypole
At the metsä entrance along "Metsätie," a "Nordic 8 Nations Flower Wreath Road" stretches approximately 100 meters, lined with oversized flower wreaths adorned with ribbons in the flag colors of eight Nordic nations — a vivid and festive welcome for every visitor.
Beyond the entrance, the plaza features a maypole designed in the style of Åland — the island situated between Sweden and Finland. Traditional Finnish midsummer dances performed by Usva take place around the maypole, and audience members are welcome to join in after the demonstration.
Finnish traditional midsummer dance performances by Usva: May 23 (Saturday) and June 20 (Saturday)
Daily Midsummer Sale and Limited-Edition Menus
Throughout the festival, daily sales will be held at various metsä Village shops, with discounts on imported Nordic goods including single malt whisky from the Teerenpeli Distillery in Lahti, Finland, and ROBERT'S COFFEE merchandise. Seasonal limited-edition menu items featuring crayfish — a perennially popular addition to the festival — will also be available during the event period.
(From left: LAAVU, meatball specialty restaurant toroli, food truck "Fruity but not")
Usva is a Finnish folk dance group founded by Salla Kajiwara, who is originally from Turku, Finland. She was a member of the Finnish folk dance group Virsut from 1996 to 2012, participating in numerous domestic and international dance festivals and demonstrations.
Fire performer NOBU has 22 years of experience in fire performance, blending Flow Art techniques with theatrical fire-eating and dramatic fire effects. NOBU performs at shrines, community festivals, and outdoor festivals in Japan and abroad. His performing group Universal Gypsy's production "Fire Water – HITOMI" received the Luxembourg Art Award 2018 Certificate of Artistic Merit, and his piece "Fire Dance Ball" has been selected three consecutive years for the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Cultural Arts Support Program.
metsä (metsä Village / Moomin Valley Park) Official Website: https://metsa-hanno.com/
metsä Village on X: https://x.com/Metsa_Official
metsä Village on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metsavillage/
