What is BiKN shibuya? Overview & Ticket Information
Oct 24,2025 Update
When planning overseas travel, you might think "I want to experience local music and culture" but wonder what kind of events to attend. BiKN shibuya, held in Shibuya, Tokyo, is a special showcase festival where artists from Japan and Asia come together to deliver cross-border musical experiences.
This article explains the overview and highlights of BiKN shibuya, as well as past events.
Table of Contents
1. What is BiKN shibuya?
1-1. A showcase festival connecting Asian music
1-2. Background of its birth and journey so far
2. BiKN shibuya 2025 Overview
2-1. Event overview
2-2. Performing artists
3. Looking back at BiKN shibuya
3-1. BiKN shibuya 2023
3-2. BiKN shibuya 2024
Summary
1. What is BiKN shibuya?
BiKN shibuya is a circuit-style showcase festival focusing on Asia's music scene. Born in 2023, it is held under the new concept of "bringing together artists gaining attention across Asia".
The name "BiKN (Beacon)" means bonfire or lighthouse, serving as a place that illuminates the presence of Asian music widely like its light. It's a festival where audiences and performers share the same excitement across borders, with live houses as the stage.
1-1. A showcase festival connecting Asian music
BiKN shibuya is a showcase festival planned as a "bridge" connecting Japan's and Asia's music scenes. Rather than just a live event, it creates new values by bringing together diverse artists and audiences across borders in the city of Shibuya.
Therefore, many attendees come from overseas, and multilingual staff are consciously arranged at venues to create an international exchange space. As a result, it has become a special opportunity to experience Asian music as a whole, creating an event where audiences and artists share "an atmosphere that exists nowhere else".
1-2. Background of its birth and journey so far
BiKN shibuya was first held in 2023. As the organizers explain, the background of its birth was a sense of crisis that "Japan is being left behind from Asian unity". From this awareness, they actively invite artists not only from Japan but also from Taiwan, China, Thailand, and other countries. From the first event, they invited Taiwan's "落日飛車 Sunset Rollercoaster" and Korea's "Silica Gel", leaving a striking impression.
In 2024, they expanded the scale by inviting 20 out of 38 total acts from overseas, with over 120 people including staff gathering in Shibuya. However, due to the weak yen and rising travel and accommodation costs, they faced an additional burden of about 7 million yen, which became a major challenge for BiKN shibuya, which receives no subsidies or sponsor support. Therefore, in 2024, they conducted crowdfunding to continue the event, covering the deficit with support from many backers. Despite facing difficulties, they continue their journey as a new cultural movement powered by the organizers' passion and audience support.
2. BiKN shibuya 2025 Overview
BiKN shibuya 2025 will be held on Sunday, November 30, 2025, in Shibuya, Tokyo. Here we introduce the event overview including schedule, venues, and performing artists.
2-1. Event overview
The venues for BiKN shibuya 2025 are Spotify O-EAST, Spotify O-Crest, and duo MUSIC EXCHANGE. All are located within walking distance from Shibuya Station, making accessibility another attraction. The main venue, Spotify O-EAST, is a large-scale live house with state-of-the-art equipment, capable of powerful performances with rear LED vision. O-Crest is an intimate space with a capacity of about 250 that has supported the indie scene, where you can discover up-and-coming artists.
duo MUSIC EXCHANGE along Dogenzaka has a capacity of about 700 and accommodates various music events. Ticket types include General admission, General admission - Student, and special tickets. All tickets sold through Tickets in Japan include one drink.
※General admission - Student: Student ID or equivalent identification must be presented at entry.
※Please check the ticket purchase page for detailed information about special tickets.
Date | Sunday, November 30, 2025 |
|---|---|
Time | Doors: 11:00 / Show: 12:00 (scheduled) |
Venue | Shibuya, Tokyo |
Organizer | BiKN 2025 Executive Committee |
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2-2. Performing artists
From Japan, "Otoboke Beaver" who gather fanatical support overseas with overwhelming live performances, indie rock standard-bearers "DYGL", "Lullatone" known for their comfortable sound, "Haku." who gained international attention through SNS, and "LET ME KNOW" who dominated Korean charts will appear.
From overseas acts, singer-songwriter "boylife" who showed presence on Keshi's tour, art rock champions "Hiperson", dream pop newcomers "Daydream Secrets", "Lucid Express" leading Hong Kong's shoegaze scene, "Yel" with mellow pop sensibilities, and Korean indie band "87dance" currently on an Asian tour have been announced.
3. Looking back at BiKN shibuya
Since its inaugural event in 2023, BiKN shibuya has continued to evolve as a bridge connecting music from Asian countries and Japan. Here we look back at past events and introduce their journey and achievements.
3-1. BiKN shibuya 2023
"BiKN shibuya 2023," held for the first time on November 3, 2023, in Shibuya, Tokyo, garnered significant attention as a showcase festival originating from Japan. Held in circuit format centered around Spotify O-EAST and spanning six venues including O-WEST, O-nest, duo MUSIC EXCHANGE, clubasia, and 7th FLOOR, it featured a total of 35 acts including popular artists from Asian countries and accomplished Japanese acts. Despite being the inaugural event, it became an internationally diverse and passionate day.
Performers included Taiwan's "Sunset Rollercoaster", Korea's "Silica Gel", Philippines' "ena mori", Malaysia's "babychair", and other acts already making their mark on overseas scenes. From Japan, highly internationally acclaimed artists like "DYGL", "Ai Higuchi", "The fin.", and "She Her Her Hers" participated, realizing a space for cross-border exchange.
The audience included many travelers and residents from Asian countries, creating "a new Shibuya atmosphere" different from conventional domestic festivals. BiKN shibuya 2023, which embodied unity across borders through music, became a memorable start to new cultural exchange connecting Japan and Asia, transcending mere live events.
3-2. BiKN shibuya 2024
"BiKN shibuya 2024," held on November 3, 2024, was a music showcase that expanded even further in scale despite being only the second edition following the previous year. All 38 acts including overseas artists performed, featuring a wide lineup from first-time visitors to Japan and fresh newcomers to accomplished acts with experience at major festivals like "Summer Sonic".
Many performers don't fit into specific country or scene frameworks, demonstrating how Asia's music scene is evolving globally. For example, Thailand's "Common People Like You" thrilled audiences with garage sounds reminiscent of UK rock, while China's "Zoo Gazer" painted their unique worldview with dreamy dream pop. Korea's "Sailor Honeymoon" exploded with momentary and energetic punk rock, and Singapore's "Sobs" gathered great empathy with their unique pop sound branded as "Uncool Pop Music".
BiKN shibuya 2024, where such diverse and distinctive music came together, became a venue demonstrating the maturation and expansion of Asia's music scene, providing audiences with the irreplaceable experience of "encounters with unseen music".
Summary
BiKN shibuya began in 2023 as a showcase festival connecting Asian countries and Japan, and expanded its scale and diversity further in 2024. In 2025, notable artists from overseas and domestic scenes will again gather in Shibuya, creating a space for cross-border exchange through music.
As seen from past events, BiKN shibuya is not just a live concert but a special platform where you can discover new music. If you include it in your Tokyo trip in November 2025, you’ll be able to enjoy a unique musical experience found only here—together with the vibrant charm of Shibuya.
※This article was created based on information as of October 2025
