The Fuji Rock Festival in Niigata, central Japan, this month promises its best lineup in a dozen years. Inspired by England's Glastonbury festival, the three-day event continues to expand with a mix of big and hip names and acts from all corners of the music world.
Oasis, Dinosaur Jr and Franz Ferdinand are scheduled to headline this year's event on the alpine slopes of the Naeba Ski Resort, while indie outfits such as Animal Collective show Fuji's emerging electronic edge. There's also a great representation of talent from Japan and the rest of Asia, including a Mongolian State Circus contortionist act.
The festival, about two hours' drive north of Tokyo, has nine different musical areas along with various chill-out spaces, shopping stalls and food from around the world. Each area boasts a distinct vibe and audience, and one of the most noticeable things is the festival's community feel - no mean feat for an event that for the past few years has drawn between 120,000 and 130,000 visitors.
As with previous festivals, the Green Stage is the main arena featuring the most mainstream acts. Oasis might have hit the peak of their fame in the late 1990s, but the release of Dig Out Your Soul last year earns them a place with younger acts such as Fall Out Boy and rock chicks from Lily Allen to the evergreen Patti Smith.
The White Stage is home to more indie-minded outfits, including New York hip-hop outfit Public Enemy, art rockers Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and improv-electronica Canadians, Holy F***.
The Red Marquee is the last of the large arenas - this year's lineup features indie folk band Bright Eyes, London electronica duo Simian Mobile Disco and electro-clash muse Peaches. This area tends towards the 'indie rising stars' says festival pointman Johnnie Moylett, who has has been with Fuji Rock organisers Smash Corporation since the event started in 1997.