The famous Japanese idol group Arashi will end their activities after their concert tour next spring. As they have enjoyed top-tier popularity for decades, leading the golden age of J-pop, it is expected that a huge crowd will gather for their final concert next year. Consequently, there are warnings online stating that "it is best to avoid traveling to Japan during Arashi's spring performance period."
Arashi (Ono Satoshi, Sakurai Sho, Aiba Masaki, Ninomiya Kazunari, Matsumoto Jun) announced on the 6th via social networking services and fan sites that "the five of us have started to move to hold a concert tour next spring. We will end our activities after this tour." The fan club operations are also expected to cease by the end of May 2026.
Arashi noted regarding the upcoming concert tour, "At this stage, we cannot reveal everything," and stated, "We will keep you informed as details are decided."
As Arashi's final tour plans were revealed, a local netizen in Japan suggested on their social media, "It is advisable to write down Arashi's tour schedule in a notebook," adding, "As it affects all areas such as hotels." In fact, during the Miyagi concert in 2015, a lack of accommodation and traffic congestion led to the postponement of a scholarly meeting.
Domestic netizens also shared their experiences, stating, "Those who plan to travel around that time should book hotels in advance before Arashi's tour schedule is announced," "I once visited Sapporo during Arashi's concert schedule and almost missed my flight while waiting for the airport bus," and "It is better not to travel during the concert period. Even if you are lucky enough to find a hotel, the entire city is covered in Arashi-related events, making it hard to have a proper trip."
Earlier, Arashi declared a suspension of group activities in December 2020 due to rest and personal activities. Subsequently, to commemorate their 25th debut anniversary last year, they established a separate agency named after the group, 'Arashi,' which heightened expectations for the group’s return to activities. However, they ultimately went their separate ways. For about a year and a half, they continued discussions about reuniting as Arashi, but it is reported that they could not reach a conclusion due to changes in their surrounding circumstances and individual situations.
Since their debut in 1999, Arashi has enjoyed top-tier popularity in Japan, living up to their team name that means 'storm.' The total cumulative record sales in Japan exceed 54 million units. The number of official fan club members reaches 3 million. They set the record for the most No. 1s on the Oricon single chart and have appeared in the NHK TV year-end program 'Kōhaku Uta Gassen' for 12 consecutive years since 2009. Since 2008, they have not only held concerts in dome stadiums but also performed at the National Stadium for six consecutive years.