The main gates to Fuji Rock 2018 shot open at around 6pm local time, and almost immediately hundreds of visitors started entering the grounds. The Thursday before the festival proper kicks off usually serves as a “thank you” to local residents of Naeba. But plenty of folks set to spend three days out here have already streamed in, making a beeline towards the food and drink stalls ahead of the music festivities starting at 7. Well, save for the groups snapping some selfies, who appeared intent on getting just the right shot.

Walking outside of the main grounds a bit before gates flung open, you could see hundreds of people have already set up camp for the weekend. Plenty of punters were already getting into the Fuji Rock spirit via a few drinks (or, in some over-eager folks’ case, an afternoon nap). For those trying to pinpoint trends this early in the gathering, expect a big increase in toddlers, at least based on an early check of the demographics of people walking through that entry point.