[Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
We’d like to introduce autumn nursery rhymes, songs, and traditional children’s songs that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.
When you think of autumn, what comes to mind?
Pine cones, acorns, autumn leaves, moon-viewing… The more you think about it, the more images pop up, don’t they?
In this article, we’ve gathered wonderful classics that make autumn scenery unfold right before your eyes.
From gentle, soothing pieces unique to autumn that sink into the heart, to hand-play songs and traditional children’s tunes you can play and sing along with—these are all famous songs that let you experience autumn in many ways.
Be sure to listen together, sing along, and immerse yourselves in “autumn.”
- [For Seniors] Autumn Songs That Touch the Heart: From Nostalgic Children’s Songs and School Songs to Showa-Era Kayōkyoku
- [Autumn Songs] Songs of autumn. Classic tracks and popular favorites you’ll want to listen to in the fall.
- Song of the Maple Leaves. An autumn children’s song/nursery rhyme/folk song
- Recommended children's songs and hand play songs for October! Music time in childcare that feels like autumn.
- [2026] Songs to listen to in November: masterpieces of late autumn, autumn songs.
- [Childcare] Recommended songs and nursery rhymes for November: Fun autumn fingerplay songs
- A collection of classic nursery rhymes and hand-play songs for September! Enjoy autumn with your child through songs.
- [2026] Autumn Songs for People in Their 60s: Classic Tracks Perfect for the Deepening Fall
- [For Seniors] Classic Autumn Songs to Sing in November: From Children’s Songs to Popular Enka and Kayōkyoku
- Children’s songs and nursery rhymes about the moon
- Recommended autumn songs for people in their 90s: A collection of Showa-era autumn tunes
- Popular Autumn Songs Ranking [2026]
- [Autumn Classics] Japanese Songs to Listen to and Sing in October: A Curated Selection of Beloved, Heartfelt Hits
[Autumn Children's Songs] Autumn songs, school songs, and nursery rhymes. A collection of classic songs you’ll want to sing in autumn (61–70)
homesickness for one’s hometown; nostalgic longing to return to one’s rural rootssakushi: kitahara hakushū / sakkyoku: nakayama shinpei
Satogokoro, which leaves you with a faintly bittersweet feeling after joining an autumn festival.
Drawn by the lively sounds of the festivities, you came to have fun, but the scene of the festival stirs up memories of your hometown and makes you homesick.
Many of us probably have vivid memories of the local festivals we attended as children.
Even if you now live away from your hometown and join festivals elsewhere, recalling that childhood hometown festival can make you feel a little sentimental.
This is a song that, when you listen to it, deepens the longing to return home.
Good evening, Mr. Moon.
This piece features a gentle melody that even infants can grow fond of, along with distinctive lyrics that would work well for recitals or dramatic play.
The piano part is easy to perform yet beautiful, making it enjoyable not only in nurseries and kindergartens but also for parents and children to sing together.
The song describes a small child gazing at the moon, thinking and chatting away, and the exchanges with the friendly cloud are especially heartwarming.
With this cleansing, soul-soothing song, adults can return to a childlike state and enjoy a moment of calm and comfort.
Moon (Out it came, out it came—the moon!)
“Moon” is perfect for the Harvest Moon night, when we enjoy gazing at a big, perfectly round moon.
Though the melody is gentle, it paints a lively scene of the round moon peeking out from the night’s dark clouds.
The song goes on to portray a realistic Harvest Moon, with the moon repeatedly hiding in and emerging from the clouds.
Even though we see the moon all the time, there’s something about the big Harvest Moon that gets us more excited than usual.
Try not to get too carried away, and let this song help you etch the moon’s beauty into your memory once again.
scarecrowSakushi: Mukasa San / Sakkyoku: Fushou
A scarecrow stands in the rice paddies and fields, protecting precious crops from birds and animals.
This song features such a scarecrow as its main character.
The lyrics playfully tease the scarecrow, who watches over the crops without moving, no matter the weather or what happens.
Many scarecrows are simply clothes and a hat on a wooden pole, but over time, various creative designs have appeared, and some look as if a real person is standing there.
As you sing this song, it might be fun to go look around your neighborhood and see what kinds of scarecrows you can find!
cricketSakushi: Sekine Eiichi / Sakkyoku: Akutagawa Yasushi
A children’s song themed around crickets, “Ko-orogi,” features the lovely chirping they share on autumn nights.
It sings about crickets cutely chirping in various places.
Big brother cricket, little brother cricket—seems the whole family is chirping together.
In autumn, many insects besides crickets also play beautiful songs.
Is that a cricket? Which insect is this one? Let’s enjoy autumn evenings while wondering about such things.
With this song, you’ll be perfect at spotting cricket chirps!
Sky of my hometownsakushi: oowada takeki / sakkyoku: sukorutorando min’yō
This is the Japanese rendition of the Scottish folk song “Comin’ Thro’ the Rye.” The original lyrics were written by Scottish poet Robert Burns, known for “Auld Lang Syne,” and the Japanese lyrics were adapted by Kenki Owada.
The song was introduced in Japanese in 1888 in “Meiji Shoka, Volume 1.” From the very beginning, you can picture an expanse of rye fields spreading out before you.
In the song, one gazes up at the autumn sky at dusk and lets their thoughts drift to their hometown.
Smiley Cosmossakushi: mado michio / sakkyoku: isobe shigeru
This is a children’s song composed by Tadasu Isobe, who was active as a composer and choral conductor.
When you think of autumn, many people picture cosmos flowers, right? “Smiley Cosmos” portrays cosmos that are always grinning, smiling at the scenery and at people.
Perhaps the gently swaying cosmos are being described as “laughing”! It’s an adorable song that will put a smile on the faces of those who sing it.
Give it a try with children at daycare or kindergarten!
