[2026] Bon Odori songs every child knows! A roundup of fun festival tunes
Bon Odori, a quintessential summer tradition! Festival stalls sell games and delicious food, making it hugely popular with kids.
Here, we’ll introduce a variety of wonderful Bon Odori songs—from tunes children already know to unique arrangements of J-pop and Western music.
Lots of new songs are appearing, too.
Don’t worry if you’re not sure about the dance steps—what matters is having fun.
Kids and adults alike, be sure to join in Bon Odori and make some great memories!
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[2026] Bon Odori songs every kid knows! A fun roundup of festival tunes (111–120)
Kitaro Ondo
The GeGeGe no Kitaro series is renowned nationwide.
It’s a work known across a truly wide range of generations, regardless of age or gender.
The series’ festival dance song is “Kitaro Ondo.” It’s sung by Keiko Toda, the voice actor who played Kitaro in the third series that began airing in 1985.
Toda also voices Anpanman, so many small children might recognize her voice and think, “Oh!” It’s a slightly spooky yet fun song that brings the world of GeGeGe no Kitaro to life.
Kagoshima Ohara-bushi
It is a folk song handed down in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Although there are various theories about its origin, it is said to have begun being sung in the early Edo period.
In 1933, a recording by Kiyozō Shinbashi, a native of Kagoshima, helped it gain nationwide popularity.
Later, parts of it were quoted in the Tokyo Ondo.
In addition, at the Ohara Festival, which began in 1949 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Kagoshima’s incorporation as a city, the Ohara Bushi came to be performed as a dance.
Since 2011, it has also been used as the arrival and onboard melody for trains at Kagoshima-Chuo Station.
festival
The heartfelt wishes for a bountiful harvest and a great catch convey the sentiments of traditional Japanese culture, and they also help children understand the importance of appreciating nature’s blessings, making these lyrics very good.
They are full of vitality and convey the power of festivals, which helps children dance with confidence.
This is a recommended song for summer festivals and Bon dances, where people of all ages—from the elderly to children—can enjoy dancing together across generations.
DB Ondo
It might be especially popular with boys! It’s a Bon Odori song created by a gathering of the many Dragon Ball comedians.
You’ll see it in the video, but the characters are basically jam-packed and all over the place.
The lyrics are full of references you’ll get if you’ve seen the original manga or the anime series.
So not only kids, but parents, too, might enjoy it.
We hope you and your children have a fun, smile-filled time dancing together!
Vegetable Ondo
Everyone, when you think of summer, you think of Bon Odori! Among Bon Odori songs that kids can enjoy, this bright and cheerful tune is a top recommendation.
Its charm is that you can move your body and dance while rhythmically singing the names of vegetables.
Through the lyrics, children can also learn about vegetables that appear—like cabbage, tomatoes, and cucumbers—their characteristics, how they’re grown, and tasty ways to eat them.
The easy-to-remember chorus, “Ya-ssa, ya-ssa, yassa~i~,” is sure to be a hit with kids! Widely loved at nursery and kindergarten sports days and recitals, this song can spark children’s interest in vegetables.
Be sure to include it in your summer memories by dancing together as a family and having fun.