Children’s songs for Hinamatsuri: A collection of songs everyone can sing together for the Doll Festival
When it comes to events that color Japan’s spring, the Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) surely comes to mind.As the peach blossoms begin to bloom, many households—especially those with girls—display hina dolls.And songs are an essential part of Hinamatsuri!Starting with that classic tune we’ve all known since childhood, there are actually many songs themed around Hinamatsuri.In this article, we’ll introduce various children’s songs for Hinamatsuri.Please enjoy singing them to capture the seasonal mood—whether at a Hinamatsuri party in a nursery or kindergarten, or as a recreational activity in a care facility!
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Children’s songs for Hinamatsuri. A collection of songs everyone wants to sing together for Hinamatsuri (11–20)
We held a wedding ceremony.aramaki shake
Ken “Aramaki Shake,” who calls himself a childcare singer-songwriter and has released many original play songs into the world, has a perfect piece for Hinamatsuri titled “Kekkonshiki o Agemashita” (“We Had a Wedding”).
With a melody, rhythm, and tempo so familiar you might mistake it for a long‑loved Showa‑era song, this tune is enjoyable on its own, but we’d love to see it used in practice as a hand‑play song in preschools and similar settings.
It’s also featured on Aramaki’s own YouTube channel, so feel free to use that as a reference—and trying a parody version with new lyrics would surely be fun, too!
Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri/Girls’ Day)sakushi: Hamada Hiromasa / sakkyoku: Dan Ikuma
A work by Ikuma Dan, one of Japan’s leading composers who produced numerous pieces across a wide range of genres, including classical works, children’s songs, and film music.
The lyrics were written by children’s author Hirosuke Hamada.
In the first verse, it depicts the Emperor and Empress dolls sitting on the tiered stand during the Peach Festival, watching over the children throughout the night.
In the second verse, it portrays the adorable scene of a child, gently watched over by the dolls, offering them sweets—hina-arare and chocolates—saying, “Please have some.”
Hina doll(s)
The children’s song “Hinasama,” often sung in the Hida region.
In this area, there is an event called “Gandōchi,” where children go from house to house singing this song, are shown the Hina dolls, and receive sweets.
The lyrics express a wish to be shown the Hina dolls—no matter what state they’re in, just please let us see them! The Hina dolls differ in expression from house to house.
Following the Hida custom, it might be nice to sing this song and go see the Hina dolls at your friends’ homes.
Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival/Girls’ Day)Hirai Eiko
In the Japanese calendar, Hinamatsuri corresponds to the Peach Festival.
This custom is said to originate from the ancient Chinese theory of yin-yang and the five elements, and we can see that there are various regional practices, all wishing for girls to have good matches in different ways.
What were the customs like in your hometown? This might be a good opportunity to ask an older person about them.
palm-sized hina dollaramaki shake
Can you correctly answer what each of the Hina dolls is holding? In this hand-play song called “Tenohira Hina Ningyo,” it introduces the items the dolls hold.
Since the hand motions match the shapes of the objects, children can learn more about the Hina dolls! You might even try singing the “wrong” items on purpose, turning it into a quiz where the kids point out, “That’s not right.” It’s a Hinamatsuri song you can enjoy not only as a song but in various playful ways.