[Let's Enjoy Japanese Festival Songs!] Songs about festivals. Famous songs related to festivals.
When you think of summer festivals, there are so many things to enjoy—fireworks, food stalls, and more.
And at Japanese festivals, mikoshi (portable shrines) and bon odori (bon dances) are essential, too.
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of songs related to these festivals! When you hear “festival-themed songs,” you might think of a lot of enka, but we’ve picked tracks across a wide range of genres—J-pop, rock, idol music, and more—that kids can get excited about, with modern touches woven in as well.
These songs are perfect companions for festivals, and there are also tracks that let you soak up the festival mood or savor the afterglow.
Be sure to check out some festival tunes that match your taste!
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[Let’s Enjoy Japanese Festival Songs!] Songs about festivals. Classic tracks related to festivals (61–70)
Ultraman Ondo
It’s a fun number that mixes the world of tokusatsu heroes with the rhythm of bon odori.
The presence of Ultraman—familiar to everyone—overlaps with the music and captures children’s hearts.
Adding choreography to the “signature pose” lines in the lyrics makes it easy to enjoy even for first-time festival-goers.
The drums and percussion in the background evoke the feeling of summer and bring liveliness to the whole track.
The vocals are dynamic, with clear shifts between sections that make it thoroughly engaging to listen to.
It’s highly recommended not only for kids who love Ultraman, but also for anyone in the mood to soak up a festive atmosphere.
Men’s Fire FestivalSakamoto Fuyumi
“Otoko no Himatsuri” is a single released in 2013 by Fuyumi Sakamoto, a singer whose overwhelming vocal ability lets her master everything from enka to pop.
It’s her first full-fledged enka work since the 2008 single “Kinokawa,” and serves as a rallying anthem to inspire Japanese men, with a festival theme.
The lyrics resonate with men who work tirelessly for their families, and the invigorating sound is a major draw.
It opens with powerful taiko drumming, featuring a collaboration with Kodo, the world-renowned taiko ensemble.
All of the YouthFujifaburikku
It’s a classic summer song by Fujifabric.
It reminds me of summer festivals that start in the evening.
Not the ones I went to in elementary or high school, but the ones from when I was in junior high.
It doesn’t feel purely innocent.
I think that’s because the lyrics have a slightly more mature vibe.
Kawachi Otoko-bushiNakamura Mitsuko
When it comes to signature songs by Mitsuko Nakamura, an enka singer from Higashi-Osaka, “Kawachi Otoko Bushi” tops the list.
Released as a single in 1989, it’s especially popular in the Kansai region.
It’s an enka number that incorporates the rhythm of the Kawachi Ondo and is often used for Bon Odori dances.
In 2008, voice actress and singer Nana Mizuki covered “Kawachi Otoko Bushi” at an event, and the performance was included on the limited-edition DVD of her album ULTIMATE DIAMOND.
If you head out to a summer festival, be sure to join the Bon Odori and listen to see if “Kawachi Otoko Bushi” comes on!
NebutaHosokawa Takashi
Nebuta by Takashi Hosokawa is a song about the Aomori Nebuta Festival, one of Japan’s most iconic festivals.
Released as a single in 2011, it was also performed at that year’s 62nd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.
The song captures the festival’s heat and dynamism and even incorporates its distinctive chants.
Hosokawa’s characteristically powerful vocals echo the strength of the festival’s main attraction, the floats known as “nebuta.” If you visit the Aomori Nebuta Festival, be sure to give Nebuta a listen!
Wind FestivalSugawara Yoichi
When I’m sad, I close my eyes and remember autumn in Yatsuo, Toyama Prefecture.
Beginning with such a scene, Yoichi Sugawara’s song is a classic that conveys the allure of Japanese festivals.
It voices a yearning for the Owara Kaze no Bon festival and paints a fantastical world.
First broadcast in 1989 on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” the piece features lyrics and composition by Rei Nakanishi.
The lyrics, which invite those who are sorrowful to the town of Yatsuo, carry a message that resonates with many.
It’s a recommended track when you want to savor the atmosphere of a festival or listen to a song that speaks to the heart.
Hakata Yamakasa Women’s SongNagayama Yōko
This is a song by Yoko Nagayama that lets you feel the excitement of a Japanese festival.
The theme is a traditional festival in Hakata, conveying the festival’s grandeur and the passion of its participants.
Released in February 2011, the track blends elements of enka and pop.
Nagayama’s characteristically powerful vocals are striking, making it feel as if the festival’s vibrant energy has been turned directly into music.
It’s perfect not only when you want to get into a festive mood, but also when you want to experience Japan’s traditional culture.
Even those unfamiliar with Hakata’s festivals can sense their appeal through this song.