[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)
After the FestivalBase Ball Bear
This is a song by Base Ball Bear that evokes the lingering afterglow of a summer festival.
Released in November 2006 as the lead track from their major-label debut album “C,” it was used as the ending theme for TV Tokyo’s music program “JAPAN COUNTDOWN” in November 2006.
The lyrics skillfully capture the loneliness and wistfulness that follow a festival, and the refreshing melody that signals the end of summer really resonates.
Beautifully portraying the fleeting brilliance of youth and the quiet that follows, this track is also known as a staple crowd-pleaser at Base Ball Bear’s live shows.
It’s a recommended song for anyone who wants to bask in the afterglow of summer’s end or a festival’s aftermath.
summer festivalSuga Shikao
There are probably more people than you’d expect who’ve been lazing their way through summer vacation and didn’t even realize there was a summer festival today.
The perfect festival song for folks like that is Shikao Suga’s “Natsu Matsuri.” It’s included on the 1999 single “Amai Kajitsu.” The lyrics depict waking up in the early evening just as the real festivities are about to start, and simply watching the lively festival outside from inside the house.
It’s a track that captures a languid summer moment—feeling like you kind of want to go, but also don’t really care either way.
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.
summer festivalTakadama Homura
This is a song by Vocaloid producer Takadame Homura, sung by a Vocaloid.
The lyrics depict a brand-new couple going to a summer festival together for the first time—something anyone can easily relate to—and you can’t help but smile warmly as you listen.
With its slow-tempo ballad style and fresh, innocent lyrics, it comes together as a charming track filled with tenderness and affection.
