[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. Famous festival-related songs (31–40)
Men’s Dream FestivalJinno Mika
It’s a classic enka song that powerfully captures the heat and excitement of a summer festival.
The lyrics celebrate the bravery of the men carrying the mikoshi and their passion for the festivities.
Vivid festival imagery like chest bindings (sarashi) and twisted headbands (hachimaki) leaves a strong impression.
Mika Shinno’s powerful vocals further amplify the festival’s vibrant energy.
Released in March 1991, the song was also included on the album “Otoko Yume Matsuri: Mika Shinno Best Hits” the same year.
It’s a perfect track not only for festival season, but also when you need a boost of energy.
Just listening to it makes your heart dance and your body start to move—such is the charm of this song.
Fortune Cookie in LoveAKB48
The choreography was done by Papaya Suzuki.
I hear it was created with the image of a “modern, Japan-style bon odori.” Hearing that, it makes sense—calling it choreography rather than dance feels more accurate.
In other words, the moves are simple enough for anyone—men and women of all ages—to dance, just like the bon odori at festivals.
summer festivalTUBE
When you think of summer, many people probably think of TUBE! Their festival anthem “Natsumatsuri,” practically synonymous with summer, is actually a ballad about a bittersweet summer romance.
Released in 2004 as a double A-side single along with “Namida o Niji ni,” it tells of unspoken feelings for a beloved person who drifted away after the day of the festival.
Listen to it while recalling that sweet yet aching love from your youth—the someone you can’t help but remember every summer.
Gion Festival OndoShimakura Chiyoko
An indispensable song for Kyoto’s bon odori is Gion Matsuri Ondo.
It’s also used during the Gion Festival, Kyoto’s major summer event, and incorporates the festival’s signature “kon-kon chiki-chin” motif.
Released in 1957 as a locally sold record available only in Kyoto, it’s a duet by Chiyoko Shimakura and Hideo Yamagata.
For those living in Kyoto it’s a familiar tune, and for those who once lived there it’s a nostalgic sound.
Be sure to visit the Gion Festival to hear Gion Matsuri Ondo!
H.A.N.A.B.I ~The Summer When You Were There~ZONE
This song is as vivid as a grand firework blazing across the night sky, yet its melody carries a certain fleeting poignancy that leaves a strong impression.
It conjures images of summer romances gone by, shrine grounds, and sunsets—many listeners may feel a tightness in their chest as they listen.
This work is a single released by the girls’ band ZONE in July 2003, marking their milestone tenth major release.
It was issued at the time as a strictly limited edition of 100,000 copies, debuted at No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart, and received Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
It’s the perfect track for savoring the lingering afterglow of a summer festival or reflecting on tender memories.
[Let’s Enjoy Japanese Festival Songs!] Songs about festivals. Famous festival-related tracks (41–50)
Fire Festivalkuriipuhaipe
Among CreepHyp’s songs, this one stands out for its distinctive, festival-like atmosphere.
It’s included on the acclaimed album “I Thought I’d Be Loved for the Rest of My Life,” released in April 2012.
Bassist Kaonashi Hasegawa wrote and composed the track and also serves as the lead vocalist.
The song’s unique lyrical world conjures scenes reminiscent of an age-old festival intertwined with a mysterious disappearance.
Drawing listeners into an uncanny, otherworldly space, this track is perfect for when you want to savor a different kind of festival mood or explore the deeper allure of CreepHyp.
festivalyoninbayashi
Amid the dazzling atmosphere of a festival, you suddenly find yourself feeling alone.
This work captures that delicate emotional landscape.
The track appears on the 1974 album “Isshoku Sokuhatsu,” and it’s an epic piece running a full 11 minutes.
Give it a listen when you want to quietly savor the afterglow of a festival, or on a night when you’d like to be alone with your thoughts.
It will surely keep you company at heart.