Recommended Songs for Nursing Home Recreation [Fun Exercise, Soothing Songs]
This article introduces recommended songs for recreation in nursing homes.
Music can have positive effects on the mind and body, and it’s also great for accompanying exercise and relieving stress.
Because this selection is intended for recreation, we’ve chosen videos that make it easy for older adults to imagine using the songs for movement and that staff can use as helpful references.
Nostalgic songs and tunes that feel familiar to older adults are likely to be especially well received.
Every song has a lovely atmosphere and can lift the mood or be soothing.
Please make good use of them in your recreational activities.
- [For Seniors] Songs Everyone Can Sing Together! A Roundup of Recommended Crowd-Pleasers
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- [For Seniors] Spring Songs You'll Want to Hum: Feel the Season with Nostalgic Classics
- [For Seniors] Recommended Songs for Care Activities and Events! Crowd-Pleasers That Bring Joy
- [For Seniors] Hand and finger play roundup: Finger exercises that lead to brain training
- [Sing for your health!] Popular songs among seniors. Also recommended for recreational activities.
- For Seniors: Fun and Lively Exercise Recreation
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- Also great for dementia care! Recommended dance songs for people in their 70s: Let’s dance to those classic hits
- Energetic and Lively! Sing-and-Exercise Program for Seniors
- Ranking of popular songs for senior citizens
- [Grandpa & Grandma] Timeless Songs to Gift to Seniors
- [For Seniors] A heartwarming round song. Let’s layer our voices with this nostalgic classic.
Recommended Songs for Nursing Home Recreation [Fun Exercise, Healing Songs] (11–20)
A rose has bloomed.Maiku Maki
The hit song that sparked the folk song boom was Bara ga Saita, sung by Maki Mike.
It was also featured on NHK’s Minna no Uta and in commercials, so many people of all ages have probably heard it.
Its relaxed rhythm and gentle, conversational vocals are easy on the ears and naturally find their way into your heart.
If you play it as background music during day-service recreation, it may help seniors feel calm.
The vocal range isn’t wide, so it’s also a great choice for everyone to sing together!
the first strong spring windkyandīzu
This is a memorable song with a bright melody that hints at the approach of warmer days as the harsh winter cold gradually eases.
It’s widely loved as one of Candies’ signature tunes, and just listening to it lifts your spirits.
Originally included on the 1975 album “Toshishita no Otokonoko,” the track was later refined in its production following a strong response and released as a single in March 1976.
Its lyrics, perfect for the season of melting snow, and its light, lively rhythm make it ideal for exercise or recreational activities.
If everyone claps along and hums together, the whole venue is sure to be enveloped in a warm atmosphere, like spring sunshine.
Tango of the Red Ogre and the Blue OgreBito Isao
Do you know a uniquely charming children’s song that depicts a red ogre and a blue ogre breaking into a dance under the moonlight? Sung by Isao Bito, the track was released as a single in January 1978 and aired on NHK’s “Minna no Uta.” Set to a tango rhythm, it paints a lively scene of ogres living deep in the mountains joyfully dancing.
Though ogres are often seen as scary, in this piece they’re comical and full of charm.
Its upbeat, catchy melody will make you want to sway along.
Isao Bito, known for his career as a rockabilly singer and for opening for The Beatles during their 1966 Japan tour, brings a crisp, dynamic vocal that amplifies the song’s fun.
It’s perfect for the Setsubun season—why not clap along and sing it together with everyone?
Like the flow of a riverMisora Hibari
A signature song by Hibari Misora that likens life to the flow of a river and celebrates the importance of living by gently going with the current.
It conveys hope that even on rain-soaked roads, a sunny day will eventually come, and it depicts a heart that accepts the changing seasons, resonating quietly with listeners.
The anecdote that lyricist Yasushi Akimoto wrote it while gazing at the East River in New York is also memorable.
Released as a single in January 1989, it became Hibari Misora’s final work.
It won the Gold Prize at that year’s Japan Record Awards and sold over two million copies.
Its flowing, beautiful melody and profound lyrics are likely to touch the hearts of older listeners who have experienced many stages of life.
In February, as winter gives way to spring, why not hum along?
Ginza Kan-kan GirlTakamine Hideko
Brimming with the hope and vitality of Japan’s postwar reconstruction period, it became beloved as the theme song for the film of the same name released in 1949.
The song accompanies a story in which a young woman aspiring to be a painter—played by Hideko Takamine—sings her way through bars in Ginza to earn her tuition.
Ryoichi Hattori’s light, swinging jazz melds with Takao Saeki’s cheerful lyrics, resulting in a major hit that sold 500,000 copies at the time.
It strikingly captures the strength of women who lived positively even amid the postwar turmoil, along with the lively melody that resonated through the streets of Ginza.
When sung as a recreation by older adults, it is likely to evoke memories of the postwar recovery and their youthful days, encouraging everyone to hum along together.
Album of MemoriesSakushi: Masuko Toshi / Sakkyoku: Honda Tetsuma
Evoking a hint of spring, this song gently recounts memories from kindergarten.
It paints scenes from the changing seasons, bringing a sense of nostalgia and warmth to listeners.
Since its release in 1961, it has continued to be loved by many.
It has been featured on TV Asahi’s children’s program “Tobidase! Panpororin” and NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” making it familiar across generations.
It’s also lovely for seniors to hum along with their grandchildren.
A wonderful piece that can be enjoyed across generations while reminiscing about the past.
Recommended Songs for Nursing Home Recreation [Fun Exercise, Soothing Songs] (21–30)
The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms Bloom
Clap hands alternately while facing each other as you sing.
Even such a simple movement can instantly turn into enjoyable communication when done to a song.
Moving your hands to the gentle melody of “Mikan no Saku Oka” stimulates the brain and helps prevent cognitive decline.
It can be done while seated, reducing physical strain, and it’s an easy activity for those who struggle to find a way to start a conversation.
This low-pressure hand game fosters interaction even in care settings and is perfect for daily recreation.
