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
- [For Seniors] Let’s Have Fun Together! Introducing Uplifting, Energizing Songs
- [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
- [For Seniors] Popular Hand-Play Songs: Fun Brain-Training Ideas
- 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, Soothing Songs] (21–30)
Hanasaka JiisanSakushi: Ishihara Wasaburō / Sakkyoku: Tamura Torazō

Created by Kazasaburō Ishihara (lyricist) and Torazō Tamura (composer), this piece conveys in simple language a story in which good-hearted people eventually find happiness.
Its calm, gentle melody has a comforting tone that resonates with older listeners, and it’s easy to sing along with handclaps.
First sung in elementary schools nationwide starting in 1885, it is now widely used as a music-education resource.
It has also been broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta,” and used as background music for animation and kamishibai (paper theater).
It’s a perfect song for day-service centers and other senior facilities, where everyone can sing together in a warm, nostalgic atmosphere.
The two are young.dikku mine

This work gently depicts the radiant romance of the early Showa era.
Through call-and-response exchanges between a man and a woman that echo like a mountain yodel, it conveys the fresh feelings of young lovers.
It subtly portrays the couple’s relationship and the delicate nuances of their emotions, conjuring a refreshing scene and making for a superb song.
Released in 1935, it features a captivating, well-synchronized duet by Dick Mine and Reiko Hoshi.
Sing it together at karaoke, and nostalgic memories will naturally come flooding back.
With its soft atmosphere that brings calm, this heartwarming melody evokes blue skies and a gentle breeze, making it a lovely tune that can put a smile on anyone’s face.
Grandfather’s ClockSakushi: Yasutomi Kogo / Sakkyoku: Work Henry Clay

This work, which sings of a family’s story that has continued to tick on for a hundred long years, has continued to resonate with many people ever since it was featured on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 1962.
Its beautiful melody and gentle message about the importance of life give it a familiar charm that makes you want to hum along.
June 10 is Time Day in Japan, and it is also the rainy season.
This calm, indoor season may be the perfect chance to experience this piece.
In facilities for the elderly as well, its universal themes—ones that people across generations can relate to—naturally spark conversation.
It’s a wonderful song that lets you spend a heartwarming moment, reminiscing and sharing stories along with nostalgic memories.
Recommended Songs for Nursing Home Recreation [Fun Exercise, Healing Songs] (31–40)
Sazae-san

An indispensable presence in the manga life of Machiko Hasegawa, the creator of Sazae-san, was her mother.
When Machiko said she wanted to become a disciple of Suihō Tagawa, the original author of Norakuro, it was her mother who offered no objections and worked tirelessly to help; and when her manga didn’t sell, it was her mother who encouraged and supported her.
I truly feel this is what unconditional love means.
Dancing to the Sazae-san theme song also sounds like fun.
It’s nice that it’s a tune everyone knows.
Since it has a lively tempo, creating our own original choreography would be enjoyable too!
Flowers will bloom.

This song was planned and produced as the theme song for NHK’s Great East Japan Earthquake Project, with lyrics by film director Shunji Iwai from Sendai.
For those who experienced the disaster, it may bring back difficult memories, and it also served as a source of support during the recovery.
There is also a video from the “Flowers Will Bloom Project,” featuring singers, entertainers, and athletes connected to Miyagi, Fukushima, and Iwate Prefectures.
With its easy-to-understand melody and singable chorus, it’s fun for everyone to sing together.
It’s also recommended as a choral piece for events.
Dance program effective for feet and jointsSAM

Are you familiar with the DVD that teaches a dance called “Easy Do Dancercise”? Rumor has it that among TRF’s DVDs, this one is their best seller.
So, let’s try moving our bodies using videos of SAM—who is a member of TRF—as a reference! With TRF’s songs, the parts you can train vary by track: “EZ DO DANCE” focuses on strengthening the upper body, like the chest and back, while “survival dAnce ~no no cry more~” works the waist and lower abdomen.
It’s great that you can tailor it to the areas you’re concerned about—like, “If you’re worried about your legs or joints…”—so you can match it to your needs.
Hanjirō of the Hakone Eight RiHikawa Kiyoshi

With its signature catchphrase, Kiyoshi Hikawa’s debut single “Hakonê Hachiri no Hanjirō” quickly became widely known.
Beyond his powerful vocals, his handsome looks won broad acceptance among younger women who had previously been less interested in enka, propelling him to instant nationwide stardom.
The song’s phrases function as a call-and-response with fans, reportedly creating an electrifying atmosphere at concerts.
Thanks to this, the song is widely recognized and enjoys great popularity at karaoke.
It’s also sure to liven up recreational activities at senior care facilities.


