[2025] Bon Odori songs every kid knows! A roundup of fun festival tunes

Otemoyan

Ebisu Bon Odori Otemoyan 2017 Practice

Even if many people know the word “Otemoyan,” I imagine quite a few don’t actually know what it refers to.

“Otemo” is a woman’s name, and “-yan” is an honorific equivalent to “-san” or “-chan.” It’s a regional folk song known for its lyrics in the Kumamoto dialect, and it’s said to have become famous across Japan thanks to a record sung by Akasaka Koume around 1935.

It’s a classic tune you can hear at Bon Odori festivals all over Japan.

Hyokkori Hyoutan-jima

Hyokkori Hyotan Island Spring Bon Odori Festival in LaLaport Nagoya Minato AQULS

The puppet show Hyokkori Hyotan-jima, which aired in the 1960s.

This song of the same title, released as the show’s theme, has been sung by many artists—including Morning Musume—and is a timeless classic widely known across generations.

Let’s dance a Bon Odori to this song that everyone, from children to adults, knows! We recommend adding choreography that sways like an island drifting on the sea or like gently swimming through the waves.

Since the tempo is a bit fast, incorporating bigger movements and traveling steps rather than intricate motions will help you enjoy dancing without getting too caught up in the choreography!

Maru-chan’s Shizuoka Ondo

Maru-chan’s Shizuoka Ondo Choreography Instruction Video

This song was created as a PR song for Shizuoka City due to the connection that Momoko Sakura, the author of Chibi Maruko-chan, hails from Shizuoka City.

Well-known artists such as Haruomi Hosono and Pierre Taki were also involved.

The lyrics, brimming with love for Shizuoka, are well supported by the city’s residents.

Hurricane Ondo

2010.08.07 Night at the New City food stalls

This is a song from the 2002 Super Sentai series Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger.

While most Super Sentai teams had previously consisted of five members, Hurricaneger’s three-member format became a hot topic for its unusual approach.

Since the heroes are ninja with a traditional Japanese theme, the festive ondo-style music suits it well.

Mickey Ondo (Mickey Bon Dance Song)

Ondokodon! Mickey Ondo (Lesson Version)

A staple of Japanese summers, Bon Odori just isn’t complete without an ondo, right? And here we have the “Mickey Mouse Ondo,” inspired by none other than the American-born star, Mickey Mouse.

Just hearing the title makes you excited to know what kind of song it is.

Then when you listen, it’s a delightful surprise: lyrics that faintly recall the “Mickey Mouse Club March” blend with traditional Japanese sounds.

As expected from Disney, dancing to this tune seems like it would make your Obon feel wonderfully fantastical.

The uniquely Mickey-style choreography is great fun, too.

Itabashi Ondo

#Gorgeous #Itabashi Ondo (#Nagashi Ver.) #Itabashi Ward Residents' Festival 2019 #Folk Dance Parade #Tokyo Autumn Festival Tokyo Japan

Let me introduce a staple Bon Odori song from Itabashi Ward in Tokyo.

Beloved by locals and emblematic of Itabashi’s culture, this piece is indispensable at festivals and events.

It follows a folk-song style, characterized by the sounds of drums and flutes.

The lyrics weave in famous spots and scenery from Itabashi, such as the Arakawa and Shakujii Rivers, conveying the feel of everyday life across the four seasons.

Creating a sense of unity and togetherness among residents, the song appeals to people of all ages.

It’s also a great chance for those who don’t often make it out to experience the festive atmosphere.

Give it a listen and discover the charm of Itabashi Ward for yourself.

Kawachi Ondo

Minyo Teppō-bushi

Its roots go back to the Edo period, and while there are various arrangements and lyrics, the most famous today is likely Kōzaburō Teppō’s “Teppō-bushi Kawachi Ondo Series,” released in 1961.

Although Kawachi Ondo originated in Osaka, it has now gained nationwide recognition, and the song continues to be actively used as a Bon Odori tune at community events held in the Kanto region.