Kyoto’s folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: the enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.

A special feature on folk songs and nursery rhymes from Kyoto Prefecture, one of Japan’s premier tourist destinations and home to countless historic sites.

Kyoto has long been a stage for history and is rich in diverse cultures.

Even within the category of “folk songs,” the periods in which they were created vary widely, and there are many genres of songs that reflect local lands and customs.

If you’re a local, many of these may ring a bell.

And if you live in the Kansai region, you might even encounter songs whose melodies are the same but whose lyrics differ.

Shall we unravel Kyoto’s history through its songs?

Playlist

Kyoto’s folk songs, children’s songs, and nursery rhymes: the enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
	Title	Playlist	One point
1	geta-kakushi (hiding wooden clogs); literally “geta hiding.” Often refers to a niche or cupboard for storing geta sandals, or to the act/design of concealing geta.		The children gathered and each took off one of their shoes...
2	Tango Chirimen Folk Song		A piece-dyed fabric woven in the Tango region of northern Kyoto…
3	The Great Buddha of Kyoto		Like “Tōryanse” or “Kagome Kagome”…
4	Ushiwakamaru		At one of the bridges over Kyoto’s Kamo River, the Gojō Bridge, an incident occurred...
5	Marutake Ebisu		The streets of Kyoto are laid out in a grid pattern like a Go board, so...
6	Gion Little Song		“Gion Kouta,” which features various scenes of Kyoto...
7	Takeda Lullaby		Off Course, Yoshimi Tendo, and Hitoto Yo…
8	graceful woman		As a lullaby for children, and also as a song to soothe them...
9	Children’s Song of the Candle Sellers of Minami-Kannon-yama		Gion, held every year in the sweltering heat of July...
10	Scenery in all directions		A song about the sights in all directions—Kyoto’s spring scenery…
11	Bitterly cold, bone-chilling cold		It’s a children’s song about the cold of winter. Depending on the region...
12	Miyazu Bushi		In Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture, home to Amanohashidate—one of Japan’s three most scenic views—E...
13	One glance, then another.		A children's song sung in Kyoto when playing hanetsuki...
14	The monk’s head is Marutamachi.		It has been sung as a song for memorizing the east–west streets of Kyoto…
15	staring contest		It’s a nursery rhyme that you sing with puffed-out cheeks.
16	Temple Gokō Fuya Tomi		This is a song of the north–south street names in Kyoto City. Kyoto’s...
17	Fuchu Tairyobushi		A fisherman from Fuchu Village, corresponding to present-day Miyazu City in Kyoto Prefecture…
18	The black cat behind our house		The black cat behind the house is putting on face powder and lipstick...
19	How many moons are there?		In various places across the country—such as Ise and Akō District in Hyōgo—
20	Later, jori-kojori.		Before they can crawl, they push up on their hands and move backward…
21	Smitten with Atago-san		A song to enjoy while touching and interacting with children’s bodies, and…
22	Fukuchiyama Ondo		It is one of the folk songs handed down in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto Prefecture. Fuku...
23	Night cherry blossoms in Gion		“Gion’s Night Cherry Blossoms” is a new Japanese-style piece that was created in the early Showa period…
24	I sliced the daikon and ended up slicing too much.		In a hand-play song passed down in Kyoto, you imagine your arm as a daikon radish and...
25	Snow, Konkon / Snowflake		In the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, it snows every year, but in the southern part…
26	over the hump		It’s one of the famous hand-play songs. The fox and the raccoo…