[Let's Enjoy Japanese Festival Songs!] Songs about festivals. Famous songs related to festivals.

Festival Ninjaninja

Ninja – Festival Ninja [Good Audio]

When it comes to summer in Japan, festivals are surely an essential element.

They’re precious spaces where everyone—from children to adults—can have fun.

This is one of Ninja’s signature songs that seems to capture the lively atmosphere of festivals and the excitement of the people who spend time there.

The unique lyrics portray the way of life of someone who loves festivals, and the determination to never stop celebrating no matter what happens conveys not only a carefree mood but also a heartfelt devotion to the festival itself.

The light, airy sound further amplifies the all-out commitment depicted in the lyrics, making it a boisterous, vibrant track.

Cosmic Festival: The Great RevolutionFES☆TIVE

FES☆TIVE “Cosmic Festival Great Revolution” MV (2024/1/24 Release) [4K]

This is a FES☆TIVE song that captures the exhilaration of Japanese festivals.

It features a grand theme inspired by a festival on a cosmic scale, aiming to energize listeners.

With striking electronic elements and a catchy melody, it has an appeal that transcends the boundaries of J-pop.

Released in January 2024 as their 17th single, it was offered in three versions.

It’s a perfect pick when you want to feel that festival vibe or need a boost of energy.

Combined with FES☆TIVE’s high-powered performance, it maximizes the excitement at live shows and events.

Festival NightRumiko Koyanagi

Festival Night — Rumiko Koyanagi

Released in 1971 as Rumiko Koyanagi’s second single, “Omatsuri no Yoru” (“Festival Night”) reached No.

2 on the Oricon chart and became a major hit following her debut single “Watashi no Jokamachi.” The protagonist goes to a festival with the person she loves, only to be told there that he will be moving to a faraway town.

Unable to bear the lively, dazzling atmosphere of the festival, she runs away and wanders, unable to even return home—a portrayal that is truly heartrending.

Festival preparationsGagaga SP

Gagaga SP “Preparation for the Festival” LIVE — 2014.03.09 @ Shibuya Chelsea Hotel

Festivals aren’t just fun on the day itself—the preparation is exciting too, right? And nothing stirs up that feeling more than “Matsuri no Junbi” (“Festival Preparations”), released by Gagaga SP in 2004.

The song tells the earnest story of developing a crush while getting ready for a school festival, to the point where you start thinking, “Forget the actual day—I wish this preparation period could go on forever.” For attendees, the festival day is what matters most, but for the people creating it, there’s a whole drama before and after.

Why not let this song inspire you to find a heart‑pounding romance that makes both the preparations and the big day even more fun?

Festival SongIchiro Toba

Festival Song by Ichiro Toba

The single released by Ichiro Toba in 1985 is “Matsuri Uta.” What the protagonist—who has left his hometown to live away, leaving friends and a lover behind—remembers are the “festival songs” sung at his hometown festival and the “sound of the drums.” The lyrics also convey the protagonist’s determination that he cannot return until he makes his mark.

The chorus incorporates festival-themed sounds, and Toba’s powerful vocals make a strong impression.

Nasushiobara appears in the lyrics, making it a song with deep ties for those living in Tochigi Prefecture.

summer festivalTUBE

TUBE 'Summer Festival' with lyrics

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.

After the festivalASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

AKFG – After the Festival 「お祭りのあと」 - Sub Spanish

It’s a song that gently portrays the end of the night.

The scene, suffused with quiet and loneliness, is expressed with delicate words.

While it conveys feelings of isolation and emptiness, it also carries a fleeting beauty and a glimmer of hope.

Released in March 2017, it reached No.

15 on the Oricon chart.

It is also included on the album “BEST HIT AKG 2 (2012–2018).” The lyrical lyrics and melodic sound, characteristic of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, are especially appealing.

It’s a track you might want to listen to when lingering in the afterglow of a festival or during a quiet night.