Popular Festival Songs Ranking [2025]

summer festivalJITTERIN’JINN64rank/position

Jitterin’ Jinn / Summer Festival (Jitterin’ Jinn / Natsumatsuri) [MV]

This is the fourth single by the rock band JITTERIN’JINN, who became the sixth “King” on the popular audition show Miyake Yūji no Ikasu Band Tengoku and rose to fame with songs centered on a two-beat rhythm.

Known as a classic summer song in J-pop, it reached an even wider audience when the girls’ band Whiteberry covered it in 2000.

The lyrics, which depict bittersweet memories, likely resonated with many listeners who overlaid them with their own experiences.

With festival-evoking beats, a rockabilly atmosphere, and a lyrical guitar solo, it’s an outstanding track that showcases a uniquely imaginative world only JITTERIN’JINN could express.

Midsummer FireworksLIL LEAGUE65rank/position

LIL LEAGUE “Midsummer Fireworks” Music Video

A gem of a love song that likens a once-in-a-lifetime summer romance to the fleeting brilliance of fireworks painting the night sky.

Released in July 2025 as the fifth single, it was selected as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Wednesday Platinum Night.” Layering vocals over a dance track with traditional Japanese flair, it portrays a heartrending love.

Just reading the lyrics conjures up the relationship between the two and really tugs at the heartstrings.

Hearing this song will surely bring back the bittersweet memories of summer.

SparkleRADWIMPS66rank/position

Sparkle / RADWIMPS (Cover)

RADWIMPS’s “Sparkle,” which also drew attention for being selected as the theme song for the film Your Name, was used as an insert song during the festival scene.

It’s a beautiful, slightly bittersweet song that conjures up starry skies and summer nights right before your eyes.

It’s a perfect summer memory song for your youth.

Happy Summer FestivalTEMPURA KIDZ67rank/position

TEMPURA KIDZ 'Happy Summer Festival'

This is a song by the dance-vocal unit TEMPURA KIDZ that sings about festivals.

The cute, catchy lyrics set to a sparkling sound create a distinctly pop impression.

While the lyrics and music video are inspired by Japanese festivals, the track’s use of electro sounds also gives it the feel of an overseas parade.

It’s an uptempo, fun, and lively song!

Nuclear Power Plant Ondo (festival song)THE TIMERS68rank/position

Nuclear Power Ondo - The Timers

Here is “Nuclear Power Plant Ondo” from the collection of festival-chant songs by The Timers, a masked underground blues-rock band led by singer Kiyoshiro Imawano.

While the tune is very bright and cheerful, the lyrics deliver a scathing critique of the nuclear power-based social system.

Somewhere in the summerWANIMA69rank/position

WANIMA "Somewhere in the Summer" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

It’s a song brimming with WANIMA’s positive energy, perfect for kicking off a refreshing summer.

It portrays the determination to keep moving forward despite hesitation and the desire to cast off sorrow and shine like the sun, all carried by a powerful sound.

Included on the single “Summer Trap!!” released in July 2019, it was also featured as the CM song for Asahi Soft Drinks’ “Mitsuya Cider 2019.” Together with a music video that evokes scenes of summer festivals, the track is embraced as an uplifting anthem that gives you a push at the start of summer.

Highly recommended for anyone about to take on something new.

Trace that dreamYOASOBI70rank/position

YOASOBI “Tracing That Dream” Official Music Video

Tracing That Dream is the second digital-only single by YOASOBI, the musical duo of Ayase and ikura, released in 2020.

It was created based on the novel The Droplets of a Dream and the Flowers of the Stars, which was posted on a fiction-sharing website.

The song has been featured in Fuji TV’s Tokudane! weather segment and in a commercial for Daihatsu’s Taft.

Set against the backdrop of summer festivals and fireworks, the lyrics portray the budding romance of two young people with fresh innocence—definitely a song you should give a listen!