Hush, Little One: Beautiful Japanese Songs for Sleep Time

Lullabies are the first songs many children ever hear. They soothe babies, calm their worries, and carry generations of love from parent to child. In Japan, lullabies (子守唄 komoriuta) have a deep cultural meaning — some are centuries old and reflect the local life, history, and emotions of the time.

Many of these songs are still sung today, not only by families at home but also in schools, music classes, and language-learning platforms like Dinolingo, where children can hear, repeat, and fall in love with the rhythm of Japanese.

Here are some of the most beloved Japanese lullabies that children — and parents — around the world can enjoy:

シューベルトの子守唄

Schubert’s Lullaby
しゅーべるとのこもりうた
Schubert no komoriuta
A Japanese version of the famous Western lullaby composed by Franz Schubert. Its soft melody has been adapted into Japanese and is used widely in preschools.

江戸の子守唄

Edo’s Lullaby
えどのこもりうた
Edo no komoriuta
This lullaby comes from the Edo period and reflects the everyday struggles of working mothers who had to leave their babies with sitters.

竹田の子守唄

Takeda’s Lullaby
たけだのこもりうた
Takeda no komoriuta
Originating from Kyoto, this emotional song talks about a young babysitter singing to a child while expressing her own sadness.

五木の子守唄

Itsuki’s Lullaby
いつきのこもりうた
Itsuki no komoriuta
This folk lullaby from Kumamoto Prefecture is hauntingly beautiful and has been passed down for generations.

島原地方の子守唄

Shimabara Chiho’s Lullaby
しまばらちほうのこもりうた
Shimabara chihou no komoriuta
A regional lullaby from Nagasaki’s Shimabara area, filled with love and longing.

見上げてごらん夜の星を

Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi wo
みあげてごらん　よるのほしを
Look up at the night stars
Though not a traditional lullaby, this well-known song is often sung to children before bed. Its gentle melody and lyrics inspire hope and peace.

こんにちは赤ちゃん

Hello Baby Lullaby
こんにちは　あかちゃん
Konnichiwa Akachan
A cheerful lullaby celebrating the joy of a new baby. Popular in modern Japanese households, it’s often played in nurseries.

Learning Through Lullabies

With platforms like Dinolingo, children can listen to these lullabies in native pronunciation, follow along with the lyrics, and even sing them out loud — all while learning Japanese. Music is a powerful memory tool, and lullabies are especially helpful for teaching rhythm, vocabulary, and emotional tone.

Dinolingo’s Japanese learning program offers age-appropriate lessons for children aged 2 to 14, complete with songs, animated stories, and vocabulary games available on web, iOS, and Android. It’s a comforting way to blend language learning with bedtime routines.