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Heartfelt: Recommended Touching Ballad Songs for Christmas [2026]

When you think of Christmas, many people picture it as an event for couples.

Because of that, there are lots of ballads with a romantic theme among Christmas songs.

In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of classic ballads that are perfect for the holiday season!

They range from songs that depict happy couples to ones that portray heartbreaking breakups.

Besides love songs, there are also moving tracks that are sure to touch your heart, so be sure to find the one that matches your mood.

Now, let’s dive into the world of Christmas ballads!

[Heart-Touching] Recommended Emotional Ballad Songs for Christmas [2026] (11–20)

Merry Christmas To YouMaeda Nobuteru

This is a classic Christmas song created by Noriharu Maeda! Released in December 1991, it was his second single as a solo artist and is a warm ballad themed around a couple’s first Christmas together.

With lyrics penned by Maeda himself, the song conveys deep affection for his partner and a pledge for the future, blending elements of rock and pop to create a holiday tune beloved by many fans.

It truly has the feel of a mature Christmas song and is perfect for those who want to set a special mood while spending Christmas with a loved one.

Be sure to sing it while savoring the meaning of the words.

Merry Christmas to youOda Kazumasa

This is a warm Christmas song by Kazumasa Oda.

First released in 1989 and renewed in 1995, it was also used as the theme song for Dai-ichi Life’s “Passport 21” commercial.

The footage of Oda running across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York was reportedly shot on an extremely tight schedule over just two days after his nationwide tour ended.

The lyrics, which express the loneliness of not being able to meet, the ache of separation, and the special feelings associated with Christmas, along with Oda’s delicate, gentle vocals, truly resonate.

It’s perfect for those separated from a loved one or unable to convey their feelings to someone important.

It’s a song with a quietly reflective mood—one you’ll want to listen to alone.

ChristmasKawamura Ryuuichi

Here is a sophisticated ballad that evokes the special atmosphere of Christmas.

Ryuichi Kawamura’s delicate vocals and the piano’s gentle melodies tenderly envelop the happy moments spent with someone dear.

Released in November 1997, this song is a classic from the period when Kawamura focused on his solo career following LUNA SEA’s hiatus.

Planning a trip to the seaside with your lover, waiting eagerly for the snow to pile up… It’s the perfect piece for those who want to treasure such blissful moments.

MIDNIGHT FLIGHT — A Lonely Christmas EveHamada Shogo

A masterpiece by Shogo Hamada that delicately portrays the loneliness and solitude of Christmas Eve.

Included on the 1985 mini-album “CLUB SNOWBOUND,” this song weaves together the struggle between lost love and one’s inner self in Hamada’s characteristically poetic language.

Beginning with a farewell scene at an airport, it movingly expresses the feelings of a protagonist left alone amid the bustle of the city.

It was also included on his 1989 self-cover album “Wasted Tears,” and has continued to captivate many listeners.

This is a song that offers empathy and comfort to those who can’t spend Christmas with a loved one or who have experienced a painful parting.

I can’t say “Merry Christmas.”Inagaki Junichi

Junichi Inagaki – Can’t Say Merry Christmas ~ Church ver. (Official Music Video)
I can’t say “Merry Christmas.”Inagaki Junichi

This is a classic Christmas ballad by Junichi Inagaki that portrays warm memories of love and a poignant farewell.

Released in November 1990 as his 20th single, it became a hit and was also used in a commercial for Mitsutaka’s “Boutique JOY.” Yasushi Akimoto’s poetic lyrics and Toshiaki Matsumoto’s warm, tender melody blend beautifully.

Inagaki’s emotionally rich vocals perfectly capture the complex feelings of someone who has gone through a breakup.

The sorrow of spending Christmas alone under a velvet night sky presses on the heart.

This song is perfect for those troubled by love or reminiscing about someone special.

It’s especially recommended for quiet nights alone, as you let your thoughts turn to the person you hold dear.

Christmas on a starry nighttsuji ayano

Ayano Tsuji – Christmas on a Starry Night (Music Video)
Christmas on a starry nighttsuji ayano

A ballad by Ayano Tsuji that sings about the special time spent with a lover at Christmas.

The couple’s deep affection and passion are gently wrapped in her soft vocals and the sound of the ukulele.

The lyric “If I have you, I need nothing else” conveys unconditional love for the other person.

The song is included on the single “Yubikiri/Hoshi Furu Yoru no Christmas,” released in October 2005.

Tsuji based it on her memory of a snowy Christmas Eve in Kyoto and painted her ideal Christmas scene.

It’s a heartwarming track perfect for a romantic night with your partner.

[Heart-Touching] Recommended Emotional Ballad Songs for Christmas [2026] (21–30)

Our ChristmasKubota Toshinobu

Toshinobu Kubota – Our Christmas [Official Video Short ver.]
Our ChristmasKubota Toshinobu

This is a love song perfect for Christmas, featuring a warm melody and Toshinobu Kubota’s soulful vocals.

Singing of romantic moments spent amid falling snow and the glittering lights of the city, the piece deeply resonates with lovers’ hearts.

Included on a single released in December 2003, it strongly reflects Kubota’s R&B and soul influences.

In fact, it was his first Christmas song, and this heartwarming ballad lets listeners reaffirm their feelings for the ones they love while wrapped in a gentle, cozy atmosphere.