[Songs to Listen to in December] J-POP and Christmas Songs that Feel Like Winter [2026]
December, which wraps up the year, becomes even more beautiful with illuminations lighting up and sometimes snow falling.
There are plenty of events too, like Christmas and New Year’s countdown concerts.
Around this time every year, you hear more Christmas songs and winter tunes on TV and in the streets.
In this article, we’ll introduce winter songs perfect for December, including the latest tracks! From songs that hype up your events to Christmas-themed pieces that warm a chilly heart, enjoy a variety of Japanese winter songs!
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[Songs to Listen to in December] J‑Pop and Christmas Songs that Feel Like Winter [2026] (81–90)
Meri-kuru?Task have Fun
This is Task have Fun’s first Christmas song, released in December 2024, from a group that has built a solid following in the indie idol scene since forming in 2016.
The bittersweet lyrics, filled with anticipation for spending Christmas with a lover, blend deep affection with a touch of insecurity, rekindling the flutter of romance.
Warm bell tones and a poppy melody sparkle like winter city illuminations.
The track was released in December 2024 and premiered at an event in Aichi Prefecture.
It’s a heart-lifting Christmas song perfect for a special night with someone you love.
Merry Christmas, Happy Christmasorange pekoe
The duo orange pekoe, comprised of Tomoko Nagashima and Kazuma Fujimoto, who have announced they will end their activities in 2026, have released their first original song in 11 years—and it’s their first-ever Christmas song.
Nurtured over the past few years, the track features a warm, home-recorded sound, enhanced by a magical mix from New York engineer Jay Messina.
Whether you’re with a partner or on your own, worn out from work or spending time with family, its message embraces everyone, wrapping Christmas not as a special day but as a “gentle time you can quietly celebrate.” It’s recommended for those who want to warm their hearts on a silent night or enjoy Christmas in a subtle way.
A pure white townFujimaki Ryota
This is a winter ballad released digitally in January 2025 by Ryota Fujimaki, known for classics like “March 9th” and “Powder Snow.” The shimmering tone of a 12-string guitar leaves a strong impression, and the lyrics overlay the pain of heartbreak onto Tokyo’s snowy scenery, sketching a poignant scene where lingering feelings and gratitude for a past lover intersect.
Positioned as the lead single from the album “Ephemeral and Fragile,” released in March 2025, this first new song in about two years showcases Fujimaki’s matured expressiveness.
It’s a quiet, warming winter song you’ll want to play on a cold night when the snow begins to fall outside your window.
WISHarashi
This is a song released by Arashi in November 2005.
It captures the excitement of the city becoming more colorful as Christmas approaches.
It’s a classic that vividly portrays young people searching for a partner to spend Christmas with.
A sparkling, quintessentially Christmas-like track.
Christmas EveYamashita Tatsuro
After all, when it comes to Japanese Christmas songs, this is the one, right? Released in 1983, it’s still a winter classic beloved across generations.
It feels so full of Christmas spirit that you could say it became the prototype for today’s J-pop Christmas songs.
While the tune is exciting and festive, the lyrics feature a man spending Christmas alone and portray the lingering feelings he can’t let go of.
It’s a bittersweet yet beautiful Christmas standard.
You and the slopesSHISHAMO
Once December arrives, some resorts start their season depending on the region, and I bet some of you will be hitting the slopes for skiing or snowboarding.
This song depicts a day when a close-knit group goes snowboarding together.
It has SHISHAMO’s signature bright, catchy vibe, giving off a refreshing winter feel.
At the same time, the lyrics portray an unrequited love that can’t come true, making it incredibly heartbreaking.
It’s a perfect coming-of-age song for winter that just about anyone can relate to.
[Songs to Listen to in December] J-Pop and Christmas Songs That Feel Like Winter [2026] (91–100)
With you ～Luv merry X’mas～EXILE ATSUSHI
A gem of a love ballad that paints a warm, tender time spent with someone special on a holy night.
EXILE ATSUSHI’s sweet, richly textured vocals meld with the smooth, R&B-tinged melody, resulting in a track you can savor slowly.
Originally a song by the vocal group LUVandSOUL, it’s also known for being covered in December 2008 by COLOR, a group produced by ATSUSHI.
It’s the perfect song for strolling through streets aglow with illuminations or spending a cozy Christmas night indoors—one that will leave you enchanted by its beautiful harmonies.