Emotional tracks perfect for a drive; road trip songs that deepen your memories.
There are all kinds of songs you can play on a drive, but choosing the right ones can be tough.
Ideally, you want to pick tracks that suit the person you’re with and the situation, so the music truly fits the drive.
In this article, we’re focusing on songs that carry an emotional vibe.
We’ll pick out “emo” tracks based on recent hits.
Whether you’re alone, with friends, family, or a partner—how about heading home with songs that bring back memories from the day or the past? Music has the power to elevate the atmosphere, so enjoy your driving time with these wonderful tracks.
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Emotional tracks perfect for a drive. Drive songs that deepen the memories (11–20)
I can’t forget it.Sakanakushon
A pop number with a sound that evokes 80s kayōkyoku and New Music and nostalgic melodies that grab your heart.
Included on the album “834.194,” released in June 2019, it also drew attention as the song used in a SoftBank TV commercial.
Packed with the meticulous craftsmanship unique to Sakanaction, the track is also known for the story that vocalist Ichiro Yamaguchi developed as many as 150 lyric drafts before finalizing them.
It’s perfect for a night-drive date taking in the city lights, or for those times when you want to cruise while feeling a bit sentimental.
Princesanari
Sanari is a rap artist who delivers theme-driven songs to his listeners.
“Prince,” a track from his 2019 album SICKSTEEN, showcases his skillful rap layered over lyrics that honestly express feelings for a loved one.
The synths, which bloom with rich expansiveness, intertwine with the beat to convey an urban vibe.
It’s a song that works just as well as a companion for a nighttime drive with someone special as it does for a focused solo listen.
I Need U BackFuji Kaze
A powerful number that relights the flame of passion in a burned-out heart.
A track from Fujii Kaze’s third album, “Prema,” released in September 2025.
Its sound evokes late-’80s to early-’90s R&B, and the lyrics—charged with a strong resolve to reclaim one’s energy—leave listeners feeling refreshingly uplifted.
It’s the perfect song for when you want to hit reset.
Summer MemoriesKetsumeishi
When it comes to summer drives, this classic has to be the one.
Released in July 2003 as their 10th single, it’s also included on the acclaimed album Ketsunopolis 3.
A mellow track fused with smooth, feel-good rap, it vividly brings back the scenes and fleeting emotions of seasons spent with friends.
It’s the perfect number to play while cruising along a coastal road or during lively trips with your crew.
more than wordsHitsuji Bungaku
Hitsujibungaku captivates with their unique sound that blends inorganic coolness and warmth, along with poetic, delicate word choices.
Released in September 2023, this track was selected as the ending theme for Season 2 of the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen, the Shibuya Incident arc, and has surpassed 100 million streams.
Incorporating a four-on-the-floor beat and programmed sounds for the first time, the piece is an ambitious work produced by Moeka Shiotsuka after a year of studying DTM (desktop music production).
The lyrics, which reflect on how to convey feelings that words alone can’t express and on how to navigate one’s own life, really resonate.
The transparent vocals meld into the expansive soundscape, making it a song you’ll want to savor on a quiet night.
As memory servesTAIL
This track comes from TAIL, whose hybrid, R&B-centered sound is a key part of the appeal.
Released in December 2024, the song portrays the tangled feelings of being unable to genuinely celebrate the happiness of a former lover upon reunion.
Its airy synths and beats that make artful use of space weave a soundscape that seems to mirror the ebb and flow of sentimental emotion.
Following November 2023, when TAIL concluded activities under the name Taichi Mukai, this work marks a new chapter of expression and has been entered in two categories at Music Awards Japan 2025.
It’s a song whose faintly wistful vocals linger in the ear—perfect for a sentimental night scene.
Emotional songs you’ll want to play on a drive. Drive tracks that deepen your memories (21–30)
melodramanatori & imase
A gem of a driving song where wistfulness and warmth coexist.
The retro-pop number woven by the gentle vocals of Natori and imase beautifully captures a nostalgic worldview.
Created to commemorate Nissan Motor’s 90th anniversary, the piece portrays the loneliness after a farewell—symbolized by the empty passenger seat—and the lingering attachment to the time spent together.
Released on August 30, 2024, it also drew attention as the theme song for Nissan’s 90th anniversary film, “NISSAN LOVE STORY.” It’s a heartwarming track that accompanies late-night drives while gazing at the city lights, or quiet moments when you want to linger in memories.