A stylish moment of autumn songs colored by Japanese pop music
As the wind turns cool and the trees on the street corners begin to change color, autumn somehow makes our hearts a little sentimental.
For moments like these, sophisticated tracks with refined sounds and evocative lyrics feel just right.
We’ve selected high-quality Japanese pop songs perfect for the season—from stylish tunes infused with urban and jazz elements to songs that sing of mature romance.
How about spending a slow moment or a night drive with music that enriches the colors of autumn?
A stylish moment of autumn songs colored by Japanese pop (1–10)
Night on the Planetkuriipuhaipe
CreepHyp is a rock band led by Sekai Kan Ozaki, who is also active as a novelist.
This track was included on their album “Clinging to the Night, Melting in the Morning,” released in December 2021, and was chosen as the theme song for the film “Just Remembering.” It’s moving to think that the song came first and the movie was made from there.
The lyrics portray a protagonist who suddenly looks back on the passionate days with a former lover.
The contrast with their current life seems to overlap with autumn’s characteristic sentimentality.
With its urban sound highlighted by distinctive keyboards, this lyrical number gently keeps you company in moments alone.
Twilight SurroundRIP SLYME
What I’d love for you to listen to against the backdrop of an autumn sky awash in orange is the 10th single by the hip-hop group RIP SLYME.
Released in October 2004 as an advance single from their fourth album, MASTERPIECE, the track features a lively yet delicate acoustic guitar that creates a floaty, autumnal vibe.
The melodious rap, which portrays the passage of time from dusk to dawn, draws you in until you feel yourself melting into its world.
Peaking at No.
5 on the Oricon weekly chart, this song is perfect for a nighttime autumn drive.
Its slightly wistful, groovy sound gently wraps you in a sentimental mood—an evocative hip-hop tune through and through.
LOOPSIRUP
This song is perfect for when you want to sink into a sentimental autumn mood! It’s a track from singer-songwriter KYOtaro’s solo project, crafted by SIRUP.
With a sound rooted in R&B and soul, it’s sure to resonate with fans of Black music.
At first, it sounds like it’s depicting joyful everyday moments—like café dates and drives with a lover—but hidden beneath is a bittersweet story of someone replaying memories with a person who’s no longer by their side.
The sweet, mellow vocals and laid-back groove seem to gently wrap around the protagonist’s bittersweet recollections.
Released digitally in 2018 and included on the EP “SIRUP EP2,” this refined sound will enrich your autumn moments—perfect for a solo night in or a drive.
Tokyo FlashVaundy
A signature song by Vaundy that carries the mellow atmosphere of a city night, set to a so-called “stylish” sound.
Its addictive groove blends sparkle with a wistful air, making it a perfect fit for the sentimental mood of autumn.
The lyrics—hinting at aimless loneliness and an inescapable fate hidden within superficial conversations and fleeting relationships—have a fascinating, enigmatic charm.
Released in November 2019 as his first digital single, the track was also featured in the ABEMA dating show ‘Koisuru ♥ Shumatsu Homestay.’ It’s included on the acclaimed album ‘strobo,’ and its smooth, subdued finish makes it ideal for a nighttime drive.
moonlightmoumoon
This is a song that colors autumn nights with the gentle, sunlit sound of the music duo moumoon.
YUKA’s clear, translucent vocals and the delicate, guitar-centered ensemble crafted by MASAKI are especially striking.
The track seems to portray a tender yet bittersweet feeling of thinking about someone precious under the moonlight.
Its lyrics, together with the dreamy arrangement, gently envelop the listener’s heart.
Released as a single in November 2010, it was also featured in the AEON “Full Moon Rosé” commercial.
The song was later included on the acclaimed album “15 Doors.” It’s sure to keep you company during quiet, contemplative autumn evenings.
Night of Osmanthuskinoko teikoku
A rock band that captivates fans with a one-of-a-kind worldview, Kinoko Teikoku delivers this track featured on their September 2018 album Time Lapse.
It opens with an intro of dreamy guitars, and vocalist Chiaki Sato’s nostalgic singing really resonates.
On a night when the scent of fragrant olive drifts softly through the air, the lyrics paint a poignant scene in which memories of a past love resurface—evoking a sentimentality unique to autumn.
The song is also known for being used in Recruit’s SUUMO commercial.
Its beautiful yet wistful ensemble makes it the perfect melancholy rock tune to sink into as the weather turns chilly.
moon bathingYorushika
Yorushika is a duo band consisting of composer n-buna and vocalist suis.
This track unfolds a quiet, mysterious world as if bathed in moonlight.
Yorushika’s characteristically literary lyrics intertwine with suis’s gentle voice and delicate soundscapes to deeply fill the heart.
You can almost see scenes that capture irreplaceable moments within the passage of time.
Released in October 2023, the song was written as the theme for the animated film “Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage.” An ensemble featuring acoustic guitar adds depth to the arrangement.
It’s a perfect song for long autumn nights when you want to sit quietly with your thoughts.