[Stylish Winter Songs] A Collection of Japanese Winter Songs to Enjoy in the Cold Season

snow jamRin Oto

snow jam – Rin-ne (Official Music Video)

Rin-ne’s signature track, characterized by chill, mellow rap, is a song that gently warms the heart when listened to on a cold winter day.

Its biggest draw is the effortlessly relaxed vibe.

Over a soothing track that feels like the drowsy moments before sleep, the lyrics portray unadorned, everyday life with a lover in an honest, down-to-earth way.

Released in February 2020 as his first winter song, it also made waves when it earned the New Artist Award at the 62nd Japan Record Awards that same year.

With a soft sound that transcends the boundaries of hip-hop, it’s a track that even those who don’t usually listen to rap can comfortably sink into.

White Winter Love。haji→

Hajime → White Winter Love.

When it comes to winter love songs, many are about heartbreaking farewells, but Haji→’s track overflows with pure charm, layering the sweet, tangy thrill of first love and growing feelings over a pristine snowy landscape.

Released in December 2013 as his first ballad single, it was later included on the album “Cho Hajibum.” Like snow quietly piling up, the lyrics portray a pure unrequited love whose feelings for that special someone can’t be stopped—something many who’ve felt the same will surely relate to.

It’s a song that gently warms a lovestruck heart in the cold season.

Winter TaleKetsumeishi

Winter Story (Jeronimo Remix)

Ketsumeishi are strongly associated with summer, but their winter songs really touch the heart as well.

This work is the group’s first number themed around winter and one of the tracks from a double A-side single released in November 2007.

The lyrics depict memories of a love that has ended resurfacing along with the quietly falling snow, tightening your chest with emotion.

It’s a beautiful song that gently stays by your side on a winter night when the loneliness of heartbreak sinks in.

It might also be interesting to compare it with the group’s classic summer hits that they’ve sent out into the world.

Winter SongEXILE TAKAHIRO

EXILE TAKAHIRO / Winter Song (Music Video)

With a clear, translucent tone, this song delivers a gentle warmth that nestles into the quiet of winter.

TAKAHIRO, vocalist of EXILE, released his first Christmas song in December 2024—one he had been nurturing for two to three years.

The lyrics, which sing of the preciousness of time spent with a loved one on a snowy night, delicately capture both the sentimentality of winter and the warmth of love.

Premiered at a Christmas live show at Tokyo Garden Theater that same December, the song deeply resonated with fans.

It’s the perfect number for nights when you want to quietly warm your heart while gazing at the glow of holiday lights.

Christmas WishHirai Dai

Dai Hirai / Christmas Wish (Lyric Video)

Singer-songwriter Dai Hirai, known for his heartwarming melodies, has captured widespread popularity.

This work is a heartwarming Christmas song that portrays a sweet, bittersweet longing for love—feelings of wanting to see someone piling up in the heart like falling snow.

While retaining a touch of his usual surf-music image, the delicate vocals and acoustic tones gently complement the quiet of winter, warming the listener’s heart.

Released in December 2024 as the title track of the EP “Christmas Wish,” the song also sparked buzz with seasonal projects, including a pop-up shop at Tsutaya Books in Roppongi.

Wouldn’t it be romantic to listen while strolling through streets aglow with illuminations?

waxing; filling up; becoming full; growing (e.g., the moon growing fuller)Fuji Kaze

Fujii Kaze – Michi Teyu Ku (Overflowing) / Official Video

Released in March 2024 as the theme song for the film “My Girlfriend Is an April,” this track marks Fujii Kaze’s first love song.

The lyrics, which beautifully portray the essence of love as a filling of the heart that comes from letting go of attachment, leave a strong impression.

In the music video, directed by the same director as the film, Fujii Kaze plays a dual role as an old man and a young man, with a striking scene of moving through a snowy landscape in a wheelchair.

Centered on love for a mother, the life story it depicts carries a warmth well-suited to winter’s quiet.

It’s a song to listen to slowly when you want to reflect on your feelings for someone important.

Kiss Me, WinterNEW!FIVE NEW OLD

FIVE NEW OLD – Kiss Me, Winter【Official Music Video】

If you want to feel the sparkle of winter through music, this song by FIVE NEW OLD is a great pick.

The bouncy piano rhythms and vibrant horn section ring out, and the sound—imbued with city pop and gospel elements—really gets your heart dancing.

The stylish lyrics, weaving English and Japanese, portray a wavering, sentimental mood under the cold winter sky, conveying a realistic sense of winter’s temperature that’s more than just bright and cheerful.

Released as a single in November 2023, it was featured as the collaborative music for the 2023 Sapporo White Illumination in Hokkaido.

The band’s polished performance and the vocalist’s singing make snowy landscapes feel all the more dramatic.

It’s perfect not only as lively BGM on a bustling ski slope with friends, but also for a soothing moment on the lift while you take in the view.

Between winter sports runs, why not enjoy a stylish time in the snowy mountains?