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

TomorrowNEW!Furui Riho

Furui Riho – Tomorrow (Official Music Video)

This is a heartwarming winter anthem from Furui Riho.

Rooted in R&B and gospel, her vocals bring a cozy groove to the cold snowy mountains.

The lyrics, which highlight the preciousness of time spent with friends and the determination to move forward, are also a must-hear.

Released in December 2024, this track pairs her with producer Taka Perry, crystallizing the bond deepened through the June 2024 tour.

The music video features everyday moments with her bandmates and childhood photos, evoking a sense of connection with loved ones.

It’s a gem that blends tenderness and exhilaration—perfect for the ride home after a tiring day on the slopes or for quiet conversations at the lodge.

Lovers AgainEXILE

EXILE / Lovers Again

Released in January 2007 and still beloved as a winter staple, this song is a mid-tempo ballad that delicately portrays a man’s aching emotions amid a winter landscape.

Its lyrics, which layer lingering feelings for a former lover over wintry scenery, resonate even more deeply thanks to the richly expressive vocals of ATSUSHI and TAKAHIRO.

The arrangement blends balladry with danceable elements in a way that’s quintessentially EXILE.

Widely recognized as the CM song for KDDI’s au service “au LISMO,” it became familiar to many and reached No.

2 on the Oricon weekly chart.

A gem of a winter song, it gently stays by the side of anyone who has experienced a breakup on those cold, lonely winter nights.

TAKE ME HOMENEW!MAN WITH A MISSION

MAN WITH A MISSION / TAKE ME HOME MV

A rock tune brimming with MWAM’s signature sense of speed, featuring all-English vocals and a driving beat! Included on the album “Beef Chicken Pork,” released in February 2014, it packs the power to instantly amp up the energy at live shows.

The music video is also known for being filmed at Nekoma Ski Resort in Fukushima Prefecture, making it a perfect match for snowy mountains.

You can practically picture them enjoying snowboarding—this track is guaranteed to lift your spirits not only in the car on the way to the slopes, but also as the perfect soundtrack while you ride.

Before it turns whiteRyuya Miyase

Ryubi Miyase (Miyase Ryuya) – Before It Turns White [Official Music Video]

Set to a light, jazzy pop sound, this winter song celebrates the arrival of the season and budding romance.

Actor Ryubi Miyase wrote the lyrics under the name “Ryubi Miyase,” infusing them with a desire to vividly capture both the cityscape before it turns completely white with snow and the moments spent with a loved one.

The track was newly written as the opening theme for Miyase’s first leading drama, “First Love of the Snowdrop,” which began airing in October 2024.

It was released for streaming to coincide with the broadcast and was packaged as a long-awaited first single in December 2024.

With stylish chord progressions and a sweet, soothing vocal, it’s perfect for nights when you want to sink into a romantic mood.

It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to enjoy a winter romance while reflecting on the drama’s storyline.

My Gift to YouCHEMISTRY

CHEMISTRY “My Gift to You” Official Video

It’s as if CHEMISTRY’s beautiful harmonies gently whisper that the feeling of thinking of someone dear is the greatest gift of all.

This winter classic delicately paints shimmering winter nightscapes and the quiet scene of falling snow.

Released in December 2002 as their seventh single, it is also included on the acclaimed album “Second to None.” The song was featured in the Christmas special drama “Their Christmas” and in a KDDI commercial, accompanying many winter memories over the years.

It’s the perfect winter number for moments spent with someone special, or for a solitary night lost in thought during the cold season.

With you ～Luv merry X’mas～EXILE ATSUSHI

EXILE ATSUSHI / With you ～Luv merry X’mas～

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.

HibernationYorushika

Yorushika – Hibernation (Toumin) (Lyrics/Kan/Rom/Eng)

A track that strikes the heart with the impatience felt as the seasons change and the earnest wish to simply spend quiet time with you.

Yorushika—comprised of composer n-buna and vocalist suis—included this song on their May 2018 mini-album “An Encore Is Not Needed for a Loser.” Set to a driving, exhilarating guitar-rock sound, the piece portrays emotions so delicate they make you want to escape reality.

In the online concert “Previous Life” held in January 2021, it was performed as the song that closed the story, leaving a deep afterglow.

As the cold grows harsher, if you listen on a solitary night in a warm room, lost in thought, or while thinking of someone dear, it’s sure to resonate deeply in your heart.