Warm songs to listen to in winter: a collection of music that will gently warm your heart

Dear SantaNEW!Koresawa

Koresawa “Onegai Santa Claus” [Lyric Video]

Do you like those bittersweet yet warm Christmas songs you want to listen to as winter arrives? This is a single by Koresawa, a singer-songwriter from Osaka, released in November 2023.

It’s a song that has been cherished and performed live since her indie days, and for fans, its official release had been eagerly awaited for years.

Set to a gentle band sound woven by piano and guitar, the delicate lyrics—like entrusting a single wish to Santa—truly resonate.

The lyric video by filmmaker Shinpe UCHIBORI also became a hot topic.

It’s perfect for quietly spending a cold night alone or for facing your true feelings.

How about spending a heartwarming moment with this piece?

silentNEW!SEKAI NO OWARI

SEKAI NO OWARI「silent」

A winter classic by SEKAI NO OWARI that evokes snow piling up on a quiet night.

Written specifically as the theme song for the 2020 TBS drama “Kono Koi Atatamemasu ka,” the track features Christmas-like sleigh bells as an accent, and lyrics that capture a silence like sound has vanished and an unspoken, aching longing that truly resonates.

Surprisingly, that vivid wintry atmosphere was created by the members in the middle of summer, chilling the room to an extreme with air conditioning.

Later included on the album “scent of memory,” it can be considered one of their new standard numbers.

It’s also frequently featured on TikTok as a song people want to hear in winter—perfect for pairing with videos of illuminated cityscapes and snowy scenes.

Be sure to use it as heartwarming BGM for your posts.

Winter Snow MagicNEW!Hirai Dai

Winter Snow Magic

A romantic number by Dai Hirai—an artist strongly associated with summer—that feels like it’s under a winter spell.

The grand arrangement featuring strings and his warm vocals dramatically color the feelings of two people pledging their love in the cold season.

Many listeners will likely find comfort in the imagery of savoring happiness with a loved one amid a landscape blanketed in snow.

Released first as a digital pre-release in December 2013 and later included on the mini-album “The Light,” which came out in January 2014, this song’s sweet world of confirming eternal love is perfect for setting the mood on a couple’s special night.

A town where snow fallsNEW!Aimer

Aimer “Snowy Town”

It’s a winter song that lets you feel both the hush of falling snow and the warmth glowing within.

Against a winter landscape wrapped in silence, it carefully portrays the wistful feelings of thinking about someone dear you can’t meet right now.

Aimer’s husky, resonant voice echoes gently like powder snow drifting through the cold air, softly enveloping the listener’s heart.

The track was included on her third single, released in February 2012, and was also used as the first ending theme for the drama “Ghost Whisperer Season 3.” Later featured on the classic album “Sleepless Nights,” it’s an early masterpiece—an affecting ballad perfect for quietly listening to on long winter nights.

Winter TaleNEW!Murashita Kōzō

Winter Tale

A hidden gem by Kozo Murashita that lyrically captures the chill felt on a late autumn street corner and the void left by a love that has ended.

It’s a ballad included as the B-side to the single “Odoriko,” released in August 1983, and also featured on that year’s acclaimed album “Hatsukoi ~Asaki Yume Mishi~.” Though it never had a notable tie-in, the lyrics—evoking images like a clock tower and fallen leaves—and Murashita’s warm vocals quietly settle into the listener’s heart.

Eschewing flashy production in favor of an acoustic resonance that seeps in, this piece is perfect for a cold winter night when you want to sit alone with your memories.

Its bittersweet yet beautiful story may gently wrap your chilled heart in warmth.

White cityNEW!aibii karaa

Ivy Color [White City] Music Video

A heartwarming love song you’ll want to listen to with someone special on a cold winter day.

Glittering strings and piano melodies vividly reflect a winter cityscape lit up with illuminations.

It’s filled with the excitement of heading to a meeting spot and the happy moments between lovers who find even the cold endearing, brightening the listener’s heart.

Released in November 2022 as the first installment of Ivy to Color’s “Pure Love Diptych,” this track is perfect not only for those on their way to a date, but also for nights when you want to feel the warmth of someone you love close by.

Winter MemoriesMONGOL800

Winter Memories

This track is packed with bright, heartwarming messages.

Riding a lively ska rhythm, MONGOL800 sings about the joy of welcoming winter alongside Okinawa’s nature, like the sea and sky.

The bell tones and chorus heighten the festive mood, making it a song that naturally brings a smile to your face.

Released in December 2003 as the first track on the 8cm single “Yorokobi no Uta,” the single became the first indie release ever to reach No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

It’s the perfect number for when you want to feel a touch of sunny, tropical air on a cold winter’s night or liven up a Christmas party!