Songs to Listen to During Golden Week [Drive BGM and Relaxing Day-Off Tunes]
Golden Week, the long holiday from late April to early May.
Many of you probably look forward to it every year, right? It’s a precious time to refresh yourself—going on trips or taking a drive a little farther than usual.
However, going out means travel time, and during the holidays the roads get terribly congested…
So in this article, we’re introducing songs perfect for Golden Week to accompany your drive.
They work great as BGM while you’re on the move, and there are also tracks that let you fully soak in the holiday mood, so be sure to check them out!
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Songs to Listen to During Golden Week [Driving BGM and Relaxing Day-Off Tunes] (61–70)
Chuo FreewayMatsutōya Yumi
It started out as an ordinary track on the album The 14th Moon, but its lyrics became a hot topic, and before anyone knew it, it became one of Yumi Matsutoya’s signature songs.
For a non-single to be loved by so many people is truly the ultimate honor for an artist.
Since Yuming’s family home is in Hachioji, we can infer that “Chuo Freeway” likely refers to the Chuo Expressway.
Many of you may have chances to drive on the highway during Golden Week, and this is the perfect song to have your hands on the wheel with.
And of course, don’t forget to check out the racecourse and the beer factory mentioned in the song!
scale (as of a fish or reptile)Hata Motohiro
Released in 2007 as Motohiro Hata’s second single.
Written and composed by Motohiro Hata, it was used as the image song for NTV’s summer documentary “Teijisei: 1461 Days of Memories.” Its refreshing vocals and melody make it a perfect song for Golden Week.
Romantic Flightkome kome CLUB
No introduction needed—this is a mega-hit by Kome Kome Club that remains a staple in Japanese pop music.
It’s been used in lots of TV dramas and commercials, so it doesn’t feel that old, but it was actually released in 1990.
Most memorable of all was the JAL Okinawa campaign commercial, where the Kome Kome Club members march in a mysterious procession in a place that looks like heaven.
Let this Okinawa-evoking song hype up your Golden Week trip to Okinawa! Of course, it’s also perfect for any trip that involves flying, so it’s highly recommended for destinations beyond Okinawa too!
FlowerFuji Kaze
Fujii Kaze’s latest work poetically expresses the transience and preciousness of life, offering a song that stays close to the feelings of someone searching for their own path amid uncertainty.
With a gentle voice that encourages believing in your inner light and living true to yourself, and a soothing melody infused with jazz elements, it leaves a lasting impression.
Released in October 2023, it drew attention as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Thursday drama “The Best-Loved Flower.” The music video, filmed in New South Wales, Australia, symbolically portrays the boundary between life and death.
It’s a great pick to listen to alone on a long drive, and also as background music when you want to reflect on yourself.
rainbowAqua Timez
Released in 2008 as Aqua Timez’s sixth single.
The song was used as the theme for the Nippon TV drama Gokusen: Season 3, and it reached No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It’s a fresh, positive track that carries the message that “after overcoming hardship, joy will surely await.”
Around The WorldMONKEY MAJIK
MONKEY MAJIK, all of whose members still live in Sendai, is a rock band made up of Canadian brothers and two Japanese members.
The group debuted in 2006, and Around The World is their second single.
Chosen as the theme song for the drama Journey to the West (Saiyuki), it was the track that brought MONKEY MAJIK to widespread attention.
Its lively, Chinese-influenced intro is striking and is sure to liven up a fun holiday.
Messenger from Sunday↑THE HIGH-LOWS↓
Do you know the show Aiseki Shokudo, hosted by the comedy duo Chidori? It’s a Kansai local program, so people in the Kanto area might not be familiar with it, but it has won a special prize at the TVer Awards two years in a row.
The song that always plays at the end of the VTR segments in the show is Sunday Morning Messenger.
If you’re from Kansai and hear this song, you’ll say, “Oh, that’s the Aiseki Shokudo song.” Whether the VTR is heartwarming, nerve-racking, or laugh-out-loud funny, this song brings it all together perfectly at the end.
It’s truly a brilliant song choice.
If you end up sharing a table with someone at a crowded restaurant during Golden Week, remember this song!