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 [Drive BGM and Relaxation Tunes] (51–60)
I feel like going home.ikimonogakari
It was released in 2008 as Ikimonogakari’s ninth single.
The song was written specifically as the theme for the Toho-distributed film “Sand Chronicle” and was also used in an Aiful Home commercial.
It has a somewhat nostalgic feel, making it a warm song that makes you want to go back to your hometown during Golden Week.
Haneuma RiderPorunogurafiti
It’s such a special song for Porno Graffitti that its title was even included in their 2006 live show “Yokohama Romance Porno ’06 ~Catch the Haneuma~.” The track also played in a Pocari Sweat commercial featuring Haruka Ayase, where she keeps doing pole jumps and looks absolutely radiant.
The exhilarating drive of “Haneuma Rider” perfectly matches the excitement of Golden Week, and I’m sure it will appeal to listeners of any generation.
If you haven’t heard it yet, please give it a listen!
Reach for the skyKuraki Mai
It was released in 2000 as Mai Kuraki’s sixth single.
The song was used as the theme for the NHK morning drama series “Audrey,” and it reached No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It’s a gentle track that you’ll want to listen to on a leisurely day off to calm your mind.
REALITY SHOWŌhara Sakurako
“REALITY SHOW” is a track by female singer-songwriter Sakurako Ohara.
It portrays a plan-free day off, and the interplay between bass and drums is particularly intriguing.
The song has a quirky, offbeat feel that makes it especially engaging.
It’s the kind of piece you’ll want to put on when you have a bit of extra time during Golden Week.
It also carries a stylish, Western pop vibe, with an interesting development in the latter half that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
Songs to Listen to During Golden Week [Driving BGM and Relaxing Day-Off Tunes] (61–70)
I love itŌhara Sakurako
It was released in 2016 as Sakurako Ohara’s fifth solo single.
The song was featured in the commercial for Colopl’s “White Cat Project” and reached No.
5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It’s a cute track you’ll want to savor slowly, soaking in your “I really like you” feelings for someone special.
Easy★RiderOkuda Tamio
“Iijuu” is showbiz slang meaning 30; in this song it probably refers to being 30 years old or being in your thirties.
It’s a distinctive turn of phrase, isn’t it? It also plays on Easy Rider, the landmark ’70s road movie by Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, showing Okuda’s playful spirit here as well.
The lyrics, with a “let’s keep it fun and not get old even in our thirties” vibe, are perfect for a Golden Week drive.
It’s truly a must-have track for the slightly grown-up crowd in their thirties to forties.
Happinessarashi
In Arashi’s music video, the five members are warmly close, playfully enjoying themselves in various places, which leaves a strong impression.
This song was also chosen as the theme for the drama “Yamada Taro Monogatari,” starring members Kazunari Ninomiya and Sho Sakurai, making it familiar to many listeners.
There’s a phrase in the song where they all sing in unison, and if you heard it while out and about, you might find yourself singing along before you know it.
It’s a track that seems to capture that giddy, going-out mood—perfect as background music.