[2026] Masterpieces that sing of Hokkaido: the heart of a beloved homeland passed down in song
Hokkaido, a land surrounded by grand, beautiful, and sometimes harsh nature, has often been featured as the setting in songs—especially kayōkyoku and enka—from the Showa era to the present day.
Artists and bands from Hokkaido sometimes write songs about their own hometown, and there are countless masterpieces themed around the northern land.
This time, we’ll introduce a selection of songs connected to Hokkaido, regardless of genre or era.
From famous hits to hidden gems, give them a listen while picturing the scenery of Hokkaido!
Playlist
| [2026] Masterpieces that sing of Hokkaido: the heart of a beloved homeland passed down in song | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | In the Great Sky and on the Vast EarthMatsuyama Chiharu |  play_arrow | A leading representative of Japan, born in Ashoro, Ashoro District, Hokkaido… |
| 2east | LAT.43°N 〜forty-three degrees north latitude〜DREAMS COME TRUE |  play_arrow | The vocalist of DREAMS COME TRUE... |
| 3east | From the North Country: From the Distant Landsadamasashi |  play_arrow | Widely known as the theme song for the drama “From the North Country”… |
| 4east | Supernova Express 2016GLAY |  play_arrow | Vocalist TERU and guitarist TAKU... |
| 5east | an insanely cute galŌishi Masayoshi |  play_arrow | With lyrics that skillfully incorporate the Hokkaido dialect, and... |
| 6east | Cape ErimoMori Shinichi |  play_arrow | ‘…’, which can be considered one of enka singer Shinichi Mori’s signature songs, |
| 7east | I long for Southern HokkaidoKoyama Yudai |  play_arrow | Set in the majestic southern Hokkaido region, leaving one’s hometown and... |
| 8east | North TavernHosokawa Takashi |  play_arrow | Enka singer Takashi Hosokawa from Makkari Village, Abuta District, Hokkaido... |
| 9east | Shiretoko Ryojo (Shiretoko Travel Sentiment)Morishige Hisaya |  play_arrow | Actor, voice actor, comedian, and former NHK… |
| 10east | North AirportKatsura Ginshuku, Hama Keisuke |  play_arrow | Set against the vast land of Hokkaido, in 1987... |
| 11east | Ishikari ElegyKitahara Mirei |  play_arrow | Enka singer Mirei Kitahara’s “Ishikari Banka”… |
| 12east | Woman of HakodateKitajima Saburō |  play_arrow | Set in a port town in Hokkaido, it depicts the subtleties of people's hearts and desires... |
| 13east | Today’s soupOizumi Yo with STARDUST REVUE |  play_arrow | Born from a popular program on the AIR-G’ radio station… |
| 14east | Hokkaido for Twokantorī musume. |  play_arrow | A pastoral can that evokes the vast land of Hokkaido... |
| 15east | WakkanaiGalileo Galilei |  play_arrow | A nostalgia-filled rock song set in Wakkanai, Hokkaido… |
| 16east | Wakkanai BluesHara Mitsuru to Shaneru Faibu |  play_arrow | Set in Wakkanai, the northernmost city of Hokkaido, with its magnificent nature and... |
| 17east | I like Sapporo.Mori Yuji to Sazan Kurosu |  play_arrow | A masterpiece that splendidly encapsulates the charm and atmosphere of Sapporo. |
| 18east | Distant StarShimokawa Mikuni |  play_arrow | Mikuni Shimokawa, who is from Shinhidaka, Hidaka District, Hokkaido, is... |
| 19east | Sapporo ElegyTakeshima Hiroshi |  play_arrow | Set in the northern city of Sapporo, a heartrending love story unfolds... |
| 20east | Hakodate Main LineYamakawa Yutaka |  play_arrow | Set against the Ishikari Plain of Hokkaido, it evokes the emotions of parting and the melancholy of travel... |
| 21east | freezing pointTamaki Kōji |  play_arrow | As the vocalist of Anzen Chitai, and as a solo artist… |
| 22east | setting sunyoshida takurou |  play_arrow | The work “Fallen Leaves,” created with lyricist Osami Okamoto… |
| 23east | Ballad of the Rainbow and SnowTo wa e mo wa |  play_arrow | The theme song of the Sapporo Olympics held in 1972… |
| 24east | Capital, oh springtime |  play_arrow | In the dormitory song of Keiteki Dormitory at Hokkaido University, the first... |
| 25east | Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneIshikawa Sayuri |  play_arrow | The enka classic “Tsugaru Strait…” sung by Sayuri Ishikawa |
| 26east | Our path |  play_arrow | In 2018, one ... since it was named “Hokkaido.” |
| 27east | The Wheat SongNakajima Miyuki |  play_arrow | This is female singer Naka, who hails from Sapporo, Hokkaido… |
| 28east | Winds of the Future: Toward the Road AheadYuki Miku (Hatsune Miku) |  play_arrow | Crypton, headquartered in Sapporo, Hokkaido, ... |
| 29east | Cape SoyaDa Kāpo |  play_arrow | Da Capo, a mixed-gender folk duo, sings… |
| 30east | The City of Love, SapporoIshihara Yūjirō |  play_arrow | By the Showa-era icon and star Yujiro Ishihara... |
| 31east | Soran-bushi (from “Northward,” Four Japanese Folk Songs for Mixed Chorus and Piano)Matsushita Kou |  play_arrow | Kō Matsushita gives a contemporary arrangement to Hokkaido folk songs |
| 32east | Misty Lake MashuFuse Akira |  play_arrow | Akira Fuse's fifth release in 1966... |
| 33east | The End of the JourneyAoki Kiyoshi |  play_arrow | Singing of Hokkaido’s beautiful nature and the hearts of its people… |
| 34east | Hokkaido Shararakantorī musume. |  play_arrow | A refreshing driving song by Country Musume themed around Hokkaido. |
| 35east | Travel Sentiments of Iwaobetsusatou muneyuki |  play_arrow | Set in Shiretoko, Hokkaido, it is sung with a mellow, heartfelt tone... |
| 36east | Night of IomanteItō Hisao |  play_arrow | Akira Fuse's fifth release in 1966... |
| 37east | The Northern LandKitajima Saburō |  play_arrow | The magnificent natural landscape of Hokkaido, the hometown of Saburo Kitajima… |
| 38east | Otaru no hito yoTsuruoka Masayoshi to Tokyo Romanchika |  play_arrow | Masayoshi Tsuruoka and the Tokyo Romances, released in 1967... |
| 39east | Lake FurenYamauchi Keisuke |  play_arrow | Singing of the beautiful scenery woven by Hokkaido’s nature... |
| 40east | Cape TachimachiMori Masako |  play_arrow | A song released in 1982 that Hokkaido Hakodate... |
| 41east | Abashiri PrisonTakakura Ken |  play_arrow | This, known as a classic set in Hokkaido... |
| 42east | White City SapporoAn Ruisu |  play_arrow | A 1971 song by Ann Lewis. A winter piece that sings about the snowy scenery of Sapporo. |
| 43east | Cape of Human KindnessTonneruzu |  play_arrow | The ninth ... released by Tunnels in 1986... |
| 44east | First Love TrainHikawa Kiyoshi |  play_arrow | “First Love Train” is by enka singer Kiyoshi Hikawa... |
| 45east | White RoadGLAY |  play_arrow | A rock [band/group] with three of its four members from Hokkaido… |
| 46east | Northern Sea VerseHonma Aine |  play_arrow | Set in Ms. Aine Honma’s hometown of Hokkaido, the story follows fishermen... |
| 47east | The Legend of the Crimson Lily of the ValleyLovelyz |  play_arrow | The duo Love..., who debuted in 1978 |
| 48east | To the northFour Seasons |  play_arrow | Hokkaido, where harsh cold and gentle warmth coexist... |
| 49east | Sōran Migratory BirdsKomadori Shimai |  play_arrow | Magnificently capturing Hokkaido’s grand landscapes and the sentiments of travelers, it splendidly... |
| 50east | Hakodate Night ViewMori Konomi |  play_arrow | A grand work with the night view of Hakodate, Hokkaido as its main theme… |
| 51east | Traveler of the NorthIshihara Yūjirō |  play_arrow | Love in the northern land, a melancholy masterpiece, the soul of Yujiro |
| 52east | Becoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashi |  | A Thousand Winds has become a topic of conversation in the United States... |
| 53east | Fighters’ AnthemUesugi Shudai |  play_arrow | In the official cheer song of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters... |
| 54east | Melancholy SapporoMatsuzaka Keiko & Hama Keisuke |  play_arrow | The du... by actress Keiko Matsuzaka and composer Keisuke Hama |
| 55east | Night in KushiroMikawa Ken’ichi |  | Kenichi Mikawa’s 1968 release, his 1... |
| 56east | Ah, SusukinoSumairēji |  play_arrow | Before S/mileage changed their name to ANGERME… |