![[Hometown Songs] A curated selection of popular Japanese tracks that fill your heart with nostalgia](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/mF3w1a7GptY/maxresdefault.webp)
In the midst of hectic days—living alone away from your familiar hometown or spending each day with a new family—you may suddenly recall the nostalgic scenery of the place you grew up.
Even if you want to go back, circumstances may keep you from doing so right away…
In times like these, why not rest your heart by listening to classic songs that sing of home?
In this article, we’ve compiled songs themed around “hometown,” focusing on timeless J-POP classics.
Let yourself be wrapped in nostalgia and enjoy these exquisite masterpieces that may gently bring warm tears to your eyes.
- A classic enka masterpiece about one's hometown. A wonderful song that evokes thoughts of home.
- A nostalgic song—a timeless classic that somehow feels familiar and touches the heart.
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- A famous song about Fukuoka. The heart of the hometown passed down through song.
- [2026 Edition] Songs Loved by People in Their 60s: Classic Hits from Their Youth
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- Spirit of Wa: Masterpieces for the Koto — Japan’s Beautiful Melodies
- Japanese sign-language songs; sign-language song(s)
[Hometown Songs] Carefully Selected Popular Japanese Tracks That Fill Your Heart with Nostalgia (1–10)
Far, far awayMakihara Noriyuki
A song that surely resonates with people living away from their hometowns is Noriyuki Makihara’s “Tōku Tōku” (“Far Away”).
It’s a track from his 1992 album “Kimi wa Boku no Takaramono.” Although it was never released as a single, it has become one of his most popular signature songs.
Makihara reportedly wrote and composed it while thinking of his friends back home, and the lyrics convey both a determination not to return until he’s made his mark and a poignant longing for his hometown.
In 2006, he released a self-cover version, which was also used in a commercial for NTT East.
far; distant; by farGReeeeN
The song that celebrates setting off on a journey and family love is “Haruka,” GReeeeN’s 11th single, released in 2009.
It was chosen as the theme song for the Toho-distributed film “ROOKIES: Graduation,” and it reached No.
2 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
Its lyrics resonate deeply with those who live apart from their families to follow their own path.
The music video is crafted like a drama that portrays the feelings and deep love between parent and child, and it’s truly moving.
A place to return toHY
This is a moving piece that paints the feeling of longing for a distant homeland with warm, Okinawan-style sounds.
The lyrics, filled with deep love for the mother island, vividly depict the scenery and memories of home, bringing listeners a sense of nostalgia and warmth.
Included on the album “GLOCAL,” released in February 2014, it also served as the ending theme for TBS’s program “Otona no!” With the rhythm of Eisa drums, this work showcases HY’s unique fusion of Okinawan culture and contemporary pop, making it a song that offers comfort to those living away from their hometown or who have experienced parting from someone dear.
hometownarashi
The song Furusato, sung by Arashi, was chosen as the set piece for the elementary school division of the 80th NHK All-Japan School Music Competition in 2012.
It was originally written for the segment “Our Hometowns, Japan” in the 61st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen broadcast at the end of 2010, and was later included on their 14th album, Japonism.
Its simple melody and nostalgia-filled lyrics are especially appealing.
In 2013, a drama based on this song was aired.
It’s a track that evokes warm memories of one’s hometown—be sure to give it a listen!
Memories are beautifulAimer
It is a warm song that overflows with childhood memories and gratitude toward family.
Everyday moments with the father are depicted with delicate detail, creating a nostalgic afterglow while shaping a sound that resonates with everyone living in the present.
Aimer’s delicate, translucent voice vividly brings gentle memories to life, leaving a deep emotional impact on listeners.
Released in September 2018 as part of the triple A-side single “Black Bird / Tiny Dancers / Omoide wa Kirei de,” the song was included the following year on the album “Penny Rain.” It is a heartwarming masterpiece you’ll want to listen to when living away from family or when you feel like reflecting on memories of your hometown.
BoyhoodInoue Yosui
Singer-songwriter Yosui Inoue, known for hit songs such as “No Umbrella,” “Into a Dream,” and “Riverside Hotel.” Among the works he released after entering the 1990s, the song that drew major attention was “Shonen Jidai” (“Boyhood”).
This song features lyrics with a narrative quality: it begins with scenes from the end of summer, shifts into summer as the lyrics progress, and then returns to summer’s end.
The nostalgic yet bittersweet words are likely to resonate with people who have left their hometowns and feel a longing for where they grew up.
Incidentally, since 1994 the song has been included several times in middle and high school textbooks.
Islanders’ TreasureBEGIN
A song packed with the wonders of Okinawa is BEGIN’s “Shimanchu nu Takara.” Released in 2002 as their 23rd single, it was used by NHK Okinawa as an image song to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan.
It’s said that vocalist Ei Sho Higa asked a classmate who was teaching at their hometown junior high school to have students write about their feelings for the island, which he then used as inspiration for the lyrics.
The song has been covered by many artists, including Rimi Natsukawa and BENI, so be sure to give it a listen!