RAG MusicInstrumental
Lovely instrumental

[2026] Stylish and Cool Japanese Instrumental Bands You Should Check Out [Enchanting Sounds]

Do you all listen to instrumental music?

When you hear “instrumental,” you might think of those vocal-free tracks that are often included toward the end of a CD.

Pop songs with vocals are wonderful, but instruments also create incredibly important and captivating sounds!

They support the framework of a song and shape its atmosphere—sounds you just can’t do without.

Listening to instrumentals lets you feel the sound of the instruments more directly, and they’re also wonderfully soothing as background music.

This time, we’ll be introducing plenty of Japanese instrumental bands!

One of the charms of instrumentals is that you can enjoy them by vibe—thinking, “Oh, I like this,” as you listen.

Give them a casual listen and have fun!

Playlist

[2026] Stylish and Cool Japanese Instrumental Bands You Should Check Out [Enchanting Sounds]
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastButterfly Effectfox capture plan
Butterfly Effectfox capture planplay_arrow
With the concept of “modern jazz-rock,” 2…
2eastMEMENTOJapanese Baseball
MEMENTOJapanese Baseballplay_arrow
In 2020, on a video-sharing site, a song suddenly...
3eastAdria Bluebohemianvoodoo
Adria Bluebohemianvoodooplay_arrow
A melodious track with pop sensibilities and a refreshing feel...
4eastAIMSSPECIAL OTHERS
AIMSSPECIAL OTHERSplay_arrow
Formed in 1995, SPECIAL O…
5eastNeo JapanesqueH ZETTRIO
Neo JapanesqueH ZETTRIOplay_arrow
With the theme “Something both adults and children can laugh and dance to,” te…
6eastSUNtio
SUNtioplay_arrow
tio was formed by four childhood friends living in Mie Prefecture...
7eastDecisioncolspan
Decisioncolspanplay_arrow
“DIVE I…” organized by Disk Union
8eastBondLITE
BondLITEplay_arrow
Not only in Japan, but also in the United States and Europe, the re...
9eastTAPloqto
TAPloqtoplay_arrow
While being categorized as a math rock band...
10eastAs You LikeThe Jazz Avengers
As You LikeThe Jazz Avengersplay_arrow
A jazz band of eight Japanese women launches
11north_eastrelivetoconoma
relivetoconomaplay_arrow
While working full-time on weekdays, only on weekends...
12eastSAYONARASAKEROCK
SAYONARASAKEROCKplay_arrow
Speaking of SAKEROCK, Gen Hoshino and Hamano come to mind...
13south_eastTANK!SEATBELTS (shītoberutsu)
TANK!SEATBELTS (shītoberutsu)play_arrow
Yoko Kanno, who has worked on numerous anime soundtracks…
14eastNo futureDoxie
No futureDoxieplay_arrow
From Yokohama! A danceable three-piece instru…
15eastAll of youLiquid Stella
All of youLiquid Stellaplay_arrow
Jazz-pop fusion band earns high acclaim
16north_eastPASTELRhim.
PASTELRhim.play_arrow
A pop, melodious song and an audien…
17north_eastkoyukijohann
koyukijohannplay_arrow
Formed in 2008, they are active mainly in Tokyo and across Japan…
18south_eastEternal TwilightApneumo
Eternal TwilightApneumoplay_arrow
Influenced by electronica and ambient...
19eastEnhanceAGATHA
EnhanceAGATHAplay_arrow
Formed in 2016 in Kitasenju, with roaring volume and spi...
20eastI Dance aloneToe
I Dance aloneToeplay_arrow
toe is Hirokazu Yamazaki, Takaki Minō, and Yamane…
21eastsunjizue
sunjizueplay_arrow
jiz… is a four-piece instrumental band from Kyoto.
22eastNight shrouds the light, draws up countless secrets, and nurtures perverse “reveries.”te’
Night shrouds the light, draws up countless secrets, and nurtures perverse “reveries.”te'play_arrow
It is characterized by a long title, along with punctuation, etc…
23eastkokageManhole New World
kokageManhole New Worldplay_arrow
Centered around a bassist from Berklee College of Music…
24eastParadiso→Pia-no-jaC←
Paradiso→Pia-no-jaC←play_arrow
Pianist HAYATO and cajón player HIR…
25eastAkatsukiPE’Z
AkatsukiPE'Zplay_arrow
H..., the former keyboard player of Tokyo Jihen...
26eastInstallADAM at
InstallADAM atplay_arrow
Formed in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka in 2011, they have been active live...
27eastAsayakeCASIOPEA
AsayakeCASIOPEAplay_arrow
Just hearing the intro is enough for the fusion generation to...
28eastCoreGecko&Tokage Parade
CoreGecko&Tokage Paradeplay_arrow
An instru­mental that pursues next-generation sound…
29eastTRUTHT-SQUARE
TRUTHT-SQUAREplay_arrow
A representative example is “TRUTH,” which is often played in F1.
30eastVaisravanaEar Candy Jazz Factory
VaisravanaEar Candy Jazz Factoryplay_arrow
Introducing a skilled smooth jazz unit
31eastcrosstown hyggecetow
crosstown hyggecetowplay_arrow
An emotional yet delicate ensem...
32eastWorld where even the inconceivably inconceivable turning is impossibleMarmalade butcher
World where even the inconceivably inconceivable turning is impossibleMarmalade butcherplay_arrow
Captivating for its fusion of electronica and math rock...
33eastKimi ga HoshiiSIBERIAN NEWSPAPER
Kimi ga HoshiiSIBERIAN NEWSPAPERplay_arrow
A seven-member group formed in Osaka Prefecture in 2005…
34eastBehind The WindJABBERLOOP
Behind The WindJABBERLOOPplay_arrow
A four-piece band formed in Kyoto in 2004, cla…
35eastRetronix SymphonyMop of Head
Retronix SymphonyMop of Headplay_arrow
A rock ba... from Tokyo, formed in 2006
36eastDAVIDRega
DAVIDRegaplay_arrow
Such as headlining the Fuji Rock pre-festival event (zenyasai), …
37eastHumming a song I’ll never listen to againThe Room is Mine
Humming a song I’ll never listen to againThe Room is Mineplay_arrow
An instrumental ba… based in Tokyo
38eastibizaSawagi
ibizaSawagiplay_arrow
Various music genres × dance music…
39eastGuns Of SaxophoneTRI4TH
Guns Of SaxophoneTRI4THplay_arrow
TRI4TH is a five-piece band formed in 2006...
40eastset freeJazztronik
set freeJazztronikplay_arrow
Led by Ryota Nozaki, without having fixed members...
41eastRootsindigo jam unit
Rootsindigo jam unitplay_arrow
A four-piece instrumental unit. Each member...
42eastSummer GoddessSOIL&”PIMP”SESSIONS
Summer GoddessSOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONSplay_arrow
A five-member instrumental group formed in 2001...
43eastShoes1inamillion
Shoes1inamillionplay_arrow
A four-piece instrumental band formed in 2015...
44eastRYDEENYellow Magic Orchestra
RYDEENYellow Magic Orchestraplay_arrow
Affectionately known by the name “YMO,” 198…
45eastDUSKNabowa
DUSKNabowaplay_arrow
An instrumental ... based in Kyoto
46eastPANIC ATTACKMudy On The sakuban
PANIC ATTACKMudy On The sakubanplay_arrow
An electric, electric, electric—electric guitar...
47eastThe Imperial March: Darth Vader’s Theme with No MotivationKurikōdā Karutetto
The Imperial March: Darth Vader’s Theme with No MotivationKurikōdā Karutettoplay_arrow
An unconventional recorder ensemble. Featured on children’s television…
48easthologramspelling
hologram spellingplay_arrow
A five-piece band formed in Kyoto in 2012...
49eastShe wasPEEK
She wasPEEKplay_arrow
As an instrumental band from Tokyo...
50eastThe CosmosYOUR SONG IS GOOD
The CosmosYOUR SONG IS GOODplay_arrow
Formed in 1998 and affectionately known by the nickname “Yuasong,” …
51eastCitrusFabrhyme (Faburaimu)
CitrusFabrhyme (Faburaimu)play_arrow
This unit, Fabrhyme, is female…
52eastparadeHow to count one to ten
paradeHow to count one to tenplay_arrow
A mysterious rhythm and the soft tone of the guitar...
53eastNaadamShibusa Shirazu
NaadamShibusa Shirazuplay_arrow
Formed in 1989, led by Daisuke Fuwa...
54eastInnocenceMono
InnocenceMonoplay_arrow
Formed in Tokyo in 1999, with a long caree…
55eastNowhereLOOP POOL
NowhereLOOP POOLplay_arrow
It's a catchy rhythm. The gut guitar, a...
56eastTHE TRICKSTERKAGERO
THE TRICKSTERKAGEROplay_arrow
An instrumental band in a jazz quartet lineup. Ba…
57eastSanctifyLop Abuse On Somebody
SanctifyLop Abuse On Somebodyplay_arrow
Emotional music by a post-rock band
58eastVostokNRQ
VostokNRQplay_arrow
A diverse array of instruments—including the kokyu, mandolin, and wind instruments—are...
59eastDog of Karmaparanoid void
Dog of Karmaparanoid voidplay_arrow
A sophisticated, mathematically inspired sound emanating from Osaka…
60eastLAMPWAIWAI STEEL BAND
LAMPWAIWAI STEEL BANDplay_arrow
Developing a unique style using the steelpan…
61eastKagefumihyakkei
Kagefumihyakkeiplay_arrow
Hyakkei features Kyanatsuko on bass, and on drums...
62easttechnologymisissippiroid
technologymisissippiroidplay_arrow
A Nagoya-based inst... that started activities in 2010
63eastSignal From The Noise (Rework of BADBADNOTGOOD)Ovall
Signal From The Noise (Rework of BADBADNOTGOOD)Ovallplay_arrow
Bassist Shingo Suzuki sa...
64eastDragon TwistLITTLE TEMPO
Dragon TwistLITTLE TEMPOplay_arrow
A large ensemble band that plays tropical-style reggae
65eastPrismyou you you all the same
Prismyou you you all the sameplay_arrow
A band known for its sparkling sound, y…
66eastLindnerYasei Collective
LindnerYasei Collectiveplay_arrow
A four-piece instrumental band. Jazz and post-rock…
67eastENGAWA DE DANCINGneco nemuru
ENGAWA DE DANCINGneco nemuruplay_arrow
An instrumental band formed in Osaka in 2002...
68eastinsect in my roomPOINTER BROTHERS
insect in my roomPOINTER BROTHERSplay_arrow
Shuichi “PONTA” Murakami and Kitaro Nakamura…
69eastKegon (Huayan)FULLARMOR
Kegon (Huayan)FULLARMORplay_arrow
Straightener, LITE, Nothing…
70eastSoul RiverSonoda Bando
Soul RiverSonoda Bandoplay_arrow
The violin and cello ... which disbanded in 2014.
71eastAfro SandGOMA & The Jungle Rhythm Section
Afro SandGOMA & The Jungle Rhythm Sectionplay_arrow
Didgeridoo artist and painter G…
72eastPowerTRIX
PowerTRIXplay_arrow
Former CASIOPEA’s Noriaki Kumagai, former T-…
73eastThe sky’s the limitPHONO TONES
The sky's the limitPHONO TONESplay_arrow
The inst jam band PHONO T…
74eastMELLOWMIDORINOMARU
MELLOWMIDORINOMARUplay_arrow
An instrumental ba... by a small two-person lineup that leaves an impression
75eastBackArakajime kimerareta koibitotachi e
BackArakajime kimerareta koibitotachi eplay_arrow
The melodica’s melody riding on a pleasant rhythm...
76eastNew WorldKuraizurā & Kanpanī
New WorldKuraizurā & Kanpanīplay_arrow
In a Japanese new-age music band...
77eastD.D.E.ROVO
D.D.E.ROVOplay_arrow
R, an instrumental band formed in 1995...
78eastPicnic PerfectA Picture Of Her
Picnic PerfectA Picture Of Herplay_arrow
Formed in 2004 with guitar and bass, and th…
79eastAncient CapitalDEZOLVE
Ancient CapitalDEZOLVEplay_arrow
DEZOLVE is a fusion band with youthful sensibilities and exceptional performance skills.
80eastNeKoMaJiN vsnuito
NeKoMaJiN vsnuitoplay_arrow
Keiichiro Hirai on guitar, Jun Tomofuji on bass, a...
81eastAn emerald floodkyojaku
An emerald floodkyojakuplay_arrow
Kyoyaku is a distinctive presence among instrumental bands...
82eastTake Me HigherCro-magnon
Take Me HigherCro-magnonplay_arrow
Live performance, jazz-funk band cro-magnon
83eastThe Last Suppermouse on the keys
The Last Suppermouse on the keysplay_arrow
mouse on the keys is 20…
84eastLive Video [BAYCAMP201502] Digest VersionOgoreta ebi!
Live Video [BAYCAMP201502] Digest VersionOgoreta ebi!play_arrow
A mysterious figure wearing the colorful head of a shrimp...
85eastResurrection (Fill the bill medley mix)RF(Rokugen Club with Farah)
Resurrection (Fill the bill medley mix)RF(Rokugen Club with Farah)play_arrow
Masanori Narikawa on guitar, Naoki Itaya on bass, a...
86eastVANQOOPIE
VANQOOPIEplay_arrow
Four people who spread their wings from the streets of Nagoya to the national stage...
87eastImagineditabout tess
Imagineditabout tessplay_arrow
Formed in 2004, based in Tokyo, and active since then...
88eastLOTUS3nd
LOTUS3ndplay_arrow
Intricate rhythm patterns and meticulously crafted guitar ensembl—
89eastWE ARE G-CLEFG kurefu
WE ARE G-CLEFG kurefuplay_arrow
This unit has a classical-inspired ins…
90eastFishbowl TownLotus Land
Fishbowl TownLotus Landplay_arrow
An original sound that transcends genre boundaries and...
91eastsugoi kawaii JYOCHOJYOCHO
sugoi kawaii JYOCHOJYOCHOplay_arrow
A program formed in 2016 and based in Kyoto...
92eastlandscapeLow-Pass
landscapeLow-Passplay_arrow
Pursuing a unique sound while based in Kyoto...
93eastFrom the Train WindowOrigami JP
From the Train WindowOrigami JPplay_arrow
A four-piece instrumental band formed in 2013...
94eastDewprismstereo type
Dewprismstereo typeplay_arrow
A shock to the instrumental scene out of Shizuoka...
95eastThe Age Of BlueOVUM
The Age Of BlueOVUMplay_arrow
With delicate yet bold expressiveness, it moves the hearts of its listeners...
96eastAlive The EdgeDimension
Alive The EdgeDimensionplay_arrow
This van, which started in 1992…
97eastA faint hopeKODAMA AND DUB STATION BAND
A faint hopeKODAMA AND DUB STATION BANDplay_arrow
The expansive trumpet sound feels so pleasant…