Classic “summer songs” you’ll want to listen to in summer. Timeless J-pop summertime anthems perfect for summer guys and summer girls.
What kind of songs do you feel like listening to in the summer? I bet many of you want to turn up the energy with upbeat, summery tracks that get you hyped.
On the other hand, it’s also nice to enjoy songs with a calmer, chill vibe and immerse yourself in the world of the lyrics.
In this article, we’ve gathered a wide range of songs with different moods that are perfect for summer.
You’re sure to find something you want to listen to.
These are summer tunes we can recommend for any situation—beach trips, drives, barbecues, and more—so be sure to check them out to the end!
Classic “summer song” hits you’ll want to listen to in summer. The best staple J‑POP summer tracks for summer guys and summer girls (1–10)
Only for you, clear skiesYorushika
This song evokes scenes of summers gone by and fills you with a certain nostalgia.
One of its great charms is the combination of n-buna’s literary lyrics and suis’s clear, transparent vocals.
The bittersweetness everyone feels while growing up and the longing for days past gently resonate with the listener’s heart.
The track was included on the mini-album “Makeinu ni Encore wa Iranai” released in May 2018, and in December 2019 it was also used as the opening music for a live show by the comedy duo “Tarinai Futari.” It’s a perfect song for a summer drive or for nights when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood.
HOT LIMITT.M.Revolution
The first thing this song brings to mind is that outfit that looked like black duct tape, right? And it’s not just the outfit—this is also an essential summer anthem that always gets people hyped.
When you listen, you can sense a hint of danger that makes you want to cut loose a little in the summer! That vibe feels so summery and is part of what makes it such a crowd-pleaser.
The lyrics even mention Daisuke Asakura from access, and when they collaborated with former AKB48 member Minami Takahashi, that part was playfully changed to “Takamina”! Turn this track on and let yourself go all out!
Ah, summer vacation.TUBE
Summer! Summer vacation! It’s TUBE! When it comes to summer, TUBE is the band that absolutely has to show up, right? One of their classic summer hits is this number.
Speaking of summer vacation, for school kids it’s the long break they’ve been eagerly waiting for, but the summer vacation depicted in this song has a distinctly grown-up vibe.
Adults don’t get as much time off as kids do, but summer still lifts our spirits! And whether it’s a fleeting summer romance or something more, it makes you want to fall in love! This song amps up that adult summer love with a blazing melody.
fireworks (launched into the sky)DAOKO × Yonezu Kenshi
When it comes to summer, it’s all about fireworks! And the song that elevates those fireworks into dazzling memories is “Uchiage Hanabi,” the collaboration between DAOKO and Kenshi Yonezu.
Chosen as the theme song for the animated film “Fireworks,” its bittersweet yet beautiful melody has captivated many.
The fleeting sight of fireworks that soar with a boom and vanish in an instant enchants not only the Japanese but people overseas as well.
This song lets you fully savor that beautiful symbol of Japan.
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
Written as the theme song for the film “Ao-Natsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-Nichi,” this is the seventh single by the three-piece rock band Mrs.
GREEN APPLE.
Its driving, guitar-forward rock sound perfectly evokes the exhilaration of summer.
The ensemble—blending a memorable guitar riff with lush, expansive strings—calls to mind the clarity of youth and a tender sense of nostalgia.
It’s a vibrant, uplifting tune you’ll want to play as the soundtrack to that one summer that comes only once.
