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!
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Classic “summer songs” perfect for listening in summer. Standard J-POP summer anthems best for summer guys and summer girls (21–30)
First NightYorushika
A song that delicately paints summer’s blue sky and clouds, and memories swaying in the wind.
Yorushika’s transparent vocals and poetic lyrics sink into the heart.
Included on the album “Gento,” released in April 2023, this track is said to be inspired by Natsume Soseki’s Ten Nights of Dreams.
It weaves bittersweet feelings for someone parted with at summer’s end together with beautiful scenes.
Best enjoyed on a calm summer evening, it’s perfect for moments when you want to recall summers gone by or reflect on memories with someone special.
BUBBLE GUM MAGICKEYTALK
When it comes to summer songs, you want to listen to something upbeat and popping, right? KEYTALK’s track “BUBBLE-GUM MAGIC,” just like its title suggests, is a number that makes you feel a slightly mature, mellow summer, with bubbles popping like a snap.
The song was released in May 2019 as KEYTALK’s 15th single.
It’s a track with a strong sense of groove that feels completely different from the KEYTALK you’ve known so far.
Classic summer songs perfect for listening in the summer: staple J-POP summer hits for summer guys and summer girls (31–40)
The summer you gave meieiri reo
Kimi ga Kureta Natsu, sung by Leo Ieiri, a singer-songwriter from Fukuoka Prefecture, is a bittersweet summer breakup song.
Released in 2015, it reached No.
6 on the Oricon singles chart.
It was also used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama Koinaka and won the Best Drama Song award at the 86th The Television Drama Academy Awards.
The lyrics, which look back on joyful summer memories after a breakup, are heartbreakingly poignant.
If you’re in a reflective summer mood, be sure to give Kimi ga Kureta Natsu a listen!
Shadows of SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
About seven years after 2018’s “Blue and Summer,” this new work returns to a summer theme—a lingering, summery number that delicately captures the changing of the seasons.
The late-summer breeze and lengthening shadows reflect the slow passage of time as we grow up.
The scenes that rise from everyday fragments—like a sweaty shirt or melting ice—are truly moving.
Released in August 2025, it was featured as the song for Kirin Gogo no Kocha’s TV commercial.
The music video, filmed in Fukui Prefecture, also evokes a deep sense of nostalgia.
It’s a song that quietly stays with you at dusk as summer draws to a close, or on the drive back home.
Xia XiaoWANIMA
WANIMA’s “Natsugyō” was chosen as the theme song for the anime GAMERA -Rebirth-, which was released worldwide on Netflix in September 2023.
The title means “summer dawn,” and it’s a powerful, fast-paced track that’s quintessentially WANIMA.
It’s also included on their October 2023 album Catch Up.
GAMERA -Rebirth- is the first anime installment in the series, and WANIMA also handles the ending theme, so be sure to check it out!
Shanghai HoneyORANGE RANGE
ORANGE RANGE is definitely one of those bands you can’t go without in the summer, right? This track from ORANGE RANGE is perfect for livening up all kinds of summer events like leisure outings, music festivals, and summer festivals.
The slightly sexy, dangerous vibe in the lyrics gives it that uniquely summer feel—it’s enough to raise the temperature all by itself.
According to the members, it’s also a song for guys who have a hard time hitting on someone, and it’s sure to boost the spirits of anyone who’s thinking, “I want to let loose, but I just can’t work up the courage.”
Sunny Day SundaySENTIMENTAL:BUS
“Sunny Day Sunday” is a 1999 single by Sentimental Bus.
It reached No.
4 on the Oricon Singles Chart and was featured in a commercial for Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s Pocari Sweat.
It’s an upbeat, bright, feel-good song that naturally lifts your spirits.
It’s also a staple cheer song in high school baseball, so you might hear it often at Koshien.
It’s a track I definitely recommend listening to on a sweltering day close to 40°C.