[Winter Songs] The Best Classic and Popular Winter Tunes to Listen to in Winter
As winter approaches, we start hearing winter songs in all kinds of settings more and more often! From timeless classics we hear every year to newer winter songs that have taken root in recent years.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of Japan’s beloved winter tracks all at once, starting with popular hits and spanning many iconic songs of the season! We’ve picked out everything from songs that paint wintry landscapes to bittersweet love songs and winter tracks by buzzworthy bands, so you’re sure to find something that fits your listening situation perfectly! Be sure to listen to your favorites and feel the season of winter.
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[Winter Songs] Masterpieces to Enjoy in Winter & Best Popular Winter Songs (91–100)
cocoa feat. kojikojiSorane
A song I want those who “find themselves overwhelmed with bittersweet feelings when remembering days spent with an ex” to hear is “cocoa feat.
kojikoji.” It was included on Sora-ne’s 2019 album Fantasy club, which features many collaborations.
The lyrics, depicting the daily life of two lovers, convey a poignant sense of longing and the sadness of knowing you can’t go back to how things were.
Over a mellow track, Sora-ne and kojikoji trade lines in a conversational chorus.
Lend an ear to the words of love filled with feelings for an unforgettable former partner.
PresentINI
This song, included on the first winter single THE WINTER MAGIC released in November 2025, is a romantic dance-pop number that colors winter scenery and the holiday season.
Interweaving images like powdery snow and glowing lights, it gently portrays a pure desire to convey one’s feelings to someone special.
With lyrics penned by Rihito Ikezaki and Hiroto Nishi, the words, spun with an intimate sense of distance, resonate deeply.
The same single also features Because You Were There, written as the theme song for the film INI THE MOVIE “I Need I,” resulting in a work where festivity and sentiment coexist.
The exhilarating blend of shimmering synths and harmonies makes it a perfect track for those special winter moments spent with lovers or family.
meringuemakaroni enpitsu
Makaroni Enpitsu, a rock band hugely popular among young people, released “Meringue” in 2021.
It features a dynamic sound that evokes vast winter landscapes.
The lyrics portray people living desperately while grappling with love and life.
Pay attention to Hattori’s emotional vocals, which gently embrace a range of feelings.
With a melody line that showcases beautiful strings and passionate band performance, this is a song that warms the heart.
Listen closely to the phrases that speak to the theme of snow that melts away in an instant.
White BeachHY
Released as a single in 2006 by HY, a mixture band from Okinawa, this work is one of their signature songs from their early days.
From the opening lines, the parched wind, hints of winter, and scenes of white beaches weave a unique atmosphere that delicately captures the shifting seasons particular to the subtropics.
The refreshing guitar sound, warm vocals, and nostalgic melody resonate pleasantly, giving it a curious charm that makes you want to listen during the colder months.
Performed since the era of their early album Departure, it has remained a staple at their live shows.
Whether you’re spending a winter night reminiscing about a distant summer or feeling a sudden pang of wistfulness at the turn of the seasons, the song’s gentle warmth will be there to keep you company.
The snow is piercingly coldatarayo
Set against the crisp, piercing air of winter, this work paints a scene of the season’s first snowfall.
Released by Atarayo in December 2022, the song tenderly portrays the ache of memories with a loved one—recollections of the four seasons flashing back like falling snow.
Seasonal images—cherry blossom-lined streets, a seaside café, a field of cosmos—illuminate the feelings of a protagonist who, despite the pain of parting, tries to take a step forward with a faint hope in their heart.
The transparent vocals and arpeggio-driven arrangement delicately capture winter’s quiet and an introspective worldview.
Chosen as the ending theme for ABEMA’s “ABEMA Prime,” it is performed frequently in winter setlists.
On a clear winter night, it will stay close to you as you look back on the past while resolving to face forward.
RikaSIX LOUNGE
“Rika” by SIX LOUNGE, a rock ’n’ roll band from Oita Prefecture, is a track that’s been gaining buzz on social media, especially TikTok.
The song is sung from a boyfriend’s perspective about a girl he loves with a maddening, almost violent intensity.
It was originally included on their indie-era album Shinonome, but was re-recorded and released digitally in 2023.
Scenes anyone can relate to—like the two of them warming up by the stove in December, or calming down over hot coffee—are likely to resonate with listeners.
Forever feat. HAN-KUN & TEESPICY CHOCOLATE
Many people probably know it since it was also used in a mobile carrier’s commercial song.
Set in winter, it expresses a straightforward feeling: despite some anxiety, the feelings never change.
Even when we’re apart, it’s warm because you’re there—that kind of sentiment warms the heart in the cold winter, doesn’t it?