[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 Listen to in Winter & Best Popular Winter Songs (101–110)
Winter Fantasykazan
It’s a duet released in 1995, and it was also featured in a Sapporo Beer commercial at the time.
The bells you hear at the beginning really set a Christmas mood! The word “powder snow” that appears in the chorus lyrics leaves a strong impression.
It’s interesting how the gospel-style melody feels perfect for winter.
If you’re going to cover a winter song as a duet, put this one at the top of your list.
It should appeal to a wide range of generations.
Snow, fall and scatter toward you.Wagakki Band
When it comes to Wagakki Band’s appeal, it’s definitely the traditional Japanese instruments.
In addition to drums, bass, and guitar, they use the shakuhachi, koto, shamisen, and taiko.
It’s truly a fusion of Japanese tradition and rock.
This song, too, opens with a delicate shakuhachi melody and is a rock tune that conjures up the image of unending snowfall.
Comparing her feelings for the man she loves to snow and wishing they would reach him, the story resonates with a poignant, beautiful tone.
No way to sayHamasaki Ayumi
It’s Ayumi Hamasaki’s “No way to say.” It continues to be loved as a winter song among her works.
Both the lyrics and the melody are so cute and beautiful, aren’t they? It’s a lovely winter tune that really brings out Ayumi Hamasaki’s charm, and it gives you a feeling of being emotionally fulfilled.
winterELLEGARDEN
ELLEGARDEN is a rock band that enjoys overwhelming support from rock fans across generations.
This song, included on their album “ELEVEN FIRE CRACKERS,” released in November 2006 and which reached No.
1 on the Oricon charts, is a winter-themed track.
In contrast to its exhilarating, fast-paced sound, the lyrics portray loneliness standing quietly within the winter hush and the aching feeling of thinking about someone.
The energetic performance, if anything, accentuates the sentimental emotions.
It’s a rock tune that warms the heart and makes you want to listen on a cold walk home.
O.R.I.O.NSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu
Orion, a constellation of winter.
This is a fun song about inviting a woman on a date before Orion sets.
Space-related words are sprinkled throughout the lyrics, making it perfect to listen to while gazing up at the winter night sky.
[Winter Songs] Masterpieces to Listen to in Winter & Best Popular Winter Songs (111–120)
I don’t want to get out of my futon.Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai
Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai fly the banner of “everyday-life loud rock,” with their irresistibly relatable, laid-back lyrics as a key draw.
On the sonic side, they incorporate contemporary loud rock featuring seven-string guitars and five-string bass, and that unique style has earned them strong popularity.
This track is included on their fifth single, Fuyu-ban (“Winter Edition”), and its lyrics—centered on a winter morning that just about everyone has experienced—are outstanding.
While the arrangement can feel almost unruly, shifting from a relaxed tempo to suddenly loud, heavy sounds, the structure makes perfect sense when you follow the lyrical flow.
It’s a rock tune that captures a real winter: the mood changes repeatedly until it hits the catchy, fast-paced chorus, and that constant shift in tone becomes addictively compelling.
Blue TearsJUDY AND MARY
A masterpiece that beautifully captures the bittersweetness of winter.
Released in November 1993 as JUDY AND MARY’s second single, it delicately conveys unforgettable winter memories and feelings that can’t be put into words, resonating deeply with listeners.
This song was used as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s “Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!” from 1996 to 2018, and served as the theme song for the 2006 film “Simsons.” YUKI’s translucent vocals perfectly match the band’s wintry melody.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to alone on a quiet winter night—one that gently stays close to hearts troubled by love and offers warm comfort.