[Winter Songs] The Best Classic and Popular Winter Tunes to Listen to in Winter

DecemberMoriyama Naotaro

Naotaro Moriyama “December (2016 ver.)” Music Video + Making-of

Released as a digital-only single in 2005, “December” was re-released in 2016 in a newly recorded version for the 15th anniversary best-of album.

Its wintry, dreamlike atmosphere—crafted by the strings—and Naotaro Moriyama’s vocals combine to create a highly captivating track.

SNOW SMILEShimizu Shota

Shota Shimizu “SNOW SMILE short ver.”

The song that brings to mind lovers snuggling together on a cold winter day is “SNOW SMILE.” It was released in 2014 by Shota Shimizu, an artist who delivers music across a wide range of genres.

The sound has a dreamy atmosphere that evokes the festive scenery of winter streets.

The lyrics, which depict the kindness and compassion found in everyday interactions, are soothing to the heart.

It’s a track that heals with his sweet vocals, as if he’s speaking to a lover who’s always by his side.

Give it a listen while gazing at a pure white winter landscape.

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mutō

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Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneIshikawa Sayuri

Angela Aki “Tsugaru Strait - Winter Scene” Music Video

One of the most famous enka songs in Japan, this timeless classic is still sung today.

It beautifully portrays, interwoven with scenic descriptions, the feelings of a woman who, heartbroken, takes the ferry across the Tsugaru Strait in the dead of winter to return home.

Sayuri Ishikawa’s rich, expressive voice—remarkably poised for a 19-year-old at the time—resonates deeply.

A winter fairy is melting a snowmanKimura Kaera

Kaela Kimura “A winter fairy is melting a snowman” [short ver.]

This song paints a fantastical scene of a winter fairy melting a snowman.

Kaela Kimura’s transparent, pure vocals and the whimsical lyrics gently embrace the listener’s heart.

Released as a single in December 2010, it was also used in an NTT Docomo commercial.

The sparkling tones and English-lyric chorus leave a strong impression, and its charm lies in Kaela Kimura’s signature cuteness and fairy-tale world.

It seems to carry a message: even as adults, don’t forget the heart that believes in dreams.

A heartwarming winter song you’ll want to listen to alone on a quiet winter night.

Snow, fall.Gam

Let it Snow / Gam

This song, which opens Gam’s December 1981 album Kazabana, by the lyrical folk duo renowned in the 1980s, is a winter ballad that echoes with bittersweet feelings entrusted to gently falling snow.

Carried by soft guitar tones, it delicately portrays the tremor of a heart thinking of someone amid a scene of swirling snow.

The transparent harmonies and introspective lyrics weave a world imbued with Gam’s signature lyricism, offering a warmth that seems to nestle into winter’s stillness.

It’s a track that seeps into the heart when, alone in the cold season, you find yourself recalling days gone by or someone dear.

O.R.I.O.NSandaime Jē Sōru Burazāzu fromu Eguzairu Toraibu

Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE / O.R.I.O.N.

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.

Christmas on a starry nighttsuji ayano

Ayano Tsuji – Christmas on a Starry Night (Music Video)

Singer-songwriter Ayano Tsuji.

Be sure to check out her 2005 release “Hoshifuru Yoru no Christmas” (“Christmas on a Starry Night”) as well.

It’s a Christmas-themed song that depicts deepening love with someone special on a beautiful, star-lit night.

While Ayano Tsuji is strongly associated with ukulele-and-vocal performances, this work incorporates piano and other instruments, resulting in a more luxurious sound.

That fresh departure from her usual style may well have contributed to the song’s success.

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yamamoto

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