[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 (41–50)
white snowKuraki Mai
A winter ballad whose delicate imagery—like the whiteness of visible breath and the warm glow kindled amid the cold of winter—strikes the heart.
It’s the 25th single by singer-songwriter Mai Kuraki, who has created numerous classics, released in December 2006.
Chosen as the ending theme for the TV anime Detective Conan, the piece uses the timbres of music box and strings to beautifully portray the quiet of falling, settling snow.
The song is included on the album ONE LIFE as well as best-of compilations, and has long been cherished by fans as a winter staple.
Its lyrics, overlaying lingering attachment and pain for a lost love with the white, frigid snow, resound with poignant sorrow.
It’s the kind of song you want to savor in a quiet room on a night when the snow falls steadily.
A masterpiece whose clear, translucent vocals by Mai Kuraki gently cleanse the heart.
[Winter Songs] Timeless Tracks to Hear in Winter & The Best Popular Winter Songs (51–60)
Dear Snowarashi
A supreme winter ballad by Arashi that begins with a wistful yet warm intro.
Its lyrics evoke an oath of eternal love, and the fragile, beautiful melody deeply resonates in the heart.
Released in October 2010 as their 33rd single, it was used as the theme song for the film Ōoku, starring group member Kazunari Ninomiya.
Combined with the film’s fantastical, emotive atmosphere, it’s a masterpiece that quietly stirs the listener’s soul.
It debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon weekly chart, becoming a memorable hit for many.
The song is also included on the album Beautiful World.
It’s a track you’ll want to savor on a quiet night as snow falls softly—why not immerse yourself in its world in a warm room while thinking of someone dear?
Someday Merry ChristmasB’z
B’z’s “Itsuka no Merry Christmas” is a classic known for its wistful melody.
The song’s lyrics are highly narrative, as if capturing everyday winter moments one by one, and listening to it can make your chest tighten.
For background music at festive events like Christmas parties, it might be interesting to mix in a slightly bittersweet song like this, not just purely positive tracks.
Koshi Inaba’s gently delivered vocals instantly create a poignant winter mood.
somedayyuzu
When you think of Yuzu, I bet many people think of “Itsuka.” It’s such a classic that you could say it’s the song that made them famous.
Their signature two-person harmony is so wonderfully done that no matter how many times you listen, you’ll want to play it—even when it’s not winter.
IlluminationSEKAI NO OWARI
This piece was written as the theme song for the drama “Legal V: Former Lawyer Shoko Takanashi.” It’s a track by the band SEKAI NO OWARI, who are also very active internationally, and it was released as a digital single in 2018.
It’s crafted so that even when you’re going through hard times, listening to this song can save you.
The gentle words in the lyrics—“I’ll take you with me”—really pierce the heart.
Adorned with the beautiful timbre of strings, it’s a moving message song.
Winter FallL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
L’Arc~en~Ciel’s “Winter Fall” is a winter song released in 1998, known for its catchy melody.
The song opens with an impressive intro featuring a solo vocal part, and together with the beautiful chorus, it evokes wintry scenes.
“snow drop,” which was also released the same year, is another famous winter song of theirs, so be sure to listen to it along with “Winter Fall”! Both have epic music videos as well, so check those out too!
tremoloRADWIMPS
A song by RADWIMPS released in February 2006.
Titled with the meaning of a trembling sound, the piece pairs a beautiful yet heartrending melody with depictions of dreams, hopes, and the complex emotions of human relationships.
Yojiro Noda’s lyrics poetically express the transience and beauty of life and the many feelings we experience in the everyday.
The unspoken feelings between “I” and “you” are woven into phrases that resonate with the heart.
Carrying a positive message that simply being alive is wonderful, it’s a deeply characteristic RADWIMPS track.
It’s the perfect song for moments when you want to reflect on yourself in the quiet of winter or think about your relationship with someone important.