[Local Songs] Recommended tracks packed with Japan’s nationwide classics and hometown pride
Across Japan, there are many “local songs” created around themes like regional climate and traditions, long-standing customs, hometown pride, and specialty foods.
However, few people are likely familiar with songs from places far from their own living area or hometown.
Some might even have spent years in a region without knowing its local songs at all.
In this article, we’ll introduce some highly impactful, must-hear local songs from across Japan that we hope many of you will get to know.
If it’s a place you’ve visited, try listening while picturing the local scenery.
If it’s somewhere you’ve never been, let the song help you imagine the land and the lives of the people who live there.
- A roundup of regional enka songs: classic hits that feature places from all across Japan in their lyrics.
- [Song of Osaka] A selection of passionate, warm-hearted Osaka tunes
- [2026] Masterpieces that sing of Hokkaido: the heart of a beloved homeland passed down in song
- Introducing famous songs about Shizuoka: Local anthems and popular tracks [2026]
- [Songs of Saitama] A Wealth of Humor-Filled Classics! Local Anthems Packed with Love for Saitama
- Songs related to Mie Prefecture. Beloved local tunes of Mie that continue to be cherished.
- [Hometown Songs] A curated selection of popular Japanese tracks that fill your heart with nostalgia
- [Kyoto Songs] Masterpieces that sing about Kyoto — songs themed on the ancient capital. The enduring heart of our hometown passed down in song.
- A famous song about Fukuoka. The heart of the hometown passed down through song.
- A classic song that celebrates Niigata. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
- Songs about Tokyo: A collection of popular J‑Pop classics [2026]
- Masterpieces that sing of love. Recommended popular songs.
- [Songs of Kagoshima] The heart of our hometown carried on in song | A curated selection of classic tracks that embody Kagoshima
[Local Songs] Must-Listen Tracks Filled with Hometown Pride from Across Japan (71–80)
Tosa manKagami Goro
Veteran enka singer Goro Kagami’s “Tosa no Otoko,” released in 2009, is a quintessential local enka piece that vividly conjures up scenes of Kochi.
Phrases like “the moonlit Yosakoi at Katsurahama” and “holding a red camellia blossom” invite you into the beautiful landscapes of southern Tosa.
Above all, what stirs the heart is the rugged spirit of the Tosa man, belted out in the line “Let the spray and rough waves come crashing!” Kagami’s resonant voice and distinctive phrasing brilliantly embody that indomitable soul.
With pride in his homeland, he faces any hardship with guts.
Just by listening, you can feel the grandeur of Tosa’s nature and the passion of its people rushing into your heart—an empowering song brimming with strength.
Wakakusa Mountain StarmineBURNOUT SYNDROMES
Crafted by BURNOUT SYNDROMES, who champion “youth literature rock,” this song vividly conjures scenes of Nara.
The literary world envisioned by vocalist Kazumi Kumagai meshes perfectly with the majestic landscape of Mount Wakakusa.
From the intro, the festival-like beat and piercing rock sound feel just like a celebration where the mountain burning and fireworks perform together.
Themes such as the warmth of family bonds and the radiance of life are woven in, likely moving many listeners with their imagery.
Listen to this track that dynamically colors the ancient capital’s night sky, and you’ll feel a stirring longing to travel to Nara.
Nara would be good.D.W. Nikoruzu
D.W.
Nicols’s “Nara Nara Ii yo” charms with a sound as warm as spring sunshine.
Many will remember it as a track from the mini-album Smile 3 that has continued to be loved at live shows.
With vocalist Daisuke Watanabe’s gentle voice, a straightforward affection—“Nara is just the best”—is sung with plenty of humor.
The imagery conjures up the Great Buddha and the deer, as if you were strolling through the ancient capital with someone dear to you.
Anyone who has spent calm, happy moments like that will surely relate.
[Local Songs] Must-Listen Tracks Filled with Local Pride from Across Japan (81–90)
Yamato Nadeshika (deer pun)Le Siana
One of the signature songs by Le Siana, Nara’s first local idol group, is “Yamato Nadeshika.” The title cleverly combines “Yamato,” an old name for the ancient capital, with “shika,” meaning deer—the symbol of Nara—making it a song brimming with love for the region.
Its upbeat melody, colored by tones reminiscent of traditional Japanese instruments, carries a festive sense of exhilaration.
Listening to its boundlessly bright sound may put you in a joyful mood, as if you’re energetically dashing through the streets of the old capital.
Cherished by fans for many years and passed down through countless performances, this classic is also a perfect travel companion for anyone planning a visit to Nara.
AtamiKroi
Kroi’s “Atami” feels like a snapshot from a carefree trip with close friends.
A breezy, bossa nova–tinged rhythm layered with cool acoustic guitar tones creates an easy, airy feel.
The melody carries a hint of nostalgia, evoking the atmosphere of a retro Showa-era hot spring town.
Its unique blend of languidness and chic pairs perfectly with a slightly faded, film-like sense of nostalgia.
Just listening, you can feel your shoulders relax and sink into the mood of a calm holiday.
A large Buddha statue in Nararekishi
This uniquely Lex-like track makes history feel close to home, saying, “Even the creation of a grand Great Buddha is a project where everyone joins forces.” Set to an irresistibly groovy funk sound, it paints a human drama unfolding behind the scenes of erecting the symbol of the ancient capital, Nara.
You’ll feel the thrill of looming deadlines, someone quietly reading the room and lending a hand—little moments that make you chuckle and that anyone working in a modern team can’t help but relate to.
It gently resonates with the idea that historic achievements are crystallizations of countless people’s hopes.
Many listeners will find their hearts captured by the warmth that makes distant events from long ago feel dear and familiar.
New Nara OndoMinami Haruo
This is a local festival song in which Haruo Minami, known as a nationally beloved singer, powerfully extols the charms of the ancient capital.
His uniquely piercing, beautiful voice and the spirited shouts of “Yoisho!” resonate in the chest, making your heart leap just by listening.
Iconic scenes of Nara—like the Great Buddha and the deer in the park—spring vividly to mind one after another, likely stirring a sense of travel in many listeners.
It’s a masterpiece that leaves you with a warm feeling, as if you’re part of a festival circle from the good old days.