[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.
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- [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 packed with hometown pride from across Japan (1–10)
Sakuragichōyuzu
Set against the backdrop of Sakuragicho in Yokohama, this heartwarming song sings of the ache of heartbreak and the growth that follows.
Carried by the gentle tones of an acoustic guitar, Yuzu’s characteristically warm vocals resonate throughout.
Released as a single in June 2004, the track left a deep impression on many listeners, especially Yokohama residents.
Its lyrics, filled with longing for days gone by yet a determination to move forward, offer comfort to anyone who has experienced a farewell.
Why not listen to this song while walking through a place filled with memories of someone dear? It will surely give you the courage to take a new step.
North WingNakamori Akina
“North Wing” is the name for the northern section of Narita International Airport’s Terminal 1.
It’s also the title of a signature song by Akina Nakamori, which captures the complex emotions of a woman setting off overseas in pursuit of her lover.
Released in January 1984, the song reached No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and generated major buzz, including five consecutive weeks at No.
1 on TBS’s music program The Best Ten.
It’s the perfect track for anyone who wants to feel the tremors of a heart in love or is about to embark on a journey.
Listen to it at the airport or on a plane, and it will resonate even more deeply.
KikyogaokaHirai Ken
A warm song that evokes nostalgia and family love.
Ken Hirai’s gentle voice tenderly embraces a parent’s watchful feelings for their child, richly expressing both the child’s growth and the parent’s unwavering love.
Released in October 2013 as a digital-only single and chosen as the tie-in song for Misawa Homes’ 45th anniversary commercial, this is a track you’ll want to listen to while reminiscing about your hometown.
If parents and children listen together, it may deepen their bond.
[Local Songs] Recommended Masterpieces and Tunes Filled with Hometown Pride from Across Japan (11–20)
Crossing Amagi PassIshikawa Sayuri
Set against the Amagi Pass on the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, this song portrays the burning passion of a woman consumed by a forbidden love.
Released in July 1986 as Sayuri Ishikawa’s 45th single, it initially struggled to gain traction, but through Ishikawa’s steadfast devotion to performing it, the piece eventually became a beloved classic.
It has been performed 13 times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen through 2022, setting the record for the most performances of a single song on the program.
The unwavering love and the fervent emotions of a woman drowning in forbidden romance are powerfully conveyed through Sayuri Ishikawa’s richly expressive singing.
The Hill of PromisesFukuyama Masaharu
This is Masaharu Fukuyama’s sixth single, inspired by Mount Inasa in Nagasaki City.
Released in October 1992, the song was written and composed by Fukuyama himself.
It was also featured as the ending theme for the TBS program “Television Near-Future Laboratory,” capturing the hearts of many listeners.
Centered on the theme of “the repetition of despair and hope,” it sings of a strong will and hope to overcome hardships.
Its simple melody and meaningful lyrics resonate deeply with listeners.
It’s a courageous song recommended for those struggling in life or about to take a new step forward.
Osaka RomanesqueKanjani∞
Set against the cityscape of Osaka, this song portrays a bittersweet love.
Familiar place names like Midosuji and Shinsaibashi are sprinkled throughout, evoking nostalgia in listeners.
It was included on Kanjani Eight’s album “KJ1 F·T·O,” released in March 2006, and was later issued as a single in June of the same year.
In May 2018, a newly recorded version featuring Taro Hakase was produced.
Furthermore, since 2018 it has been adopted as the theme song of the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, helping to widely showcase the charms of Osaka through this work.
It’s also a recommended track as background music for trips revisiting cherished memories with a loved one, or for sightseeing in Osaka.
Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneIshikawa Sayuri
Set against the snow-laden Tsugaru Strait, this winter classic poignantly sings of a woman’s heartrending farewell.
Released in December 1977, the song became a major hit, selling over 1.5 million copies, and is widely known as one of Sayuri Ishikawa’s signature works.
Told from the perspective of a woman boarding the Seikan Ferry from Aomori Station, the lyrics evoke the sorrow and loneliness of parting.
Its touching vocals and vivid scenic imagery are truly captivating.
It’s a song to listen to alone, quietly on a winter night, while thinking of someone you love—or once loved.