[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] Recommended Masterpieces and Tunes Filled with Hometown Pride from Across Japan (11–20)
Would you like some Noto?Sakamoto Fuyumi
Since her debut in 1987, Fuyumi Sakamoto has had a profound impact on the Japanese music scene with her unique sensibility.
Her signature work, “Noto wa Irankaine,” released on May 9, 1990, as her seventh single, captivates with lyrics that celebrate the scenery of the Noto Peninsula.
The song received high acclaim upon its release and was performed at the 41st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Through Sakamoto’s vocals and the lyrics, one can feel a deep love and respect for the Noto Peninsula, likely stirring a strong sense of nostalgia in listeners.
Whether you’ve visited the Noto Peninsula or not, why not imagine its beautiful nature and the lives of its people through this song?
A solitary journey to MichinokuYamamoto Jōji
Released in 1980, “Michinoku Hitori Tabi” became the song that brought Joji Yamamoto’s name into the spotlight.
It tells a story of a heartbreaking farewell and a powerful love that believes in reunion.
The loneliness of the man in the lyrics and his poignant longing are sure to touch listeners deeply.
For those who have experienced parting, or who wish to reflect on deep love, this song will hold special meaning.
Joji Yamamoto’s warm voice and the emotionally rich melody deliver a moving experience like no other.
News from BizenNonaka Saori
A heartwarming song brimming with the charms of Bizen City in Okayama Prefecture.
Released in October 2024, it was created as the city anthem to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Bizen’s municipal merger.
The lyrics and composition were crafted by Okayama-born artists Reiji Mizuki and Chiaki Oka.
The lyrics are striking for incorporating Bizen’s symbolic colors: the blue of the Seto Inland Sea, the red of Bizen ware pottery, and the green of nature.
Saori Nonaka’s clear, expansive vocals vividly portray the city’s beautiful nature and rich history.
The more you listen, the more your affection for Bizen City is sure to grow.
Omiya Sunsetsupittsu
A lyrical track that depicts a date between lovers set in Omiya at dusk.
It was released to the world as the B-side to Spitz’s single “Yume Oi Mushi,” which came out in October 2001.
Its warm acoustic sound and Masamune Kusano’s gentle vocals resonate pleasantly.
While the song portrays a couple who seem happy at first glance, the lyrics also convey the protagonist’s anxieties and doubts.
Listening to it when visiting a place filled with memories of your partner might help you immerse yourself even more deeply in the song’s world.
Tottori Sand DunesMizumori Kaori
Since her debut in 1995, Kaori Mizumori has been beloved as the queen of regional songs.
Her signature work, Tottori Sand Dunes, was released in 2003 and has been highly praised for its beautiful melody and lyrics, winning the hearts of many listeners.
Set against the majestic scenery of the Tottori Sand Dunes, the song explores the theme of lost love, resonating deeply with those who hear it.
In particular, the lyrics, which delicately depict the conflict between love and loss, evoke strong empathy from many people.
Mizumori’s clear, transparent voice and the emotionally rich melody are sure to soothe the listener’s heart.
Harbor Yoko, Yokohama, YokosukaUzaki Ryūdō
A classic Showa-era hit set in Yokohama and Yokosuka that portrays Yoko, a free-spirited woman.
Released in April 1975, it topped the Oricon charts for five consecutive weeks.
This million-selling song is known as one of Ryudo Uzaki’s signature works.
It was also featured in a Fujifilm commercial in 1997 and is loved by people of all generations.
The lyrics, deeply reflecting the exotic port-town atmosphere and the social backdrop of the time, are particularly striking.
If you visit Yokohama, Yokosuka, or other port towns, be sure to give it a listen.
[Local Songs] Must-Listen Tracks Filled with Hometown Love from All Over Japan (21–30)
I want to accompany you.Katte ni Kankō Kyōkai
This song, created by the “meddlesome” duo Miura Jun and Anzai Hajime as part of their Unofficial Tourism Association for Okayama Prefecture, expresses the desire to “be your companions,” likening themselves to the three retainers from the Momotaro legend.
The lyrics are brimming with playful spirit, sprinkling in puns and proper nouns like the white-walled townscape of Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter, the sunset at Mount Washuzan, Sesshū, and Yuko Arimori—like a tourism brochure reimagined in a pop style.
If you’re from Okayama, or planning a trip there, listening to it is sure to heighten your travel mood.