Timeless songs that go perfectly with autumn leaves. Autumn tunes ideal for beautiful scenery and drives.

red-yellow fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragrans)Fujifaburikku

Fujifabric – Red-Yellow Osmanthus

That flutter in the chest at dusk in autumn, stirred by the elusive scent of fragrant olive drifting from who knows where.

Released in September 2004 as the autumn installment of Fuji Fabric’s Four Seasons series, this song delicately captures the moment when an invisible thing like a scent awakens memory.

From the opening guitar arpeggios, a lyrical mood wafts in as if the very air of autumn had been turned into sound, unfolding a lyrical world where impatience with the passage of time intersects with resignation toward fading memories.

Masahiko Shimura’s expressive power in portraying the subtle wavering of a heart that can’t fully give in to sentimentality is breathtaking.

Also included on their major-label debut album “Fujifabric,” it’s cherished as a staple that gets airplay on the radio every fall.

It’s a track you’ll want to savor on a long autumn night, recalling your walk home from school days.

Reach to the heavensMatsutōya Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya – Reach to the Heavens

This piece was written by Yumi Matsutoya, one of Japan’s most iconic singer-songwriters, as the theme song for the drama “When I Was Little, There Was a God,” which began airing in October 2025.

Its nostalgic melody, the harmony that layers her past vocals—recreated with AI technology—with her present voice, and its grand soundscape resonate deeply.

It carries a curious, floating sensation, as if traveling through multiple dimensions.

A gentle autumn song that links the past and the present.

Autumn SwayPrague

Prague – Aki Yure

A song that delicately portrays the atmosphere of autumn was released in October 2011.

Included on Prague’s second album, “Metaphor at Dawn,” this track sensitively captures the inner world and emotional shifts of people through distinctly autumnal scenes—such as the sky, the wind, twilight, and fallen leaves.

With its gentle melody and memorable lyrics, it evokes a deep sense of autumn’s sentiment.

The work skillfully connects the beauty of nature during the change of seasons with the accompanying inner transformations.

It’s perfect as background music for viewing autumn foliage, and is also recommended for autumn walks or drives.

Autumn SongŌe Senri

Autumn Song

A nostalgic autumn classic by singer-songwriter Senri Oe.

I’m drawn to the lyrics that capture everyday scenes, like the cicadas that signal the end of summer and the chill of the wind you feel as you pedal a bike.

This song is one of the double A-side single released in October 1998, written specifically for NHK’s “Minna no Uta.” His conversational singing voice perfectly matches the nostalgic autumn atmosphere.

Give it a listen as you look back on the past.

Crescendo in the color of withered leavesMizushima Yasuhiro

Yasuhiro Mizushima: Crescendo in the Color of Dead Leaves

You can almost see a scene where the image of someone dear overlaps with the falling autumn leaves.

This song was created by lyricist Reo Rinoshita and composer TSUKASA, and sung by Yasuhiro Mizushima.

It served as the ending theme for the anime Marmalade Boy and was released as a single in November 1994.

Mizushima’s gentle, enveloping vocals further enhance the sentimental atmosphere of autumn.

The lyrics, which depict feelings for a loved one gradually growing stronger, harmonize beautifully with the sound.

In this season when we long for companionship, why not listen closely with a warm drink in hand?

The setting sun and its shadowFUNKY MONKEY BABYS

The setting sun and its shadow

An encouraging song for office workers that evokes the landscapes of their childhood.

Images like catching crayfish, mountains dyed red with autumn leaves, and the sun setting behind the hills may resonate deeply with those who spent their early years in the countryside.

On the avenue lined with plane trees, if I were to say, “I dream of your smile,” how would it change our relationship? It’s a somewhat embarrassing conclusion I’ve come to after thinking it over in my own way for a few days.AKB48

[MV full] On the road lined with zelkova trees, if I were to say, “I dream of your smile,” how would our relationship change? After thinking about it for a few days in my own way, it’s something like a slightly embarrassing conclusion / AKB48 [Official]

First of all, the striking thing about this AKB48 song is its extremely long title.

It even has an official abbreviation, “Suzukake-nanchara.” While the sound is cute and fast-paced, it conveys a melancholic, wistful feeling that evokes autumn.

Changing relationships and shifting emotions are portrayed in contrast with the changing seasons, letting you feel a vivid inner transformation like autumn leaves turning color.

Even as it expresses the frustration and sorrow of being unable to convey one’s feelings, it also conjures an image of positivity and brightness.

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