RAG Music
Lovely music

[2026] Late-night listening! A roundup of recommended J-POP classics

There are those moments on sleepless nights when your hand just reaches for your earphones, right? Music you listen to in a quiet room has a different resonance than it does during the day.

This time, we’re featuring iconic J-POP tracks perfect for late nights.

From songs that shine with the fresh sensibilities of the Reiwa era, to that one unforgettable hit that colored the Heisei years, and even timeless masterpieces from the Showa period, we’ve gathered stylish and soothing numbers from across the decades that suit the silence.

As a companion for staying up late, or as calming background music to gently close out your day, find a favorite track to keep you company.

Playlist

[2026] Late-night listening! A roundup of recommended J-POP classics
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastNIGHT DANCERimase
NIGHT DANCERimaseplay_arrow
A dance tune imbued with urban ephemerality: the allure of imase
2eastMidnight PretendersAran Tomoko
Midnight PretendersAran Tomokoplay_arrow
City pop masterpiece, enchanting music of the night
3eastObsessedAyumu Imazu
ObsessedAyumu Imazuplay_arrow
A chill hit that portrays Ayumu Imazu’s feelings of love
4eastWonderlandiri
Wonderlandiriplay_arrow
Comforting hit songs by iri that add color to everyday life
5eastTokyo FlashVaundy
Tokyo FlashVaundyplay_arrow
Vaundy’s Resonance of the Urban Void
6eastLabyrinthMondo Grosso
LabyrinthMondo Grossoplay_arrow
Shinichi Osawa’s MONDO GROSSO has a new song
7eastMidnight TrendySnow Man
Midnight TrendySnow Manplay_arrow
Midnight drive, a retro urban melody
8eastMidnight NightingaleTakeuchi Mariya
Midnight NightingaleTakeuchi Mariyaplay_arrow
A heartwarming song resonating in the silence of the night
9east4:00A.M.Ohnuki Taeko
4:00A.M.Ohnuki Taekoplay_arrow
The stillness before dawn, Taeko Ohnuki’s singing voice
10eastwaxing; filling up; becoming full; growing (e.g., the moon growing fuller)Fuji Kaze
waxing; filling up; becoming full; growing (e.g., the moon growing fuller)Fuji Kazeplay_arrow
Fujii Kaze’s love song, peace for the heart
11eastSong of the Night WalkersCreepy Nuts
Song of the Night WalkersCreepy Nutsplay_arrow
Night music frees the heart
12eastFriday ChinatownYasuha
Friday ChinatownYasuhaplay_arrow
A city pop classic, Night’s Brilliance
13eastLOOPSIRUP
LOOPSIRUPplay_arrow
The everyday warmth that resonates in SiRUP’s heart
14eastClimax NightYogee New Waves
Climax NightYogee New Wavesplay_arrow
Sophisticated music that colors the city nights
15eastOrphanscero
Orphansceroplay_arrow
A poignant groove that cuddles up to the night
16eastWhitoxinCLAN QUEEN
WhitoxinCLAN QUEENplay_arrow
CLAN QUEEN’s cool, catchy winter tune
17eastBaby Don’t CryCHEMISTRY
Baby Don't CryCHEMISTRYplay_arrow
CHEMISTRY covers a Namie Amuro song
18eastCall U Every NiteMICHICO
Call U Every NiteMICHICOplay_arrow
A poignant love song by a top artist’s songwriter
19east2 a.m. and a highballnakigoto
2 a.m. and a highballnakigotoplay_arrow
A song that saves me on my late-night walk home from a part-time job
20eastSilent MidnightISSEI
Silent MidnightISSEIplay_arrow
R&B Rising from ISSEI’s Failure
21eastMidnight+alpha/arufakyun.
Midnight+alpha/arufakyun.play_arrow
A song that delicately captures the feelings of late night
22eastFriday Nightnatori
Friday Nightnatoriplay_arrow
An urban, stylish track with a whiskey voice
23eastMedianochezutto mayonaka de ii no ni.
Medianochezutto mayonaka de ii no ni.play_arrow
A song titled “Midnight” in Spanish
24eastNight DriveSTUTS, Julia Wu, Phum Viphurit
Night DriveSTUTS, Julia Wu, Phum Viphuritplay_arrow
A song with a floating sensation for driving through the city at night
25eastAliensKirinji
AliensKirinjiplay_arrow
Kirinji’s “Aliens” is making waves in a commercial
26eastSleepless NightOda Kazumasa
Sleepless NightOda Kazumasaplay_arrow
Self-covering a song provided to Hideki Saijo
27east365 daysMr.Children
365 daysMr.Childrenplay_arrow
A ballad from a Mr. Children commercial. Moving.
28eastone more time one more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
one more time one more chanceYamazaki Masayoshiplay_arrow
A simple ballad with high-pitched vocals and guitar
29eastMOONREBECCA
MOONREBECCAplay_arrow
A poignant song themed around Rebecca’s mother
30eastEmbracing sleepless nightsZARD
Embracing sleepless nightsZARDplay_arrow
A famous song by ZARD, a track that represents the 1990s
31eastEine KleineYonezu Kenshi
Eine KleineYonezu Kenshiplay_arrow
The soothing vocals of Kenshi Yonezu and his distinctive lyrics are captivating.
32eastCan I call it magic?Hirai Ken
Can I call it magic?Hirai Kenplay_arrow
Get drowsy with Ken Hirai's ballads
33eastdancerVaundy
dancerVaundyplay_arrow
Vaundy’s song portrays feelings of love with a pleasant rhythm.
34eastColoration BluesEGO-WRAPPIN’
Coloration BluesEGO-WRAPPIN'play_arrow
EGO-WRAPPIN’s nostalgic blues
35eastORIONNakajima Mika
ORIONNakajima Mikaplay_arrow
A wistful nighttime ballad, a drama insert song
36eastRainy BlueTokunaga Hideaki
Rainy BlueTokunaga Hideakiplay_arrow
A wistful ballad released in 1986
37eastbeetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko
beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aikoplay_arrow
aiko's love ballad: a heartrending romance
38eastA long nightMatsuyama Chiharu
A long nightMatsuyama Chiharuplay_arrow
Chiharu Matsuyama’s 1981 rock hit song
39eastCrescent Moon MelancholyBābī Bōizu
Crescent Moon MelancholyBābī Bōizuplay_arrow
A bittersweet love song by Barbee Boys
40eastSenbonzakuraWagakki Band
SenbonzakuraWagakki Bandplay_arrow
The fusion of traditional Japanese instruments and rock is captivating
41eastAUTOMATICUtada Hikaru
AUTOMATICUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
15-year-old's debut song becomes a hot topic
42eastNight of Ephemeranqrse
Night of Ephemeranqrseplay_arrow
nqrse’s song “Utakata no Yoru” gently embraces the loneliness of the night
43eastBeyond the Night SkySuga Shikao
Beyond the Night SkySuga Shikaoplay_arrow
Shikao Suga does a self-cover
44eastO-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsSakamoto Fuyumi
O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsSakamoto Fuyumiplay_arrow
The wistful love song of O-Shichi under the night cherry blossoms
45eastSerenadeOzaki Ami
SerenadeOzaki Amiplay_arrow
A famous song by Ami Ozaki that portrays a heartrending romance
46eastbeautiful daysarashi
beautiful daysarashiplay_arrow
An emotional song used as a TV drama theme
47eastNightmareSugiyama Kiyotaka
NightmareSugiyama Kiyotakaplay_arrow
Depicting hope and strength in Kiyotaka Sugiyama’s new song
48eastListening to OliviaAnri
Listening to OliviaAnriplay_arrow
Anri's debut song is loved as a classic
49eastsquallFukuyama Masaharu
squallFukuyama Masaharuplay_arrow
Fukuyama’s beautiful vocals shine after the rain
50eastLong VersionInagaki Junichi
Long VersionInagaki Junichiplay_arrow
Junichi Inagaki's night ballad song
51eastTiger & DragonCRAZY KEN BAND
Tiger & DragonCRAZY KEN BAND
Crazy Ken Band's iconic night-time song
52eastblue moom blueImai Miki
blue moom blueImai Mikiplay_arrow
The nighttime masterpiece “blue moon blue” composed by Chika Ueda
53eastMidnight Door ~ Stay with MeMatsubara Miki
Midnight Door ~ Stay with MeMatsubara Mikiplay_arrow
Miki Matsubara’s debut single is a big hit
54eastKanadeSukima Suichi
KanadeSukima Suichiplay_arrow
I was captivated by the wistful melody.
55eastStardust StageChekkāzu
Stardust StageChekkāzuplay_arrow
A bittersweet medium-tempo song by The Checkers
56eastPlastic LoveTakeuchi Mariya
Plastic LoveTakeuchi Mariyaplay_arrow
A Career Woman’s Love Song
57eastSleepless nights are because of you.MISIA
Sleepless nights are because of you.MISIAplay_arrow
MISIA healing ballads to listen to at night
58eastTokyo MidnightMY FIRST STORY
Tokyo MidnightMY FIRST STORYplay_arrow
A song that captures the poignancy of people seeking love in Tokyo late at night
59eastBlues Until MorningKimyō Reitarō
Blues Until MorningKimyō Reitarōplay_arrow
A blue song that exudes the quiet of the night
60eastQueen of KabukichoShiina Ringo
Queen of KabukichoShiina Ringoplay_arrow
Shiina Ringo’s Kabukicho theme song
61eastLiterature Lecture (feat. Aizawa)suisō
Literature Lecture (feat. Aizawa)suisōplay_arrow
A decadent, cool track that portrays loneliness
62eastCity of StardustGosuperāzu
City of StardustGosuperāzuplay_arrow
A soothing song by The Gospellers themed around stars
63eastTrumpet of the Night SkyNini Rosso
Trumpet of the Night SkyNini Rossoplay_arrow
Nini Rosso’s famous song praying for peace
64eastSaturday NightBLANKEY JET CITY
Saturday NightBLANKEY JET CITYplay_arrow
A fast-paced rock song by BJC from before their breakup
65eastDriving All NightDOUBLE
Driving All NightDOUBLEplay_arrow
R&B songs perfect for a midnight drive
66eastAkatsuki-zukuyoHONEY WORKS
Akatsuki-zukuyoHONEY WORKSplay_arrow
A song that portrays the poignancy of the night and of love.
67eastStop this nightJUJU
Stop this nightJUJUplay_arrow
JUJU’s poignant drama theme song sings of the pain of love.
68eastWasted NightsONE OK ROCK
Wasted NightsONE OK ROCKplay_arrow
The moving night theme song by ONE OK ROCK
69eastThe Brink of NightRADWIMPS
The Brink of NightRADWIMPSplay_arrow
A heartwarming song that comforts loneliness eight years after the earthquake
70eastDragon NightSEKAI NO OWARI
Dragon NightSEKAI NO OWARIplay_arrow
A bright song that colors the night with a dragon knight
71eastAugust NightSilent Siren
August NightSilent Sirenplay_arrow
The bittersweet, pop-infused night song of Silent Siren
72eastLike this tonightaimyon
Like this tonightaimyonplay_arrow
Taking a walk through the city at night when everything has quieted down, …
73eastGrapefruit MoonTOMOO
Grapefruit MoonTOMOOplay_arrow
A song that depicts the growth from youth to adulthood
74eastODD TAXIsukaato to PUNPEE
ODD TAXIsukaato to PUNPEEplay_arrow
A lo-fi beat track depicting a city nightscape
75eastAll-Night RadioAdo
All-Night RadioAdoplay_arrow
Ado's new song becomes a TV drama theme song
76eastRendezvousNissy(Nishijima Takahiro)
RendezvousNissy(Nishijima Takahiro)play_arrow
A love song that portrays the bittersweet feelings of lovers nestled together at night
77eastLonelyNulbarich
LonelyNulbarichplay_arrow
A heartrending love song that portrays loneliness and farewell
78eastGo to tomorrowSUPER BUTTER DOG
Go to tomorrowSUPER BUTTER DOGplay_arrow
Introducing SUPER BUTTER DOG’s classic song “Ashita e Yuke”
79eastI can’t forget it.Sakanakushon
I can't forget it.Sakanakushonplay_arrow
An unforgettable 80s-style song
80east27:00Burandē Senki
27:00Burandē Senkiplay_arrow
A single depicting the loneliness of the Brandy War Chronicles
81eastlighthouseHoshino Gen
lighthouseHoshino Genplay_arrow
Gen Hoshino’s new song “Lighthouse” is captivating for its profound lyrics.
82eastBecome a shadowTanaka Yuri
Become a shadowTanaka Yuriplay_arrow
Blu-Swing vocalist covers a song by Yumi Matsutoya
83eastmore than wordsHitsuji Bungaku
more than wordsHitsuji Bungakuplay_arrow
Hitsujibungaku’s Jujutsu Kaisen ending theme song
84eastKnight Riderichou BOYZ
Knight Riderichou BOYZplay_arrow
Poignant lyrics for an email theme
85eastyesterdayChilli Beans.
yesterdayChilli Beans.play_arrow
A love song overflowing with heartache by Chilli Beans.
86eastFunky NightGesu no Kiwami Otome.
Funky NightGesu no Kiwami Otome.play_arrow
Release your stress with a sleek, urban-cool track
87eastclose your eyesMiyamoto Hiroji
close your eyesMiyamoto Hirojiplay_arrow
Soothe your fatigue with a late-night healing track
88eastone nightTakehara Pisutoru
one nightTakehara Pisutoruplay_arrow
An inspiring song introduction by Takahiro Pistols
89eastLike tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi
Like tonight's moonElefanto Kashimashiplay_arrow
Elekashi’s classic song “Like Tonight’s Moon” resonates deeply in my heart.
90eastSlip through the nightKotobukikun
Slip through the nightKotobukikunplay_arrow
A song of determination to face the anxieties about the future
91eastMy beloved, good night…B’z
My beloved, good night...B'zplay_arrow
Ballads have unexpectedly become popular in dramas.
92eastCan you sleep at night?flumpool
Can you sleep at night?flumpoolplay_arrow
flumpool’s night song ‘Can You Sleep at Night?’
93eastMagic of a Summer Nightindigo la End
Magic of a Summer Nightindigo la Endplay_arrow
A beautiful piece that evokes the end of summer
94eastLONELY NIGHTStofubeats
LONELY NIGHTStofubeatsplay_arrow
Music that colors the night, a song that keeps you company in loneliness
95eastChronostasiskinoko teikoku
Chronostasiskinoko teikokuplay_arrow
Moody songs to listen to at night
96eastBeat of DawnFujifaburikku
Beat of DawnFujifaburikkuplay_arrow
Fujifabric “Moteki” Theme Song
97eastMidnight ExpresswayFurawā Kanpanīzu
Midnight ExpresswayFurawā Kanpanīzuplay_arrow
Flower Company's classic song “Midnight Highway”
98eastDance at Nightfurenzu
Dance at Nightfurenzuplay_arrow
Enjoy the night with classic City Pop hits
99eastDinner Songtuki.
Dinner Songtuki.play_arrow
A love song about thinking of someone you cherish
100eastTokyo feat. Mamiko Suzuki, Skaaiyonawo
Tokyo feat. Mamiko Suzuki, Skaaiyonawoplay_arrow
A sophisticated urban gem from yonawo