A classic song about Nagano. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
The Hotaka Mountain Range of the Northern Alps, the night view of Lake Suwa, the timeless flow of the Chikuma River.
Blessed with abundant nature, Nagano has long been cherished by many artists as the stage for songs that resonate in the heart.
In this article, we’ve picked out songs related to Nagano from a wide range of genres, including folk songs, enka, and J-pop.
We present a selection of gems that depict the beauty of Nagano—its stunning seasonal landscapes and the feelings of the people who live there, woven together.
Please enjoy them at your leisure, whether reminiscing about Nagano’s scenery or looking forward to the day you visit.
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- A Nationwide Compilation of Timelessly Beloved Railway Songs
- [Songs of Kagoshima] The heart of our hometown carried on in song | A curated selection of classic tracks that embody Kagoshima
- Recommended songs about mountains: classic and popular tracks for mountaineering and mountain songs
- A roundup of regional enka songs: classic hits that feature places from all across Japan in their lyrics.
- [2026] A Collection of Classic Enka and Kayōkyoku Songs About Nagasaki [Local Songs]
- [Japan’s Tallest Mountain] Famous songs about Mount Fuji: recommended popular tracks
A classic song about Nagano. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down in song (31–40)
Elegy of the Chikuma RiverNomura Mina
The Bessho Line mentioned in the song is a local railway that connects Ueda Station to Bessho-Onsen Station in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture.
Throughout the lyrics, landmarks around Ueda—such as Ueda Castle, the Chikuma River, and references to the Sanada clan—appear, but it is a heartbreak song.
It portrays a wounded heart that shares the harshness of winter and the pain of lost love, while wishing for the flow of the Chikuma River to carry the sorrow away.
Song of the Rock Ptarmigansan-shi-roku
The rock ptarmigan is a resident bird that does not migrate, enduring the cold even on alpine peaks in the dead of winter and remaining in place until the warm spring arrives.
It is designated as the prefectural bird of Nagano, Gifu, and Toyama.
This masterpiece can be heard as a message of encouragement to people placed in harsh, sorrowful circumstances, reflecting the nature of the ptarmigan.
Farewell, Hotaka.daakudakkusu
A song that originally was a military tune gradually gained new verses among mountaineers, and it is said to have lyrics up to the tenth verse.
Mount Hotaka, Japan’s third-highest peak at 3,190 meters, towers on the border between Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture and Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture.
No matter how much time passes, this famed mountain range known as the Northern Alps remains a summit that mountaineers aspire to challenge.
Kisogawa MirenMizuta Takiko
There are quite a few male singers who have turned the journey along the 69 stations of the Nakasendō into songs, but this one is a female version.
Ena is in Gifu Prefecture, so the inn might have been either Tsumago or Magome, which are post towns in Nagano Prefecture and popular tourist spots.
The Kiso River flows through Nagano, Gifu, and Aichi, so you can trace the route of the journey.
As expected, most local songs tend to be enka.
Kurohime Monogatariozawa akiko
It’s a narrative enka that lets you experience it as if you were watching a film.
Akiko Ozawa’s “Kurohime Monogatari” is a single released in June 2025, inspired by the folklore of her hometown Nagano, the Legend of Kurohime.
The progression from a quiet, storytelling tone to a dramatic climax truly captivates the listener’s heart.
If you’d like to explore enka rich in storytelling or feel the beauty of Japan’s traditions, I highly recommend giving it a listen.