RAG MusicJapanese Songs
Lovely nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs

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.

Playlist

A classic song about Nagano. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastShinano ProvinceHimegami, Misutera, Feo
Shinano ProvinceHimegami, Misutera, Feoplay_arrow
A famous local song loved by the people of Nagano Prefecture
2eastKomoro Love SongOkawa Eisaku
Komoro Love SongOkawa Eisakuplay_arrow
The feelings of an older brother worried about his younger sister who married into the city
3eastSpace and NaganoOkazaki Taiiku
Space and NaganoOkazaki Taiikuplay_arrow
A song in which Okazaki Taiiku expresses his complex affection for his hometown
4eastSong of Nagano PrefectureAsakura Kurumi
Song of Nagano PrefectureAsakura Kurumiplay_arrow
A warm song that sings of love for the Shinshu homeland
5easta hundred stepsFun-de-Led
a hundred stepsFun-de-Ledplay_arrow
A school-originated song for the 100th anniversary
6eastAzuminoHarada Yuuri
AzuminoHarada Yuuriplay_arrow
A Heartbroken Journey Through Azumino on the Oito Line
7eastBonfire of the Windsadamasashi
Bonfire of the Windsadamasashiplay_arrow
Ballad included on Masashi Sada’s “Yume Kuyō”
8eastChikuma Ko-utaSakushi: Masaki Fujokyu / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpei
Chikuma Ko-utaSakushi: Masaki Fujokyu / Sakkyoku: Nakayama Shinpeiplay_arrow
A quintessential Japanese masterpiece from the early Showa era, born in a hot spring town along the Chikuma River.
9eastWoman of KisoKitajima Saburō
Woman of KisoKitajima Saburōplay_arrow
A signature song by Saburō Kitajima that sings of the feelings of a woman on the Kiso Road
10eastWoman of the Kiso RoadHarada Yuuri
Woman of the Kiso RoadHarada Yuuriplay_arrow
A masterpiece of enka by Yuri Harada set on the Kiso Road
11eastKomoro Packhorse Driver’s SongNaganoken minyō
Komoro Packhorse Driver's SongNaganoken minyōplay_arrow
A traditional folk song from Shinshu sung to encourage horses along mountain paths
12eastKiso-bushiNaganoken minyō
Kiso-bushiNaganoken minyōplay_arrow
A folk song from the Kiso region, a wistful melody on traditional Japanese instruments
13eastAlone on the Shinano RoadHarada Yuuri
Alone on the Shinano RoadHarada Yuuriplay_arrow
An art song about thinking of one’s hometown on a solo journey
14eastHakuba Mountain Foothillskaryūdō
Hakuba Mountain Foothillskaryūdōplay_arrow
A famous song of a snowy landscape that evokes one’s hometown
15eastholidayDragon Ash
holidayDragon Ashplay_arrow
A city youth makes a new resolve at Lake Suwa
16eastRain in AzuminoShimazu Etsuko
Rain in AzuminoShimazu Etsukoplay_arrow
Etsuko Shimazu’s signature song in which the rain of Shinshu resonates in the heart
17eastLake Nojiri AloneMizumori Kaori
Lake Nojiri AloneMizumori Kaoriplay_arrow
A lakeside enka in Shinshu that heals a broken heart
18eastpointed hatKawada Masako
pointed hatKawada Masakoplay_arrow
A radio drama depicting the communal life of war orphans
19eastScarred KaruizawaBureddo & Batā
Scarred KaruizawaBureddo & Batāplay_arrow
A famous song that sings of a fleeting romance in Karuizawa
20eastShinano ProvinceNaganoken
Shinano ProvinceNaganokenplay_arrow
A prefectural song overflowing with local pride, beloved by the people of Nagano Prefecture
21eastSuzaka City AnthemSakushi: Minamisawa Tsuguo / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kousaku
Suzaka City AnthemSakushi: Minamisawa Tsuguo / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kousakuplay_arrow
Suzaka City Song that sings of Shinshu’s nature and local love
22eastMessenger from the MoonBaishō Chieko
Messenger from the MoonBaishō Chiekoplay_arrow
The theme song of a movie set on the Nagano Highlands
23eastAzusa No. 2karyūdō
Azusa No. 2karyūdōplay_arrow
Farewell Lyrics and the Discrepancy in the Train Timetable
24eastElegy of the Chikuma RiverNomura Mina
Elegy of the Chikuma RiverNomura Minaplay_arrow
Heartbreak and sorrow along the Bessho Line
25eastMatsumoto Bon BonMaekawa Yōko
Matsumoto Bon BonMaekawa Yōkoplay_arrow
Matsumoto Bonbon is the largest summer festival in the prefecture.
26eastA Summer Resort Romancecherisshu
A Summer Resort Romancecherisshuplay_arrow
Cherish's Wedding Song
27eastBy the old castle at KomoroOgawa Akiko
By the old castle at KomoroOgawa Akikoplay_arrow
A Poetry Collection on the Four Seasons of the Chikuma River
28eastChikumagawa RiverItsuki Hiroshi
Chikumagawa RiverItsuki Hiroshiplay_arrow
A song by Hiroshi Itsuki that sings of the beauty of the Chikuma River, together with memories of first love.
29eastKaruizawa Hotelsadamasashi
Karuizawa Hotelsadamasashiplay_arrow
Farewell in Karuizawa and the end of summer
30eastThe Road of KinasaNishijima Mieko
The Road of KinasaNishijima Miekoplay_arrow
A low-key yet enduring singer-songwriter
31eastSong of the Rock Ptarmigansan-shi-roku
Song of the Rock Ptarmigansan-shi-rokuplay_arrow
The rock ptarmigan is a resident bird that withstands the cold and is the prefectural bird.
32eastKiso KoishigureKitajima Saburō
Kiso KoishigureKitajima Saburōplay_arrow
Saburo Kitajima sang about regions across the country and chose Kiso.
33eastA slightly capricious migratory birdHikawa Kiyoshi
A slightly capricious migratory birdHikawa Kiyoshiplay_arrow
A Song of a Journey Remembering My Mother
34eastNorthern Shinano LamentNoji Yukiko
Northern Shinano LamentNoji Yukikoplay_arrow
A tragic love story as the theme song of a daytime drama in 1965 (Showa 40)
35eastAzusagawa, Shinano RoadMori Masako
Azusagawa, Shinano RoadMori Masakoplay_arrow
The scenery of Nagano’s beautiful mountains and the Azusa River
36eastMatsukawa OnDo!Kozaka Akiko
Matsukawa OnDo!Kozaka Akikoplay_arrow
The commemorative song for the 40th anniversary of Matsukawa Town’s establishment as a municipality. Lyrics and composition by Akiko Kosaka.
37easthometownshouka
hometownshoukaplay_arrow
A song that symbolizes the Japanese spirit, expressing feelings for one’s hometown
38eastFarewell, Hotaka.daakudakkusu
Farewell, Hotaka.daakudakkusuplay_arrow
There exists a mountaineering song derived from a military song.
39eastKisogawa MirenMizuta Takiko
Kisogawa MirenMizuta Takikoplay_arrow
A female singer sings the Sixty-nine Stations of the Nakasendō
40eastKiso is in the mountains.Katsuragi Yuki
Kiso is in the mountains.Katsuragi Yuki
A woman's story of heartbreak and being moved by nature
41eastLonging for the Chikuma RiverIshihara Yūjirō
Longing for the Chikuma RiverIshihara Yūjirō
The Chikuma River overlaps with the image of Fujimura’s first love.
42eastTenryu GorgeMizumori Kaori
Tenryu GorgeMizumori Kaoriplay_arrow
Date course at the Bell of Happiness in the Tenryu River Gorge
43eastKurohime Monogatariozawa akiko
Kurohime Monogatariozawa akikoplay_arrow
A narrative enka inspired by the Kurohime legend
44eastEvening Moon over ShinanoMitsubishi Michiya
Evening Moon over ShinanoMitsubishi Michiyaplay_arrow
A wistful song that evokes thoughts of the natural beauty of one’s hometown
45eastKaruizawa ConnectionOginome Yōko
Karuizawa ConnectionOginome Yōkoplay_arrow
Yoko Oginome’s struggle with becoming an adult set in Karuizawa
46eastYoung Lady of the PlateauFunaki Kazuo
Young Lady of the PlateauFunaki Kazuoplay_arrow
A coming-of-age film set in the Tateshina Highlands
47eastKiso-bushi SandogasaHashi Yukio
Kiso-bushi SandogasaHashi Yukio
Popular songs that incorporated the Kiso-bushi gained popularity.