Songs to Enjoy in Summer! Classic Hits Special (Showa & Heisei)

In this article, we’re featuring nostalgic songs perfect for summer.

As summer approaches we all start to feel more carefree, and music really helps lift that summer mood!

We’re mainly introducing summer tracks from the Showa and Heisei eras, focusing on songs from the 1980s through the 2000s.

Some of you might remember hearing these tunes on car stereos back then, even if you’d only just become aware of things.

Listening to summer songs may also bring back memories from those days.

How about spending a fun summer with these wonderful tracks that capture the season?

Every song will boost your summer vibes—and they’re great for road trips, too!

Playlist

Songs to Enjoy in Summer! Classic Hits Special (Showa & Heisei)
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Swaying feelingsZARD		Introducing the appeal of ZARD’s 1993 blockbuster hit
2	Paradise BabyRIP SLYME		RIP SLYME’s signature summer tune
3	summer festivalWhiteberry		Summer festival, Whiteberry’s classic song, Summer Memories
4	The hottest summer in the worldPurinsesu Purinsesu		A classic Princess Princess song that feels like summer
5	Rollercoaster RomanceKinKi Kids		Inheritance of KinKi Kids’ summer song kayōkyoku
6	Last Summer WhisperAnri		A masterpiece that expresses Anri’s bittersweet feelings of summer
7	Goodbye, Summer DaysYamashita Tatsuro		The tender fondness for youth at summer’s end
8	secret base 〜What You Gave Me〜ZONE		ZONE’s summer classic that captures memories of youth
9	Harmony at the End of SummerInoue Yosui & Anzen Chitai		A beautiful ballad where summer’s melancholy overlaps with the heart
10	Midsummer FruitSazan Ōrusutāzu		A timeless summer love song that tugs at the heartstrings
11	The End of SummerMoriyama Naotaro		Naotaro Moriyama’s classic summer ballad
12	Summer Days of 1993class		A refreshing summer song that expresses the feelings of love.
13	Blue Coral ReefMatsuda Seiko		Seiko Matsuda’s second single of summer classics
14	Summer Colorsyuzu		A song filled with the exhilaration of summer and memories of youth.
15	Summer is comingDaikoku Maki		Maki Ohguro’s passionate singing voice and heart
16	Over DriveJUDY AND MARY		JUDY AND MARY 90s summer classic
17	Et cetera related to the seashorePUFFY		PUFFY’s summer classic, a million-selling Oricon No. 1 hit
18	You’re Kiwi, Papaya, and Mango.Furihata Ai		Tropical summer pop
19	A Member of the Fire BrigadeRATS&STAR		A major summer hit song from 1983
20	Music HourPorunogurafiti		Pornograffitti's summer-themed song
21	Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi		Elekashi’s classic song “Like Tonight’s Moon” resonates deeply in my heart.
22	Twilight SurroundRIP SLYME		A warm classic that evokes the end of summer
23	SummerHisaishi Joe		The soul-stirring masterpiece from “Kikujiro’s Summer”
24	Magic of a Summer Nightindigo la End		indigo la End’s classic summer song gains renewed attention on TikTok
25	WingChinen Rina		Rina Chinen’s signature song “Wing” is refreshing.
26	The summer you gave meieiri reo		A wistful summer love song: Lea Ieiri's timeless masterpiece that resonates with the heart
27	A Long, Short FestivalShiina Ringo		A passionate dance tune for a summer night
28	All of the YouthFujifaburikku		A poignant masterpiece that laments the end of summer: The Last Fireworks
29	Time, stop.Yazawa Eikichi		Eikichi Yazawa’s summer song “Stop Time”
30	Slow & EasyHirai Dai		Hirai Dai’s relaxing song conveys a view of the value of happiness
31	The Summer That Vanished Beyond the GlassSuzuki Masayuki		Masayuki Suzuki's signature ballad from his solo debut
32	survival dAnce ～no no cry more～TRF		TRF’s signature songs produced by Tetsuya Komuro
33	ENDLESS SUMMER NUDEMagokoro Burazāzu		The Magokoro Brothers’ self-covers of summer songs
34	ultra soulB’z		B’z’s “ultra soul” is perfect for summer.
35	Barefoot GoddessB’z		B’z’s iconic summer classic “Hadashi no Megami” (Barefoot Goddess)
36	For the momentEvery Little Thing		A famous song by ELT, a popular musical duo loved across generations
37	Yes, SummerdaysGLAY		GLAY’s iconic summer anthem representing the 1990s
38	The Summer When You Were ThereMr.Children		An early song by the million-selling band Mr.Children
39	Roco LotionORANGE RANGE		Rock band from Okinawa creates a summer classic
40	Shanghai HoneyORANGE RANGE		The diverse musicality of a rock band from Okinawa
41	HOT LIMITT.M.Revolution		T.M.Revolution’s “HOT LIMIT” is a song that expresses the sense of freedom of summer.
42	Mermaid of ReminiscenceTHE YELLOW MONKEY		THE YELLOW MONKEY Summer Love Rock
43	I can’t wait for summerTUBE		A classic hit by TUBE, the quintessential summer band
44	Oh Yeah!arashi		Arashi’s album track to be used as a summer commercial song
45	love the islandSuzuki Ami		The summer classic by Ami Suzuki, the Diva of the Heisei era
46	Can’t Say Anything… SummerTHE JAYWALK		A masterpiece that portrays the end of summer and a wistful love
47	SUMMER TOURRC sakuseshon		RC Succession, summer classic, passionate
48	Midsummer StrangerTHE ALFEE		A classic that vividly depicts the scenes of summer love
49	Ah, summer vacation.TUBE		TUBE’s summer song “Ah”—a masterpiece brimming with the spirit of summer
50	Season in the SunTUBE		TUBE's representative summer-themed song
51	fireworksaiko		Summer night sky, a wistful love and a song of memories
52	Nagisa’s ‘…..’ushiroyubi-sasaregumi		A classic that shines with youth, evoking the summer seaside
53	Summer MemoriesKetsumeishi		A classic by Ketsumeishi that depicts the summer memories of adulthood
54	Nagisasupittsu		A mystical song by Spitz that evokes the feeling of summer
55	Sinbad on the Shorepinku redii		Pink Lady’s classic song that depicts a summer seaside romance
56	BoyhoodInoue Yosui		A classic song that portrays the end of summer and youth
57	summer vacationyoshida takurou		A classic song that depicts Takuro Yoshida's youthful summer
58	Summer-colored DiaryHori Chiemi		A refreshing depiction of youthful summer and budding romance.
59	You are in full color.Ohtaki Eiichi		A classic with lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto, a song about memories of a broken heart.
60	Nancy of Summer ColorsHayami Yū		Yu Hayami’s classic song that depicts the feelings of summer love
61	A Midsummer Night’s DreamMatsutōya Yumi		The passionate summer songs by Yumi Matsutoya are striking.
62	The Door to SummerMatsuda Seiko		Seiko Matsuda’s classic, with its memorable summer love song
63	Summer-colored Unrequited LoveKikuchi Momoko		Momoko Kikuchi’s summer classic that captures the youthful feeling of first love.
64	Like when we first metEvery Little Thing		Every Little Thing's representative summer love theme song
65	Body & SoulSPEED		A dance group that made a splash with their youth at the time of their debut
66	I love it!Hirosue Ryōko		Ryoko Hirosue’s popular songs are perfect as summer BGM.
67	You’re 1000%1986OMEGATRIBE		Introduction to Omega Tribe’s 1980s hit songs
68	I want to become the wind.THE BOOM		Refreshing summer tones and a song of freedom
69	Surfing JohnnyKuwata Keisuke		Keisuke Kuwata’s summer classic: a song of love and memories
70	Summertime BluesWatanabe Misato		A classic that portrays summer scenery and the stirrings of love
71	I’m smitten with you.Yellow Magic Orchestra		YMO’s signature song “Kimi ni, Mune Kyun” and its influence