[Night Drive] Songs recommended for nighttime drives
There are all kinds of driving situations—wanting to be alone with your thoughts, spending a relaxing time with someone special, or having fun with friends! For any of these drives, I think music is essential.
In this article, I’ll introduce songs that are perfect for nighttime drives.
I’ve gathered mellow R&B and slightly laid-back rock and pop tracks.
These are classics that can create a great vibe whether you’re solo or with a group, so be sure to make them your companion for your night drive.
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[Night Drive] Recommended Songs for Night Drives (31–40)
Turning Uparashi
This is the first digital single by Arashi, the five-member idol group that went on hiatus in 2020 but continues to draw attention for each member’s activities and the possibility of a comeback.
Released on the 20th anniversary of their CD debut, the track also made headlines as the group’s first streaming single.
Its danceable arrangement with a low-end thump amps up that unique night-drive energy.
An urban, soulful dance tune that pairs perfectly with a city nightscape.
SPARKLEYamashita Tatsuro
This is “SPARKLE,” a song by Tatsuro Yamashita, the pioneer who brought funk music to Japan.
In recent years, the pop sounds of the ’70s and ’80s have seen a resurgence under the genre known as City Pop, and you simply can’t talk about it without mentioning Tatsuro Yamashita—so let’s go ahead and add this to the playlist! I’d love to gaze at a white sandy beach while listening to those funky beats and romantic sax.
tone colorKREVA
A classic J-R&B masterpiece representing KREVA.
The 2019 NEW version was re-recorded with a band arrangement, offering a more relaxed pace and richer tones than the original.
Its comfortable groove will create a wonderful moment that fits the occasion, whether you listen alone or with someone special.
AmazingOfisharu Higedan Dism
A song by the four-piece piano-pop band Official HIGE DANDism, included as the B-side to their smash-hit single “Pretender.” Used as the opening theme for the travel variety show “#Kito-Kyun♡Traveler with T,” it features an arrangement that brings a rock sound to the forefront, delivering a different vibe from the A-side and really pumping up the energy.
Its arrangement, with both a sense of speed and weightlessness, seems to pair naturally with nightscapes.
It’s a rock tune that heightens the special feeling of a night drive and reaffirms Official HIGE DANDism’s broad expressive range.
more than wordsHitsuji Bungaku
This song by the three-piece rock band Hitsujibungaku was chosen as the ending theme for the anime Jujutsu Kaisen: Shibuya Incident.
With its minimal beat, expansive, atmospheric guitar sound, and clear, translucent vocals, it creates a beautifully evocative mood—highly recommended for nighttime listening.
By the way, the lyrics reflect on how to walk one’s own path in life, so if you listen while paying attention to the words, it may resonate with you even more.
[Night Drive] Recommended Songs for Night Drives (41–50)
EverydayPerfume
How about some sparkling, cute four-on-the-floor electronic music? It’s a track by the techno dance unit Perfume, included on their 24th single “If you wanna,” released in 2017.
While many of their songs have a bright and energetic vibe, this one tones that down a bit.
I think it’s perfect for a quiet night drive.
Burning Friday NightLucky Kilimanjaro
A song that paints a nighttime scene of sharing whisky and loneliness has been released by Lucky Kilimanjaro.
It features an upbeat rhythm inspired by 80s city pop and disco, with glossy, synth-driven textures that leave a strong impression.
The lyrics carefully depict the Friday-night mix of exhilaration and solitude, along with the longing for human connection.
Included on their first mini-album, FULLCOLOR, released in July 2015, the track resurfaced on social media in 2023, garnering renewed attention and surpassing 10 million streams as a revival hit.
It’s perfect as background music for settings with a mature vibe, like nighttime drives or bars.
For those carrying loneliness yet striving to look ahead, it’s sure to be a song that stays close to the heart.