A Nationwide Compilation of Timelessly Beloved Railway Songs
The nostalgic sound of the steam whistle and melodies that have been loved across time.
Songs related to railways—beginning with the Railway Songs—carry a warmly familiar charm.
They evoke memories encountered at stations and on trains, scenes of departures and homecomings, images that anyone can relate to.
So in this article, we’ll be compiling railway songs from all over Japan! We’ll feature a variety of works, from early pieces to modern ones.
These are the songs of the railway that are deeply etched in our hearts.
- [Train and Shinkansen Song] Popular with kids! Vehicle song
- A classic song about Nagano. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
- [Local Songs] Recommended tracks packed with Japan’s nationwide classics and hometown pride
- Classic travel songs. Travel tunes that color your journeys—perfect for both the everyday and the extraordinary.
- A classic Japanese folk song passed down through generations of acoustic performances
- [Hometown Songs] A curated selection of popular Japanese tracks that fill your heart with nostalgia
- A roundup of regional enka songs: classic hits that feature places from all across Japan in their lyrics.
- [Elementary School Music] List of Popular and Nostalgic Songs That Have Appeared in Textbooks
- A lineup of classic hits! Karaoke songs recommended for the yutori generation
- Today's recommended ballads: A carefully curated selection of heartwarming, gem-like masterpieces!
- [Song of Osaka] A selection of passionate, warm-hearted Osaka tunes
- A classic song about Kumamoto. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
- [Let's Enjoy Japanese Festival Songs!] Songs about festivals. Famous songs related to festivals.
A Nationwide Collection of Beloved Railway Songs Through the Ages (1–10)
Because I love people — Keikyū’s companionsSakushi: Tanaka Kyōko/ Hosaku-shi: Araki Toyohisa/ Sakkyoku: Hattori Katsuhisa/ Uta: Sākasu
This is the company song of Keikyu Corporation (Keihin Kyuko Railway).
A horn sound is used at the end of the track, making it popular among railway enthusiasts.
It is used not only for trains but also as background music for highway buses operated by Keikyu.
In addition to this song, Keikyu has also produced a theme song titled “Akai Densha” (The Red Train).
Yumemi Railway Bessho LineSakushi: Besshosen no Shorai o Kangaeru Kai, Kagai Mieko, Kurosaka Kokutaro/Sakkyoku: Kurosaka Kokutaro//Uta: Yaguchi Kumi, Kurosaka Kokutaro
This is a cheering song that expresses deep affection for a local railway running through Ueda City in Nagano Prefecture, woven with warm words and a simple, gentle sound.
Composed by Kurokawa Kurotaro and recorded as a duet with Yaguchi Megumi, the track was included on the October 2009 album “Tetsuka: Songs of Railway Companies.” With the soft timbre of the kokarina and a familiar, nursery rhyme-like melody, it’s a tune people of all ages can hum along to.
As you listen, let it bring back memories of your hometown scenery.
Roaring railsSakushi: Miyazaki Katsutoshi, Itō Akira / Sakkyoku: Awami Gorō / Uta: Dyūku Eisesu
This fight song, included on the October 2009 compilation album “Tekka: Songs of the Railway Companies,” has been sung powerfully in the stands by the JR Kyushu Hardball Baseball Club.
It was produced with lyrics by Katsutoshi Miyazaki and Akira Ito, and music by Goro Awami.
Blending classic sports vocabulary—like fighting spirit, glory, and victory—with railway imagery such as iron rails and thunderous roars, it inspires all who listen.
Experience the moment when the driving force of the railway and the team’s fiery support become one.
Timelessly Beloved Railway Songs Compilation [Nationwide] (11–20)
Minoo-Arima Electric Railway SongSakushi sakkyoku: fumei
Composed in March 1910 to commemorate the opening of Minoo Arima Electric Tramway, the predecessor of Hankyu Railway, this traditional song is a guide to the line set in a classic 7-5 rhythm.
It strings together station names and local sights from Umeda to Takarazuka and Minoo, weaving in scenes of the time such as Juso Embankment, Hattori Tenjin, and Minoo Great Waterfall, letting listeners memorize the route map as they sing.
It’s a must-listen for those interested in railway history and regional culture, as well as fans of traditional children’s songs.
Happy☆Happy TrainSakushi: Mikami Jun, Dera Yumi, Miyagi Wakao, Chichibu Tetsudō Kabushiki Gaisha/Sakkyoku: Mikami Jun/Uta, Ensō Mikami Jun, Dera Yumi, Chichibu Kodomōen
This support song was created in July 2020 through a collaboration between Chichibu Railway and local creators, born from a desire to brighten and energize a region dampened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s a heartwarming piece packed with scenes along the railway and the smiles of local people, featuring a cheerful, upbeat melody and gentle lyrics that wonderfully evoke anyone’s hometown.
The chorus by children from the Chichibu Kodomoen naturally brings a smile to your face as well.
It’s the perfect track for anyone who wants to feel the bonds of the community.
Hanshin Railway Songsakushi: oowada kenki/sakkyoku: tamura torazou
Produced in April 1909 (Meiji 42) as a promotional piece for Hanshin Electric Railway, this work is a route-guide song set to 22 verses that traces a journey from Umeda in Osaka to Kumoidori in Kobe.
Beginning with the prosperity of Osaka Castle, it goes on to feature the flow of the Yodo River, the temples and shrines of Amagasaki, crossing the Mukogawa River, the flower garden of Naruo, the seaside resorts of Nishinomiya and Koroen, and the beaches of Ashiya—parading contemporary station names and famous historic sites one after another.
It’s recommended for those who want to savor the joy of traveling by train or who wish to reflect on the historic scenery of the Kansai region.
In the dawning skySakushi: Tokuhira Yuuichi, Itou Akira/Sakkyoku: Morita Kouichi
It was created as a company song imbued with the corporate philosophy after privatization and a deep affection for the local community.
The lyrics were written by employee Yuichi Tokuhei, with additional lyrics by Akira Ito—renowned for his carefully chosen words honed through commercial jingles—and the composition by Koichi Morita, known for “Seishun Jidai.” The layered chorus evokes a hopeful sense of uplift.
It is a piece that connects the company and the community, fusing employee-born words with professional musicality.
Please give it a listen.