Japanese Pop Winter Song Rankings [2026]

wishsumika78rank/position

sumika / Wish [Music Video]

Sumika is a rock band loved by a wide range of listeners.

Featured on their third album, AMUSIC, this song captivates with an emotional band sound that seems to ring out in the crisp winter air.

While portraying a heartrending unrequited love, its powerful melody and vibrant strings kindle listeners’ emotions.

Released as a single in December 2019, it was written as the theme song for TV Asahi’s Saturday Night Drama Ossan’s Love -in the sky-.

There’s a famous anecdote that the lyrics were revised 117 times to match the script during production, and that passion—deeply linked to the drama’s world—strikes a chord.

On a cold winter night, why not listen and layer it with your overflowing feelings?

Beyond the Night SkySMAP79rank/position

Beyond the Night Sky – SMAP

A winter classic by SMAP woven from lyrics that touch the heart and a gentle melody.

It became a massive hit in 1998, achieving million-seller status.

The music video—featuring the members singing atop a pedestrian bridge under the cold winter sky—also drew a lot of attention.

Capturing the feelings of looking back on the past while finding hope for the future, this song is perfect for the winter karaoke season.

Its warm, laid-back rhythm seems to take the edge off the cold.

It’s approachable across generations, so it’s a great winter selection to keep in mind for everything from company year-end parties to private New Year’s gatherings.

Winter Giftmosao.80rank/position

Winter Present / Mosao. [Music Video]

Sung by Mosawo, a singer-songwriter who performs without showing their face, this piece is a love song that gently portrays winter romance in down-to-earth words.

The music video released in November 2020 is filled with the aching feelings of unrequited love and the courage to confess, isn’t it? Incorporating strings for the first time, the sound vividly colors the sparkle of winter with a touch of loneliness.

Also included on the album “Koi no Uta,” it drew major attention at the time of its digital release, dominating the top spots on LINE MUSIC’s rankings.

With highly relatable lyrics that make you want to see the person you like, it’s a song you’ll want to listen to closely.

If you play it before Christmas or a winter date, it’s sure to give you the courage to share your feelings with someone special!

Snow MenHoshino Gen81rank/position

Gen Hoshino – Snow Men (Official Video)

Gen Hoshino’s music wraps you in a quietly mature mood, casting a romantic spell over the winter slopes.

The lyrics delicately portray the chill of snow and the warmth of human touch, gently stirring the listener’s heart.

Featured on the album YELLOW DANCER, released in December 2015, this song was written as the theme for a Shiseido MAQuillAGE web movie.

Infused with elements of neo-soul, its sound is perfect for a restful break after energetic fun or for savoring a calm moment while gazing at the slopes at night.

It’s a sophisticated track whose allure makes you forget the cold and listen, utterly entranced.

Mochi GirlGesu no Kiwami Otome.82rank/position

Gesu no Kiwami Otome “Mochi Girl” (Official Music Video)

With sprightly guitars, tight drums, razor-edged synthesizers, and Enon Kawatani’s soaring high vocals darting every which way, this track appears on the 2013 mini-album “If You Can’t Dance, Then Become Vile.” Using mochi—an iconic New Year’s ingredient—as its motif, it spins out archaic diction and wildly imaginative metaphors.

It’s a quintessential Gesu no Kiwami Otome song that shines with a blend of comedy and sophisticated linguistic flair—perfect for anyone looking to liven up the mood with a distinctive number!

By the time of the Christmas carolsInagaki Junichi83rank/position

Junichi Inagaki – When It's Christmas Carol Time (Official Music Video)

When you’re wrapped in the crisp winter air, don’t you ever find your heart stolen by a melody that seems to come from nowhere? Sung by Junichi Inagaki, a singer who also handles drum performances, this piece is a classic that truly defines the season.

In fact, if you delve into the lyrics, they depict a slightly bittersweet, mature romance in which the couple takes some time apart until Christmas to reflect on their relationship.

Released as a single in October 1992, it was used as the theme song for the TBS drama “Homework” and became a huge hit, selling over 1.4 million copies.

Its sophisticated synth sound and Inagaki’s wistful vocals will make moments spent on snow-white slopes feel all the more dramatic.

Winter FireworksOku Hanako84rank/position

Winter Fireworks / Hanako Oku [MV]

This is the 13th single by singer-songwriter Hanako Oku, who, even after her major-label debut, continued to energetically perform street gigs and has written, composed, and sung for numerous commercial songs.

The story of being unable to voice your feelings to the person you love and ending up heartbroken—a situation many of us have likely experienced—really hits home, doesn’t it? The arrangement, layering piano, acoustic guitar, and strings, creates a wintry chill and depth that amplifies the poignancy of the lyrics.

It’s a bittersweet winter song, perfect for immersing yourself in solitude at Christmas.

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Hoshino Takashi

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