Songs to listen to in autumn: Ranking of popular Japanese bands [2026]

HoneymoonSEKAI NO OWARI31rank/position

Mitsunotsuki

Featured on the February 2019 album “Lip,” this track offers a soothing contrast between delicate instrumentation and a gentle vocal delivery.

As time passes and things change, the moon continues to shine in memory.

The lyrics, painting such scenes, evoke a beautiful yet bittersweet story.

It’s a nostalgic number with an irresistible, uniquely floating sensation where reality and fantasy seem to blend.

Moonlit Horizon[Alexandros]32rank/position

[ALEXANDROS] – Moon-colored Horizon (MV)

This is a song that captures the feelings of a young person searching for their place in the world while gazing up at the autumn night sky.

The lyrics penned by Yohei Kawakami of [ALEXANDROS] are filled with emotions that ebb and flow in everyday life.

Set against the backdrop of Tokyo, it portrays a protagonist who, though lost between yesterday and tomorrow, strives to look ahead—resonating deeply with listeners.

Released in July 2019, the track was also featured in Japan Coca-Cola’s Aquarius commercial, creating a major buzz.

With a refreshing sound that’s perfect for the transition from summer to autumn, it suits the coming season well.

It’s a highly recommended song for students worried about their path or future, and for anyone about to take a new step forward.

A man’s heart is as changeable as autumn weather.Gōruden Bonbā33rank/position

Otokogokoro to Aki no sora

When it comes to a wistful autumn song that overturns the image of a visual-kei air band, this might be the one.

Cleverly riffing on the phrase “a woman’s heart and autumn sky,” it portrays the delicate, ever-shifting emotions of a man.

Its somewhat nostalgic kayōkyoku-style melody further accentuates the peculiar melancholy of autumn.

This soul-stirring track is included on the album “Golden Hour: Best of the Second Half of 2010,” released in January 2011.

The album garnered strong support, debuting at No.

3 on the Oricon weekly chart.

It’s perfect for long autumn nights when you’re troubled by love or feeling sentimental.

Why not listen to it while watching the changeable skies and reflecting on your own feelings?

All of the YouthFujifaburikku34rank/position

Fujifabric – Youth of Everything

Released in November 2007 as a lead single from the album TEENAGER, their tenth single is an enduring classic that portrays the melancholy at summer’s end and has been covered by many artists.

It was also used as an insert song for the drama SUMMER NUDE, wasn’t it? The loneliness at the moment the final firework fades, the unease about change, and those feelings that can’t be put into words—don’t they tighten the listener’s chest? When you listen to this song alongside the clear autumn night sky or a sunset scene, memories of days gone by come flooding back, and you can’t help but sink into a sentimental mood.

The night of the school festivalBase Ball Bear35rank/position

Base Ball Bear – The Night of the School Festival

This is the 18th single released in September 2015 by Base Ball Bear, a three-piece band formed in 2001 and commonly known as Bebobe.

The pop sound coming from the black-and-white music video, which shows them performing on a set that appears to be a school, is irresistibly captivating.

language of flowersMr.Children36rank/position

Flower Language Mr.Children

A gemlike ballad woven by Mr.Children that portrays the pain of parting and the growth it brings.

Using the cosmos flower’s language of flowers as a motif, it gently sings of the heartache of a broken heart and the lessons learned from it.

Included on the album “Shifuku no Oto,” released in April 2004, this piece is a masterpiece in which Kazutoshi Sakurai’s delicate vocals and the band’s exquisite performance resonate deeply.

It’s a song that offers new insights with every listen—truly a companion that runs alongside your life.

Ya Ya (I Won’t Forget That Time)Sazan Ōrusutāzu37rank/position

Yaya, I Won’t Forget That Era — Southern All Stars

A song filled with nostalgia and warmth.

Released in October 1982, this heartwarming ballad gently embraces memories of youth.

Weaving college-era friendships and bittersweet love into its lyrics, it resonates deeply with listeners.

Chosen as the theme song for a Mazda MPV commercial, it has been loved by so many that it even appears in high school music textbooks.

It’s best enjoyed on an autumn evening by the window, listened to at a relaxed pace.

Why not bask in fond memories and reflect on cherished moments with someone special?

Howl at the MoonYorushika38rank/position

Yorushika – Howl at the Moon (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

If you’re looking for a song that’s perfect for the autumn season, I recommend this track by Yorushika.

The lyrics are striking, expressing the feelings of a protagonist burdened by loneliness and inner conflict through the metaphor of a creature howling at the moon.

It’s a song characterized by deep literary nuance and an emotional melody.

Released as a digital single on October 6, 2021, it drew attention even before its release, with an advance broadcast in Lawson stores nationwide in August 2021.

It’s perfect for spending long autumn nights after a school festival or sports day, listening with friends or a significant other.

Why not tune in to the heartfelt vocals, feeling both the difficulty of expressing emotions and the desire for self-fulfillment?

moonbowBUMP OF CHICKEN39rank/position

Gekkou

This is a song that conveys a strong resolve to find a light of hope beyond the darkness.

Created by the four-piece rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN, it was included on the album “aurora arc,” released in July 2019.

It was written specifically for the TV anime Karakuri Circus.

As you listen to the oriental tones woven by acoustic guitar and accordion, you feel as if you’re being led into another world.

On a moonlit night, why not dive into its grand worldview?

Monochrome of the Autumn WindFIELD OF VIEW40rank/position

FIELD OF VIEW – Monochrome of the Autumn Breeze (Music Video)

This is a memorable song whose poignant vocals ride on the autumn breeze and sink into the heart.

While quietly reflecting on a lost love, the lyrics also carry a resolve to move forward.

It was used as the ending theme for Nippon TV’s “Manekin” and released in October 2000.

Although the song was produced with an autumn image in mind, the music video was unexpectedly filmed in early summer.

The members standing on the coastline in black suits left a strong impression.

When spending a long autumn night at karaoke, singing this song will make you feel the autumn air even more—an intertwining of wistfulness and warmth.