Songs for summer: Popular Artist Rankings [2026]

Ponytail and ScrunchieAKB4864rank/position

[MV full] Ponytail to Shushu / AKB48 [Official]

Released in May 2010 as AKB48’s 16th single, this song captivates with its sparkling, sun-kissed sound.

Told from a boy’s perspective, it tenderly portrays a sweet-and-sour summer romance and the irresistible pull toward a girl with her hair tied in a single ponytail as she dashes by—just listening makes your heart flutter.

It was featured widely across media, including as the ending theme for NTV’s “Naruhodo! High School,” and sold an impressive 513,000 copies in its first week.

It’s a perfect track not only as seaside background music, but also for those moments when you want to reminisce about days of youth gone by.

Et cetera related to the seashorePUFFY65rank/position

PUFFY 'Et Cetera Related to the Beach' OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

A top-tier summer tune from PUFFY, produced by Tamio Okuda with lyrics by Yosui Inoue—both leading creators in Japan’s music scene.

Released in April 1997, the track hit No.

1 on the Oricon charts and became a million-seller with total sales exceeding 1.1 million copies.

It was also widely known as the song for Kirin Beverage’s “Tennen Sodachi” commercial.

Inoue’s lyrics paint a humorous, slightly surreal world set on a summer shoreline—utterly distinctive.

It’s a bona fide miracle of a song, perfectly fusing PUFFY’s signature laid-back vocals with a bright pop sound.

Put this on while driving along the coast, and it feels like the best summer is about to begin.

A Long, Short FestivalShiina Ringo66rank/position

Ringo Sheena – Long and Short Festival

Singer-songwriter Ringo Sheena, who continues to captivate countless fans with her one-of-a-kind world, released this song on the single “Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri / Kamisama, Hotokesama” in August 2015.

Written specifically as the Coca-Cola 2015 summer campaign CM song, many of you likely heard it on TV and elsewhere.

It’s a duet with Ukigumo, the guitarist of Tokyo Jihen, and it’s crafted into a stylish dance tune infused with Latin and bossa nova elements.

The adult atmosphere—where the sultry heat of summer nights mingles with the poignancy of passing time—is irresistible.

It’s a number you’ll want to play while gazing up at fireworks or during a summer night drive.

The End of Summeraibii karaa67rank/position

IVY COLOR [End of Summer] Music Video

Among the songs by the piano rock band Ivy to Color, several are themed around the seasons, but when it comes to summer, this is the one.

It portrays a couple who grow closer and closer beneath the fireworks of a summer festival.

While it has the driving energy characteristic of a rock band, the piano sound adds a dramatic touch to the track.

With fireworks—an iconic symbol of summer—and a sweet, heartwarming romance that tickles the heart, it’s a summer song especially recommended for younger listeners.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hane Keisuke

Report a problem

love hotelkuriipuhaipe68rank/position

CreepHyp – Love Hotel

Creephype’s “Love Hotel” is themed around common stories between men and women.

Released in 2013 as the lead track from the album “Buki Koboreru Hodo no I, Ai, Ai,” the album reached No.

6 on the Oricon charts.

A fleeting, surface-level summer romance feels heartbreaking when you step into the protagonist’s shoes.

Even if you later think, “What was I doing back then?”, in the moment you’re serious and throw yourself into it completely.

It’s a pop tune that’s become a staple at the band’s live shows and festivals, so definitely give it a listen!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hamada Takuya

Report a problem

I can’t stop this sadnessAnri69rank/position

I can't stop this sadness

Following the earlier hit “CAT’S EYE” in the first half of the same year, this song by Anri became a hit in the latter half of 1983.

After “Listening to Olivia” she hadn’t enjoyed any major hits, but with these two successes, didn’t Anri firmly cement her popularity? Lyrically, it has the feel of a modern take on “Tennessee Waltz,” but musically it’s driven by a disco beat with a catchy groove.

That contrast may well be one of the reasons the song became a hit.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

Hello, my friendMatsutōya Yumi70rank/position

Yumi Matsutoya – Hello, my friend

When asked to name a classic song that captures the bittersweetness of a passing summer, many people would likely think of this one first.

Released in July 1994 as Yumi Matsutoya’s 25th single—an artist who has long led Japan’s music scene—it became a massive hit as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.

drama “A Summer with You.” While it’s often seen as a heartbreak song, a closer look at the lyrics reveals it’s not simply about parting.

The protagonist’s dignified yet aching wish to keep caring for the other person as a friend, even after the romance ends, is deeply moving.

It’s the kind of song you’ll want to listen to at summer’s end, when you’re in the mood for a touch of sentimentality.