Songs for summer: Popular Artist Rankings [2026]

summer vacationyoshida takurou50rank/position

summer vacation

It’s a song that vividly captures the memories and bittersweetness of youthful summers, and can be considered one of Takuro Yoshida’s signature works.

It was included on the 1972 album “Genki Desu.” and later released as a single in March 1989.

Centered on a simple yet emotionally rich melody built around acoustic folk guitar and vocals, it leaves a strong impression.

From the lyrics emerge scenes of Japanese summer—sunlit days, time spent by the seaside, and memories with friends.

Yoshida’s distinctive vocal style further enhances the song’s appeal.

With lyrics that embody the essence of summer, it resonates deeply with many people and continues to be loved across generations.

Unchanging ThingsOku Hanako51rank/position

Unchanging Things

A piano ballad that lets you sink into a wistful mood, as if longing for the summer that has passed.

The singer is Hanako Oku, a singer-songwriter often praised as someone whose “voice alone can move you to tears.” This work centers on the irreplaceable nature of everyday life and feelings that never fade, even as time goes by.

Its message—yearning to reach someone you may never meet again, transcending time and distance—truly strikes the heart.

Included on the single “Garnet,” released in July 2006, it served as an insert song in the feature-length animated film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, heightening the emotion of its climactic scenes.

It’s a number you’ll want to listen to on a slightly chilly evening at dusk, as you look back on your summer memories.

Summer NudeMagokoro Burazāzu52rank/position

Magokoro Brothers “Summer Nude” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

This song, which beautifully captures the poignant scenery at summer’s end, is a 1995 release by Magokoro Brothers.

Its distinctive melody line and lyrics depicting summer scenes have captured the hearts of many.

With delicate expressions of summer nights, seaside happenings, the brilliance of youth, and the bittersweet feeling of a summer slipping away, it has a charm that resonates deeply with listeners.

In 2010, it was also used as insert music in the TV Tokyo drama “Moteki,” and it remains beloved across generations.

It’s a track that may truly move you when you’re looking back on summer memories or experiencing a farewell with someone dear.

Summer memories scented by the windAAA53rank/position

AAA / “Summer Memories Fragrant on the Breeze” Music Video

A song whose wistful yet beautiful melody seeps into your heart, like suddenly recalling an old love on a summer evening.

The memories of fleeting love and bygone summer days, sung by AAA, spread through your chest like a pale watercolor.

The track was included as the B-side to AAA’s single “Wake up!” released in July 2014, and later featured on the album “GOLD SYMPHONY” released the same year, as well as the best-of compilation “AAA 10th ANNIVERSARY BEST” the following year.

For those who want to bask in a sentimental mood at summer’s end, this song will gently accompany you back to those bittersweet memories.

The Summer Without YouDEEN54rank/position

[Detective Conan ED4] The Summer Without You – DEEN

As summer draws to a close, do you ever find yourself overcome by a quiet melancholy? This classic ballad by DEEN gently stays by your side in those moments.

It brings back memories of those sweet summer days that can never return, and even as you carry an ache you can’t shake, you offer a small prayer in a corner of your heart… You can almost see the protagonist before your eyes.

Released in August 1997 as their 12th single, this song served as the ending theme for the anime Detective Conan.

When you want to quietly reflect on a love that has passed or sort out your feelings, listening to it will surely soften that sense of loneliness, if only a little.

Oh Yeah!arashi55rank/position

Oh Yeah!

Arashi is a five-member idol group that paused group activities in 2020, yet each member has continued to thrive at the forefront of the industry.

Oh Yeah!, the opening track of their seventh studio album Time, was used as the commercial song for House Foods’ C1000 Lemon Water, in which the members also appeared.

The opening, marked by a memorable guitar riff with delay, evokes the refreshing feeling of summer.

With its exhilarating, fast-paced beat that creates a pleasant atmosphere, it’s a hidden gem among Arashi’s many well-known songs.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

BLUE BIRDHamasaki Ayumi56rank/position

Ayumi Hamasaki / BLUE BIRD

It’s a dazzlingly refreshing track that evokes a boundless blue sky and white sandy beaches.

It portrays the hope that awaits beyond hardship and the strong bond that lets you soar into the future with someone dear.

This work is Ayumi Hamasaki’s 40th single, released in June 2006, and it debuted at No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

It’s also well known as the song used in the Zespri Gold Kiwi commercial, and it’s included on the album “Secret” as well as the summer best-of compilation “A SUMMER BEST.” Listen to it on a summer drive or while soaking up the sun at the beach, and your spirits are sure to soar.

When you’re ready to take a new step forward, this song will surely give you courage.

Why not listen to it with someone special and talk about your hopes for the future?