[2026] Recommended Japanese songs for a spring drive: A roundup of perfect tracks for outings

Blue Spring Etude feat. Haruko Nagaya (Ryokuoushoku Shakai)TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA

Etude of the Blue Spring feat. Haruko Nagaya (Ryokuoushoku Shakai) / Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA is a ska band that keeps firing up festivals around the world.

Their track Aoi Haru no Étude feat.

Haruko Nagaya (Ryokuoushoku Shakai), featuring Haruko Nagaya of Ryokuoushoku Shakai as a guest, is included as the lead track on their mini-album JUNK or GEM, released in March 2023.

Created as the final installment of their “Brass Trilogy,” the song drew attention for Nagaya’s participation not only on vocals but also on trombone.

The fusion of lyrics that liken a faint first love to an “étude” and Skapara’s signature celebratory horn sound is enough to lift your spirits just by listening.

Why not enjoy a drive, feeling the spring breeze, accompanied by melodies that are both wistful and exhilaratingly fast-paced?

Que sera, seraMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Que Sera Sera” Official Music Video

A resplendent fanfare rings out, giving you the courage to embrace yourself and move forward just as you are.

Released in April 2023, this song was written as the theme for the drama “Around Sunday Night,” starring Nana Seino.

That same year, it won the 65th Japan Record Award, becoming one of Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s signature tracks that captured the hearts of many.

With a positive message centered on a magical Spanish phrase, along with its breezy rhythm and euphoric ensemble, it’s sure to brighten a springtime drive with the windows down, feeling the wind.

Even when you’re stuck or a little tired, listening to it will make you look ahead and think, “Things will work out,” making it the perfect uplifting anthem for a spring outing’s soundtrack.

Cherry Blossom MoonSakurazaka46

Sakurazaka46 'Sakuzuki'

Sakurazaka46’s latest track, which layers the beautiful hues of cherry blossoms with the fleeting poignancy of their fall, is an essential number for spring drives.

Released in February 2023 as the title track of their fifth single, it features Rena Moriya at center.

Debuting at No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Chart, it has been embraced by many listeners since its release.

The lyrics, themed around graduation and new departures, delicately capture emotions swaying with the changing seasons and truly strike a chord.

Its melodic, wistful sound makes it perfect BGM for driving beneath avenues of cherry trees in bloom.

While carrying the sadness of parting, this song also gives you the courage to take a new step forward.

Feel the spring breeze and be sure to listen on your way to your destination, together with your cherished memories!

spring breezesumika

sumika / Spring Breeze [Music Video]

Sumika is a rock band that commands overwhelming support from younger generations with impactful lyricism and gentle compositions.

“Harukaze,” included on their first album Familia, is a track bursting with a catchy, fast-paced feel, driven by a hysteric guitar riff in the intro.

The lyrics tell a story that makes you want to dash out into the spring season—perfect for a drive.

It’s a rock tune packed with the freshness of spring, with emotional melodies and ensemble work that will color the atmosphere inside your car.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Spring ThiefYorushika

Yorushika – Spring Thief (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Yorushika’s “Spring Thief” is perfect for those times when you want to drive with the windows all the way down, letting the fresh spring breeze wash over you.

The music video, which unfolds a story alongside beautiful cherry blossom illustrations, is absolutely captivating.

The song likens the so-called rain and storms that scatter the blossoms after they bloom to a thief that steals spring.

Just as the seasons turn, it portrays the whirlwind changes in the journey of life.

Cruising with this song on while cherry blossoms sway and flutter in the wind would feel incredible—give it a try!

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SAKI

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Song of Springsupittsu

Spitz / Spring Song

Masamune Kusano’s high-pitched vocals resonate poignantly in “Haru no Uta” (Spring Song).

Although it was released as a single in 2005, it returned to the spotlight when singer-songwriter Sakura Fujiwara’s 2017 cover was used as the theme song for the film March Comes in Like a Lion, Part 2.

The lyrics, which seem to depict the preciousness of enduring hardships and tough times to finally bask in the warm light of spring, are deeply moving.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to while taking in the beautiful scenery on a drive, breathing in the pale, clear air of spring.

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hiyori

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Ghost of SpringNEW!Chevon

Ghost of Spring

This rock tune sketches a vaguely ominous, bittersweet afterimage of a season where meetings and partings intersect.

It’s a track by Chevon, a three-piece band drawing attention for their literary lyrics and shape-shifting ensemble work, released digitally in March 2026.

Included on their major-label debut album “Sansha Yagi,” set for release in April of the same year, this song marks the fifth installment of their annual spring theme.

Created during a retreat in their hometown of Sapporo, it compellingly captures the band’s dense energy and intuitive dialogue in raw sonic form.

It gently stays close to the memories and sense of loss that dwell in the word “spring.”