[Spring Love Songs] Recommended Classics and Popular Love Songs to Listen to During Cherry Blossom Season

Sakura, flutterSazan Ōrusutāzu

Southern All Stars – Sakura, Hirari [Official Visualizer]

Southern All Stars’ new song is themed around cherry blossoms, a symbol of spring’s arrival.

Set to a breezy sound that evokes the gentle spring wind, it layers hope onto the fragile yet beautiful sakura blossoms.

Released as a digital-only lead single from the album “THANK YOU SO MUCH” on January 1, 2025, the track was announced on the first anniversary of the Noto Peninsula earthquake, a timing believed to reflect sentiments for the disaster-affected areas.

With a finish that conveys the seasonality of spring and the sensibility of Japan, it’s recommended for anyone who wants to feel the arrival of a new season.

cherry blossom night breezeSukima Suichi

Sakura Yokaze

A Skima Switch song filled with a tender yet bittersweet love, wrapped in the spring night breeze.

As cherry blossoms dance on a spring evening, the protagonist stands alone, their heart stirred by memories of days gone by and the anticipation of a new departure.

Along with the gently flowing melody, the quiet of the night softly portrays the subtle trembling of the heart.

With Masayoshi Yamazaki’s acoustic guitar and backing vocals, the piece gains even greater depth and richness.

Included on the September 2006 album “Fukumimi THE BEST WORKS,” this track is recommended for anyone who wants to connect with the feeling of quietly awaiting spring’s arrival while walking alone beneath rows of cherry trees.

cherry blossoms at nightFōeito 48

【MV】Yozakura – For-Eight 48 (Official Music Video)

This song by For-8 48 captivates with a fantastical world where archaic language intertwines with a modern rhythm.

Its uniquely Japanese-tinged melody line and the poetic imagery of a feast unfolding beneath the night cherry blossoms resonate deeply with listeners.

Centered on a theme of fleeting beauty, the piece delicately portrays encounters and partings, as well as the anticipation of reunion.

Released in March 2024, it is included on the album “We Are Team 48.” Why not give it a listen while gazing at the cherry blossoms on a spring night?

dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo

Hitoto Yo – Hanamizuki

A beloved masterpiece by Yo Hitoto that gently sings a prayer for loved ones and a wish for peace.

Released in February 2004, it has soothed many hearts with her unique sensibility as a Japanese-Taiwanese artist and her clear, transparent voice.

Using the flower—an emblem of Japan–U.S.

friendship—as its motif, the song expresses bonds with precious people and hopes for a happy future.

It was featured as the theme song for NTV’s Tuesday Suspense Theater and in JRA commercials, and set a record by staying on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart for 125 consecutive weeks.

Whether in moments of aching love or parting, or at life’s milestones such as weddings and graduations, it remains a song that shines without fading.

navel orangeNogizaka 46

Nogizaka46 'Navel Orange'

A gem of a song infused with a sweet-and-sour freshness and a touch of wistfulness that symbolize the spring season.

With double centers Nagi Inoue and Aruno Nakanishi of Nogizaka46’s 5th generation, it expresses feelings for a lost youth as they look back on past love.

Under the blue sky, the protagonist’s memories of a nostalgic romance vividly come back through the piece of fruit they hold.

Set for release on March 26, 2025, the single will be available in six formats: First-Press Limited Edition TYPE-A through TYPE-D, a Regular Edition, and a Special Edition.

The melody and arrangement carry a sense of nostalgia, with beautiful, Showa-era-style phrasing and a memorable refrain.

It’s a perfect song for anyone experiencing new encounters or farewells with the arrival of spring, or for those who want to bask in bittersweet memories.

Beautiful SpringKayama Yūzō

Beautiful Spring

A fresh, vivid song that conjures up scenes of sweet, gentle romance.

Depicting a love that sprouted with the arrival of spring, this piece is warmed by Yuzo Kayama’s soft vocals.

Released in April 1968, it was included on the album “Kimi no Tame ni” alongside tracks such as “Kimi to Itsumademo.” Beloved by many as a song that symbolizes the refreshing youth culture of its time, it’s a gem you’ll want to listen to when spring comes around.

It’s a work I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who wants to feel the changing seasons and the beginning of love.

Spring sceneryMinamino Yoko

Harugeishiki by Yoko Minamino

This gem of a love song by Yoko Minamino portrays the bittersweet feelings of a young woman entering university and her boyfriend who has become a ronin student after failing his entrance exams, set in the spring of graduation.

Initially included on the April 1986 album “Gelato” and later featured as the B-side of “Kanashimi Monument” in July of the same year, the song delicately captures the subtleties of youth against the backdrop of Kobe.

Amid warm sunlight and fluttering cherry blossoms, the couple’s confusion about their changing circumstances resonates with a nostalgic melody.

Celebrated as a classic idol song, it continues to be loved as a piece that stays close to the heart at life’s milestones—love, parting, and setting out on new journeys.