[Station Jingles] A compilation of approach melodies and departure melodies from around Japan
Music you casually hear at the station you usually use.
If you listen closely, sometimes it’s recent J-pop, and other times it’s nostalgic children’s songs—you’ve noticed that, right?
In this article, we’ve put together station melodies from all over Japan.
You might even stumble upon a tune that makes you think, “Why this song?”
But if you look into it, you’ll find there’s a proper reason that particular piece was chosen.
Including that sense of story, please listen and enjoy!
Welcome to the deep, deep world of railway sound enthusiasts!
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[Station Melodies] Nationwide Compilation of Approaching and Departure Melodies (11–20)
Leaves of Words, Green LeavesWake Up Girls!
This song has been used as the departure melody at Sendai Airport Station since 2016.
It was adopted as part of a collaboration project with the anime “Wake Up, Girls,” which is set in Miyagi Prefecture.
The song is used as the ending theme of the film.
Since Sendai Airport operates international flights to Taiwan, the initiative aims to promote Miyagi Prefecture in Taiwan.
Special collaboration headmarks were attached to the trains, and commemorative tickets were also released.
Events like this make riding the train even more enjoyable.
Clackety-clack Kotodenkururi
At Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture—affectionately known as Kotoden—the following song has been used as the departure melody at Kawaramachi Station since 2018.
The song “Kotokoto Kotoden” was created by Quruli.
It is said to have come about at the request of a Kotoden employee who was a fan of the band.
Shigeru Kishida, a member of Quruli and a railway enthusiast, has also produced an image song for Keikyu Corporation.
A ceremony was held to mark the song’s release, and a special train was reportedly operated with onboard announcements made by Kishida himself.
All humans are brothers — Night is ComingKobayashi Asei
Speaking of Shimamoto Station, it’s the station located in Shimamoto Town, home to Suntory’s whisky distillery.
Which is why this particular tune plays there.
I think everyone knows the melody, but the actual title is “All Humans Are Brothers ~ Night Falls.” It was composed by Asei Kobayashi.
Playing this at the station—very stylish of JR West, isn’t it? Since the station gets skipped by the Special Rapid Service, if you want to hear it, try taking a local train.
Local theme songs like this really help lift your spirits when you travel.
You are in full color.Ohtaki Eiichi
This is the seventh single by singer-songwriter Eiichi Ohtaki, who debuted as the vocalist of the legendary rock band Happy End, a group that etched its name into J-pop history, and who continued to produce numerous hits after the band’s breakup.
Though released in 1981, the song has frequently been used in recent years for commercials and as a theme on information programs, and it remains beloved as high-quality city pop that still sounds fresh today.
Since 2020, it has been used as the departure melody at JR Tohoku Shinkansen Mizusawa-Esashi Station in Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture, Ohtaki’s hometown, with different arrangements played on Platforms 1 and 2.
Mary’s Lambdōyō
Here is the tune used as the approach melody to signal that a train is approaching the platform at Uozumi Station, Himeji Station, and Kakogawa Station.
By the way, at Kakogawa Station, in addition to “Sazanami,” which is mainly used on the JR Kobe Line, “Mary Had a Little Lamb” plays at locations where the platform is narrower (Platforms 1, 3, and 5), and “Camptown Races” plays at Platforms 2, 4, and 6.
Using familiar tunes like these is effective both for drawing extra attention and for indicating which track a train will arrive on.
That said, if you hear this approach melody, you might find the tune stuck in your head all day.
Go, Carp!
This song is the team anthem of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in professional baseball.
It’s used as the arrival melody at JR Yuu Station, where the team’s farm training facility is located.
Because many Carp fans visit this station, they’re promoting it as part of the “Carp Town Project” by customizing the arrival melody and decorating the station building with Carp merchandise and game schedules.
For fans, the excitement starts the moment they arrive at the station.
A rail trip to hunt for local station melodies sounds fun, too.
In conclusion
Since there are rail lines all over Japan, there are just as many station melodies.
So to be honest, I haven’t been able to introduce nearly all of them! Some of you may have thought, “The one I know wasn’t included.” If that’s the case, please send me a message through the contact form.
I’ll also be updating this article from time to time, so check back whenever you’re curious!