BGM for summer drives: A roundup of songs that feel like summer [2026]

COCONUTNiziU

NiziU(니쥬) 2nd Album「COCONUT」M/V

Perfect for the season when the summer sun is dazzling, this is a summery track from NiziU’s album “COCONUT.” Just listening to it lifts your spirits, evoking a refreshing scene of blue skies and the sea.

Its vibrant sound makes summer memories with friends shine, and the nine members’ vocals convey the openness and positive energy of summer.

The album “COCONUT,” which includes this song, was released in July 2023 and debuted at No.

1 on the Oricon Albums Chart with 142,000 copies sold in its first week.

The album also features the movie theme song “Paradise” and the drama theme song “LOOK AT ME.” It’s a perfect pick to elevate karaoke, road trips, and all your summer outings—highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy the season.

Ms. Hanako on a high pedestalback number

back number – Takane no Hanako-san (full)

This signature number from back number is guaranteed to get everyone hyped during summer drives and karaoke—surely a staple summer song that resonates with many.

The track stands out for expressing the bittersweet feelings of an unrequited crush—yearning for someone who won’t look your way—set to a refreshing, fast-paced sound.

While the lyrics portray the woman he admires as someone out of reach, the charm lies in the protagonist’s comical side, drifting into fanciful daydreams and then snapping back to reality.

It captures the perfect interplay between the liberating feel of summer and the frustration of a distance that just won’t close.

Released as a single in June 2013, it was later included on the album “Love Story.” In 2019, it drew fresh attention when vocalist Iyori Shimizu performed a stripped-down version for Kirin Brewery’s Tanrei Green Label TV commercial.

If you want to relive the sweet-and-sour pangs of a one-sided crush, or you’re on your way to a summer event, this song will instantly lift your spirits.

And if you sing it with friends at karaoke, you’re guaranteed to get the whole room going in shared excitement!

Marigoldaimyon

Aimyon – Marigold [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

This is a song whose bittersweet yet warm melody resonates in the heart, like a summer twilight.

Aimyon sings about everyday moments with a loved one and the enduring sparkle of unfading memories.

The lyrics carry the joy and anxiety of love, along with a pure wish to stay connected.

Released in August 2018 as Aimyon’s fifth single, the song became known in 2019 for being the first by a domestic artist to surpass 100 million streams in Japan.

As a nationally beloved track, it’s sure to liven up summer drives and karaoke sessions!

Mahoro in SummerHarukamirai

Harukamirai – Summer Mahoro (Official Music Video)

This is a heart-thumping track by Harukamirai that vividly captures the blazing summer sun and the days of youth gone by.

The song leaves a strong impression with its protagonist looking back, amid the encroaching heat, on the self who once acted tough and the past when they couldn’t be a little more honest.

Alongside motifs like sunflowers and white baseballs, the nostalgia for those burning days and the resolve to step into the future ride on an energetic rock sound that’s sure to move listeners.

The track is included on the album “THE BAND STAR,” released in July 2020, and was also selected as a J-pop recommendation on MUSIC ON! TV that same month.

It’s perfect for summer drives or outings with friends, and if you want to rekindle that fiery feeling from back then, be sure to give it a listen!

Blue JeanGLAY

GLAY / Blue Jean

Just hearing the sparkling intro conjures up a boundless blue sky and sea, doesn’t it? Released in August 2004, this GLAY number is a summer masterpiece that blends exhilaration with bittersweet longing—perfect for celebrating the band’s 10th debut anniversary.

In the world of its lyrics, one can sense the sweet-and-sour memories of a past love and the faint budding of new feelings sparked by an unexpected reunion.

Widely known as the theme for Esthetic TBC’s commercial, the song debuted at No.

1 on the Oricon weekly chart, marking the band’s remarkable 18th chart-topping single.

It’s a track that will keep you company not only on summer drives, but also when you want to sink into a touch of nostalgia while watching a beautiful sunset.

Summer memories scented by the windAAA

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

A song whose bittersweet yet beautiful melody seeps into the heart, like recalling an old love in a fleeting moment on a summer evening.

Don’t the memories AAA sings of—days of summer now gone and a fragile romance—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 following year’s best-of collection “AAA 10th ANNIVERSARY BEST.” It was used in Ito-Yokado’s yukata commercial, coloring the memories of many alongside the sights and sounds of summer.

For those who want to soak in a sentimental mood at summer’s end, this song will gently stay by your side, bringing you close to those sweet-and-sour memories of days gone by.

astronomical observationBUMP OF CHICKEN

BUMP OF CHICKEN “Stargazing”

It’s a memorable masterpiece with a melody that makes you want to hum as you look up at the night sky.

In this work woven by BUMP OF CHICKEN, the protagonist gazes at the stars while reflecting on their future, the anxieties they carry, and a faint glimmer of hope.

Even as they struggle with questions that have no answers, their determination to move forward is something that deeply resonates with listeners.

Released in March 2001 as their third single, it drew major attention as an insert song for the drama “Tentai Kansoku” that same year.

It’s also included on the album “jupiter.” When you’re lost or need a gentle push, listening under the starry sky will surely give you the courage to take a new step.