[2026] Recommended Japanese Songs for Driving: Popular J-POP for People in Their 20s
Whether you’re driving with friends, on a romantic trip for two, with family, or even solo, going for a drive is always a lot of fun, isn’t it?
Some of you in your twenties may have just gotten your long-awaited driver’s license and are now picking out BGM for your first drive—whether you’re a student or already working.
In this article, we introduce popular Japanese songs—J-POP—that are especially recommended for drives, with a focus on listeners in their twenties.
Centered on recent and current hits across various genres, this lineup will hype up your drive and add a stylish touch.
Feel free to use it as a reference!
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- BGM for summer drives: A roundup of songs that feel like summer [2026]
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- [2026] Recommended Japanese songs for a spring drive: A roundup of perfect tracks for outings
[2026] Recommended Japanese Songs for Driving: Popular J-POP for People in Their 20s (61–70)
The grass is greener next door.Penthouse
This is a song by Penthouse, written as the theme for ABEMA’s romance reality show “The Grass Is Greener Next Door -Chapter TOKYO-.” Released digitally in November 2025 as their fourth digital single of the year, the track’s appeal lies in its palpable tension that mirrors the show’s drama of conflict and choice.
It portrays the wavering psyche in love between reason and emotion through a tight beat and the intensity of twin vocals.
A perfect fit for a thrilling, fast-unfolding love story!
ioliteEVE
A song by Eve, written as the opening theme for the TV anime Pokémon and set for digital release in October 2025.
Its title is the name of a mineral that means “a stone that shows the way,” and it was created from Eve’s desire—having been familiar with Pokémon since childhood—to deliver music that accompanies the protagonists on their journey.
It portrays the courage to step into questions without clear answers and the sense of solidarity with friends, overflowing with a warmth like a light that illuminates the first step into the unknown.
The soundscape opens up all at once in the chorus, as if the sky were clearing.
It’s a track we hope will be heard by anyone trying to take on something new.
I want to forget.Mitsume
If you’re into city pop, this is a must! It’s a track by Mitsume, a four-piece band from Tokyo, released digitally in April 2023 and included on the Drive EP that came out in May.
The effortless feel of the song is so pleasant it makes you want to close your eyes and just listen.
The lyrics are only three lines long, yet what lingers after it ends is a sense of satisfaction and euphoria.
It’s the perfect soundtrack for a walk—or, of course, a drive.
Add it to your playlist!
MonsterDa-iCE
An aggressive track by Da-iCE where their heavy sound and explosive vocals take center stage.
Released in October 2025 as the opening theme for the TV anime “Monster Strike: Deadverse Reloaded,” this self-produced song features lyrics and composition contributions from members Tetsuya Iwaoka and Hayate Wada.
Its dynamic arrangement fuses a pop melody with hip-hop and electronic beats, perfectly matching the anime’s worldview.
The lyrics, themed around inner ambition and impulse, are sure to resonate with anyone striving to break through their limits.
Be sure to check out this energetic dance number.
SWISH DATPSYCHIC FEVER
This track, released digitally by PSYCHIC FEVER in October 2025, showcases the group’s continued growth as a dance and vocal act competing on the world stage.
It was selected as the opening theme for Kamen no Ninja Akakage, a tokusatsu drama produced by TV Asahi and Toei.
While grounded in hip-hop and R&B, the song skillfully weaves in nuances of traditional Japanese instruments.
Its heavy, bass-driven beat interlaces each member’s rap and vocals, exuding a cool, stylish vibe reminiscent of ninjas racing under the moonlight.
Highly recommended for fans of urban music.
Reaching for Your LightIwatatakanori
Takanori Iwata, who has been active as a performer in Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS and EXILE and has won numerous awards as an actor, released “Reaching for Your Light” via streaming in October 2025.
The song was written as the opening theme for TV Tokyo’s Drama NEXT series “My Oshi Became My Boss: Full Throttle.” This work portrays a bittersweet longing for someone out of reach as a single ray of light piercing the darkness.
Its driving melody and straightforward, love-song lyrics resonate deeply.
It’s a number that will encourage anyone troubled by an unattainable love or holding on to earnest feelings.
Disco BabyTravis Japan
This is a Travis Japan track that channels 1970s disco culture into contemporary J-pop.
It’s a dance number that feels like it turns the exhilaration of moving under a glittering mirror ball directly into sound.
The lyrics depict the liberating moment of shedding your shyness and stepping onto the floor, conveying an almost overwhelming urge to live this moment to the fullest.
It’s the perfect party tune for getting hyped with friends.