[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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[2026] Recommended Japanese Songs for Driving: Popular J‑Pop for People in Their 20s (1–10)
Sugar BombME:I
An enchanting track by ME:I, weaving poppy sweetness with electrifying sound.
The lyrics, brimming with sweet infatuation and a sense of adventure, are sure to resonate strongly with listeners in their twenties.
Released in April 2024, this song offers a contemporary J-pop sound that skillfully blends elements of electronica and R&B.
Put it on during a drive and you’ll feel a rush, as if stepping into a brand-new world.
Perfect for sweet moments with a lover or an exciting road trip with friends.
Packed with ME:I’s charm, this track is the perfect soundtrack for creating memories in the summer ahead.
to go see (someone) / to go meetaimyon
This song is striking for its gentle yet powerful melody and soul-stirring lyrics.
Showcasing Aimyon’s delicate sensibility, it serves as a bridge between past memories and one’s present self.
Released in May 2024, it was also chosen as the theme song for the Kansai TV/Fuji TV drama “Unmet: A Neurosurgeon’s Diary.” It’s a perfect track for nighttime drives, especially for drivers in their twenties.
While staying close to the feelings deep within, it gives you the courage to take a new step—an irresistibly captivating piece.
USOTSUKINEW!STARGLOW
From an audition emerged the dance and vocal group STARGLOW.
Their second single, “USOTSUKI,” released digitally in March 2026 and on CD in April, leaves a lasting impression with the contrast between its exhilarating beat and lyrics steeped in wistful regret.
It conveys the loss of a relationship and the wish to turn back time, resulting in a highly relatable track.
The song was chosen as the tie-in for the web commercial “The star is this ‘Shiratama Dewy Skin’” for Vaseline’s “Gluta Hya Body Lotion.”
[2026] Recommended Japanese Songs for Driving: Popular J-Pop for People in Their 20s (11–20)
ropewayNEW!Tele
Performed during the nationwide tour held from 2025 to 2026, it was released as a digital-only single in March 2026, right after the tour wrapped.
Its poppy tone and light, driving momentum feel delightful, offering a buoyant sense of floating between the everyday and the extraordinary.
The music video, directed by longtime collaborator GROPUN, is humorous and instantly approachable.
Give it a listen when you want to lighten your heart at the start of a new season.
MasterplanBE:FIRST
It’s a hopeful driving song packed with a captivating worldview and compelling vocals.
This work leaves a strong impression with its powerful drive to carve out one’s own future and its attitude of learning from the past and growing.
Released in April 2024, the track boasts BE:FIRST’s signature forward-looking energy and a tight sound infused with oriental elements.
Listen to it on a nighttime drive, and you may feel as if you’re weaving the story of your own life.
It’s a must-check for people in their 20s seeking stylish driving BGM.
Bling-Bang-Bang-BornCreepy Nuts
A perfect track for driving, combining a groovy feel with a powerful message that gives listeners a push forward.
This song by Creepy Nuts was used as the opening theme for Season 2 of the anime Mashle: Magic and Muscles, hinting at new possibilities for hip-hop.
Released in January 2024, it garnered major attention both in Japan and abroad, ranking 12th on the Billboard Global 200.
Boosted by its spread on social media, it has captured the hearts of many young people.
It’s a song that encourages those in their 20s to take a new step—an ideal companion for your next drive.
Dinner Songtuki.
A song born from youthful talent strikes a powerful chord with people in their twenties.
The words woven by tuki.
beautifully capture the complexity and fragility of love, seeping into the heart like the scenery flowing past a car window on a drive.
Released in September 2023, the track quickly dominated the charts, hitting No.
1 on Billboard JAPAN and Oricon and resonating with many listeners.
It’s a must-listen for those in their twenties who are struggling with love.
How about listening to it on a night drive, cruising down roads lit by city lights? It will surely become a special presence that stays close to your heart.