[J-Pop] A Collection of Hit Songs Perfect for Listening While Walking
Many people probably feel that “music is essential for walking!” When choosing music for walking, aiming for around 120 BPM is said to provide an ideal sense of tempo.
In this article, we’ve gathered Japanese songs that are perfect for walking—tracks with a comfortable walking tempo and tunes with uplifting, positive lyrics that can boost your mood.
If you usually walk in silence, why not take this opportunity to try walking while listening to music? You might just rediscover the joy of walking!
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[J-Pop] A Collection of Hit Songs to Listen to While Walking (11–20)
BLUE BIRDHamasaki Ayumi
This is a song cherished as one of Ayumi Hamasaki’s summer anthems, evoking a refreshing summer breeze.
It carries a positive message about overcoming hardship and sorrow and moving toward the future together with a loved one, with its theme expressed through motifs of blue skies and wings that symbolize freedom and hope.
Released in June 2006 as her 40th single, it was used in a Zespri Gold Kiwi commercial and debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, setting a new record for the most No.
1s by a female artist.
It’s a feel-good track that will lift your spirits and make your walk brighter and more upbeat when you listen to it on the go.
Fortune Cookie in LoveAKB48
The 32nd single by AKB48, the idol group that became an iconic presence among idols since the 2000s.
It has been used in TV dramas, commercials, and events, and its catchy dance became popular with people of all ages, even turning into a social phenomenon.
The disco sound with a BPM of 122—perfect for walking—feels comfortable, soothing your tired body while giving your steps a light bounce.
The lyrics, which feel like they’re cheering you on, are empowering too—an ideal track to listen to while walking.
Don’t give upZARD
This is the sixth single by ZARD, a central presence among the Being label artists who dominated the J-POP scene in the 1990s.
The song was used as the theme for the TV drama “Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu!” and is still famous today as a go-to number that invariably plays in scenes of struggle, such as marathon broadcasts.
With encouraging lyrics, a snare-on-the-downbeat drum groove in the intro and chorus, and a slightly brisk BPM, it’s perfect for anyone who wants to power through a walk.
It’s a powerful track that makes it feel like voices are cheering you on as you walk and listen.
HeroAmuro Namie
The song by Namie Amuro, created as a cheer anthem for athletes challenging the Olympics, carries a hopeful message that everyone has their own hero and can one day become someone else’s hero.
Released in July 2016, the track was selected as NHK’s theme song for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic broadcasts, and it adorned a moving performance at the 68th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2017, achieving a peak viewer rating of 48.4%.
Choosing this piece as your walking companion will energize you for a brand-new day.
Full-Power BoySukima Suichi
An energetic song by Sukima Switch that awakens youthful passion and a pure heart.
It reminds us—through a refreshing melody—of the importance of the “give-it-your-all” attitude that we tend to forget as adults.
Released in April 2004 as a tie-in for an NTT Docomo Kansai regional commercial, the track skillfully fuses elements of pop rock and jazz, reflecting the members’ roots.
With a tempo around 120 BPM, it’s perfect for strolls and walks.
Recommended when you want a boost in motivation or when you’re feeling worn out by busy days.
Heralding springyama
Yama is a musician who chooses not to disclose personal details such as age, hometown, or face, citing reasons like “a lack of self-confidence” and “not wanting my own identity to interfere with the work.” This song, completed entirely through online exchanges without a single in-person meeting with the Vocaloid producer Kujira, who wrote and composed it, has surpassed 200 million streams—truly a track that symbolizes today’s music scene.
With a tempo of BPM 120, perfect for walking, its thrilling melody and light, buoyant feel will put a spring in your step.
It’s a number that helps you forget your fatigue when you listen to it while walking.
[J-Pop] A Collection of Hit Songs to Listen to While Walking (21–30)
Walk the wastelandASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Known by the nickname Ajikan, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION is a four-piece rock band whose songs—with their strong, message-driven lyrics set to straightforward rock sounds—have garnered widespread popularity.
This is their 24th single.
Chosen as the theme song for the animated film “Night Is Short, Walk On Girl,” it’s a track whose uniquely Ajikan melody and exhilarating feel are irresistibly catchy.
While it’s a bit faster than the tempo typically recommended for walking, its driving beat will boost your energy more than usual.
It’s the perfect song to listen to when you want to push yourself just a little harder than on your everyday walk.