Classic winter ballads. Recommended winter ballad roundup [2026]
Winter tends to make us yearn for connection and feel sentimental, and combined with the beauty of winter scenery, ballads fit the season perfectly.
In fact, many popular winter songs are ballads, and this article rounds up just such beloved winter ballads.
We’ve gathered a wide range of tracks—from timeless standards and classics to winter songs by today’s popular artists.
Whether it’s Christmas, a quiet winter night alone, a day on the slopes, or a winter drive, find the perfect song to match your mood for any winter scene.
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Classic winter ballads. Recommended winter ballad roundup [2026] (41–50)
orionYonezu Kenshi
This song, which was used as the ending theme for the anime March Comes in Like a Lion, is a work by singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu—also known for songs like Lemon and Kanden—and was released in 2017 as his sixth single.
As the title suggests, one of its charms is a clear, transparent sound that evokes a winter night sky.
And the lyrics overflow with the feeling of “I want to see that person”… it really hits you in the heart.
It’s a masterpiece where deep emotion and bittersweet sorrow surge in at the same time.
Winter ballad masterpieces. Recommended winter ballads roundup [2026] (51–60)
First Christmas feat. JUNON (BE:FIRST)Reiko
A heartwarming duet that you’ll want to listen to as Christmas draws near.
It’s a collaboration between two powerhouse vocalists: REIKO from BMSG and JUNON from BE:FIRST.
The song was written and composed by singer-songwriter Shota Shimizu, and it’s filled with the giddy happiness of spending your first Christmas with someone you love.
The harmonies the two create sparkle like holiday illuminations.
Play it while spending time with someone special, and it’s sure to captivate anyone who listens.
White LoveiScream
iScream is a group formed from members selected through LDH JAPAN’s auditions, the company behind music groups like EXILE.
Among their songs, the one themed around snow is “White Love.” It portrays the romance of two people in love, with the beautiful flurry of powdery snow enhancing their winter love story.
The R&B-style rhythm and the group’s rich choral work convey the feelings one has for someone special.
It’s a winter love song filled with a message that is both heartrending and heartwarming.
Why not listen to this ballad, where a landscape of white snow unfolds before your eyes?
Snow SmileBUMP OF CHICKEN
It’s a poignant song about walking alone down the winter road once shared with a loved one, recalling those memories.
Created by the rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN, also known for songs like “Tentai Kansoku” and “Karma,” it was released in 2002 as their fourth single.
The guitar’s gentle arpeggio phrases are lovely, and the slow tempo lets you savor the story woven into the lyrics.
It’s a winter ballad that makes you dwell on the protagonist’s state of mind.
Winter SongDREAMS COME TRUE
When it comes to DREAMS COME TRUE’s winter songs, it has to be “WINTER SONG,” released in 1994.
It’s the English-lyric version of “Yuki no Christmas,” which came out in 1990, and it was used as the opening theme for the Japanese release of the film Sleepless in Seattle, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
It topped the Oricon singles chart and became a million seller.
It’s a classic that seems to drift in from somewhere every winter, with beautiful snowy imagery and a poignant longing for a lover who’s gone.
Winter BalladFIELD OF VIEW
Just from the title, this is a song you’ll want to listen to in winter: “Winter Ballad.” It’s sung by FIELD OF VIEW, a rock band formed in 1994 that sadly disbanded in 2002.
It was released in 1999 as their 14th single.
From the intro melody, you can picture a poignant scene with snow lightly falling.
The lyrics portray unfulfilled feelings for a woman he has a crush on—a tear-jerking ballad themed around a winter heartbreak.
Letting your thoughts drift to an unforgettable winter romance and sinking into a sentimental mood is one of the special things about winter.
Winter, againGLAY
Even without knowing the title, the delicate intro instantly tells you it’s a winter song—this is GLAY’s “Winter, again.” Released in 1999, it has remained a staple winter tune ever since.
GLAY hails from Hokkaido, and it’s said that the lyrics reflect vocalist TAKURO’s wish at the time to show his then-partner the harsh winter scenery of Hokkaido.
With an unbeatable melodic flow from the A verse to the B verse, and from the B verse into the chorus, it’s a passionately charged ballad with a resounding rock sound that never gets old no matter how many times you listen.