Recommended classic songs for winter drives. Japanese songs that are also great for drive dates.
A must-see for anyone looking for winter drive songs or background music for a drive date!
Driving down roads lined with beautiful illuminations has a special charm unique to winter, doesn’t it?
In this article, we’ll introduce songs that are perfect for winter drives.
Along with energetic, fast-paced tracks and exciting tunes that suit driving, we’ve also picked out romantic songs that feel just right for the season.
We hope this list helps you find the perfect tracks to match your mood and situation in the moment.
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Classic songs recommended for winter drives. Japanese tracks also great for drive dates (51–60)
White Marchsumika
Sumika’s “White March” was featured in the JR SKISKI 2018–19 commercial and is a great winter song for driving.
Sumika is a four-member rock band that debuted in 2013, and vocalist Kenta Kataoka’s mellow voice is a perfect match for winter drives.
“White March” has a simple, satisfying rhythm and even a fiery guitar solo in the middle, so if you play it on a drive, you’ll find your spirits naturally lifting! It’s especially recommended when you’re driving to winter sports.
powder snowRemioromen
For those who love car karaoke, I highly recommend Remioromen’s “Konayuki.” Above all, that shouted chorus is guaranteed to make anyone feel refreshed when they sing it.
It’s the perfect driving song for when you don’t quite feel like going to a karaoke place but want to belt something out on your own.
Of course, it’s also great to pile in with friends and sing it at the top of your lungs together! Even if you’re not on a snowy road, once you sing or listen to it, the view ahead suddenly turns into a snowy landscape—it’s that kind of song.
Even on days without the clear, summery skies, it’ll leave you feeling invigorated!
Snow BlossomNakajima Mika
For many people, when you think of Mika Nakashima, you think of this song.
One of her signature tracks, Snow Flower, was released in 2003 as her 10th single, and it’s an essential winter song.
In 2019, a film with the same title inspired by the song was also released.
Whether you feel snow is cold, beautiful, or fragile depends on your mood at the time.
This song evokes the beauty of snow—perfect for a drive with powdery flakes dancing in the air.
Flavor Of LifeUtada Hikaru
A winter classic by Hikaru Utada, this track was recorded in a single take with no edits or retakes.
Despite the risk, the high quality is astonishing.
While the powerful vocals and grand orchestration tend to steal the spotlight, the surprisingly everyday, down-to-earth lyrics are also very appealing.
It’s a song you’ll want to savor by really listening to the words, and it would be perfect for a winter drive.
Classic songs recommended for winter drives. Japanese tracks also great for drive dates (61–70)
Strong feelings, strong loveOzawa Kenji
Kenji Ozawa is a singer-songwriter from Kanagawa who also made his mark as a member of Flipper’s Guitar.
Among his many songs, the one that really boosts your driving mood is “Tsuyoi Kimochi, Tsuyoi Ai” (“Strong Feelings, Strong Love”).
Its glamorous melody, opening with strings and chorus, leaves a vivid impression.
Riding on a brisk, upbeat rhythm, his freewheeling vocals unfold to full effect.
With a danceable beat that fits any driving scene from morning to night, it’s irresistible music that makes your body and heart sway—a dance classic loved across generations.
Winter is starting.Makihara Noriyuki
If you love ’90s J-pop—or that era defines you—this is definitely a song you can’t leave out, right? Noriyuki Makihara’s fourth single, “Fuyu ga Hajimaru yo,” released in 1991.
It was also used as the theme for Sapporo Beer’s “Fuyu Monogatari” commercials in 1991 and again in 2008, so many people probably have a strong association with that.
With lyrics full of those finely drawn, emotionally resonant details that are so quintessentially Makihara—poppy yet deeply moving—it’s a winter staple that you’ll want to listen to when the season comes around.
It’s also a track that’s sure to lift your mood on a drive.
CAROLSHamasaki Ayumi
Many people look for high-energy tracks for driving, but how about occasionally accompanying your ride with a gentle winter song? Ayumi Hamasaki’s “CAROLS” is her 34th single, released in 2004.
It’s a love song whose lyrics can be heard from either a woman’s or a man’s perspective, allowing anyone to relate to the feelings for someone special—perfect for enhancing the mood on a drive date.
It’s also a number you’ll want to belt out in the car or sing at karaoke.