A poignant winter classic. A winter song that seeps into the heart on cold days.
Do you ever have those moments when, as it gets colder, you suddenly feel lonely for no clear reason?
You might find yourself craving someone’s warmth or wanting to see your partner more than usual—perhaps you’ve felt that too.
In this article, we’re introducing bittersweet songs that feel especially dear in winter scenes.
Why not listen to some poignant winter tunes that make you think of someone special or a partner you can’t meet?
We’ve picked out deeply relatable, heartrending songs—from new releases to timeless classics.
Be sure to listen with your winter days.
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A poignant winter classic. Winter songs that resonate with the heart in the cold season (11–20)
ebb and flowNEW!RAY
A ballad that evokes the stillness of the ocean floor and emotions that ebb and flow like the waves.
Ray’s crystal-clear vocals resonate as if delicately tracing inexpressible heartache and confusion.
Released as a single in February 2014, it was used as the latter opening theme for the anime Nagi no Asukara.
The lyrics, which mirror the complex human relationships depicted in the latter half of the story against a winter backdrop, tighten your chest while also carrying a gentle warmth, giving the song a mysterious allure.
Its beauty stands out even more when listened to in the cold winter air.
It’s a track that quietly stays by your side when you want to spend a quiet night lost in thought or face the emotions deep within your heart.
December Foolthe shes gone
When it comes to poignant winter songs depicting a farewell with a loved one, “December Fool” comes to mind.
The shes gone, a rock band popular especially among younger listeners, included it on their 2020 album “FACE.” Set on a cold winter day, the heart-wrenching love story strikes a chord.
The lyrics, portraying a relationship that can never go back to the way it was, are sure to move you.
Carried by a slow tempo, it’s a ballad featuring Kanemaru’s sweet, gentle vocals.
Give it a listen when you’re going through a breakup—the sound wraps around those helpless feelings.
silentNEW!SEKAI NO OWARI
A winter classic by SEKAI NO OWARI that evokes snow piling up on a quiet night.
Written specifically as the theme song for the 2020 TBS drama “Kono Koi Atatamemasu ka,” the track features Christmas-like sleigh bells as an accent, and lyrics that capture a silence like sound has vanished and an unspoken, aching longing that truly resonates.
Surprisingly, that vivid wintry atmosphere was created by the members in the middle of summer, chilling the room to an extreme with air conditioning.
Later included on the album “scent of memory,” it can be considered one of their new standard numbers.
It’s also frequently featured on TikTok as a song people want to hear in winter—perfect for pairing with videos of illuminated cityscapes and snowy scenes.
Be sure to use it as heartwarming BGM for your posts.
IMrs. GREEN APPLE
In the cold of winter, songs by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE permeate the heart.
A gem of a ballad released in January 2016 as part of the album TWELVE.
It sings of affirmation in love, lighting a beacon of hope in the listener’s heart.
It celebrates the courage to face hardship and the importance of growing together with others.
The lyrics, imbued with the strength to overcome setbacks and stay true to oneself, are bittersweet yet warm the heart that feels on the verge of succumbing to winter’s chill.
It’s lovely to listen alone, and wonderful to share with someone special.
Be sure to give this track a listen—it will give you the strength to make it through the cold season.
white snowKuraki Mai
A winter ballad whose delicate imagery—like the whiteness of visible breath and a warm light glowing in the cold—touches the heart.
It’s the 25th single by singer-songwriter Mai Kuraki, who has produced numerous classics, released in December 2006.
Chosen as an ending theme for the TV anime Detective Conan, the piece uses music-box and string tones to beautifully evoke the hush of falling, piling snow.
It is included on the album ONE LIFE as well as on best-of compilations, and has long been cherished by fans as a winter staple.
The lyrics poignantly overlay lingering feelings and the pain of lost love with white, icy snow.
It’s a song you’ll want to savor on a night of gently falling snow, in a quiet room.
Mai Kuraki’s clear, translucent voice makes this a masterpiece that gently washes the heart.
Before it turns whiteNEW!Ryuya Miyase
Set to a light, jazzy pop sound, this winter song celebrates the arrival of the season and budding romance.
Actor Ryubi Miyase wrote the lyrics under the name “Ryubi Miyase,” infusing them with a desire to vividly capture both the cityscape before it turns completely white with snow and the moments spent with a loved one.
The track was newly written as the opening theme for Miyase’s first leading drama, “First Love of the Snowdrop,” which began airing in October 2024.
It was released for streaming to coincide with the broadcast and was packaged as a long-awaited first single in December 2024.
With stylish chord progressions and a sweet, soothing vocal, it’s perfect for nights when you want to sink into a romantic mood.
It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to enjoy a winter romance while reflecting on the drama’s storyline.
A poignant winter classic. Winter songs that touch the heart in the cold season (21–30)
snowInoue Sonoko
Sonoko Inoue is a singer-songwriter who delicately weaves the shifting emotions of the teenage years.
This work, where her voice soaks into the heart, is included on her memorable first album “Hello,” released in March 2016.
Created at the milestone of her high school graduation, this ballad that closes the album is characterized by a simple, piano-centered production.
The breaths that echo in the quiet and the way she seems to savor the words she couldn’t say tighten the listener’s chest.
Its world, where winter’s chill overlaps with the ache of love, is truly a song meant to be “listened to.” Precisely because the arrangement strips away flashy ornamentation and makes use of space, the heartrending emotions are conveyed directly.
On a quiet night as snow falls softly, take your time and listen alone.