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A wonderful, moving song

Winter Songs: Classic tracks you want to listen to in winter. Songs you long for during the winter.

When you think of “songs you want to listen to in winter,” what comes to mind?

In the J-POP scene, countless winter songs are released every year, and there are so many popular hits as well as hidden gems!

Of course there are tracks that depict snow and Christmas, but even songs without explicit seasonal words—those whose sound evokes the atmosphere of winter—are captivating.

I’m sure you also have a special winter song of your own.

In this article, we introduce timeless tunes that will stir up fond memories or make you want to listen as they match the winter scenery.

From love songs to pieces that sing of beautiful winter landscapes, we hope you’ll find a track that resonates with your heart.

[Winter Songs] Masterpieces to listen to in winter. Songs you long for in winter (61–70)

White BeachHY

HY – White Beach (Official Music Video)
White BeachHY

Released as a single in 2006 by HY, a mixture band from Okinawa, this work is one of their signature songs from their early days.

From the opening lines, the parched wind, hints of winter, and scenes of white beaches weave a unique atmosphere that delicately captures the shifting seasons particular to the subtropics.

The refreshing guitar sound, warm vocals, and nostalgic melody resonate pleasantly, giving it a curious charm that makes you want to listen during the colder months.

Performed since the era of their early album Departure, it has remained a staple at their live shows.

Whether you’re spending a winter night reminiscing about a distant summer or feeling a sudden pang of wistfulness at the turn of the seasons, the song’s gentle warmth will be there to keep you company.

Winter SongSHISHAMO

This song, performed by three girls who were still in high school and included on their self-produced album “Graduation Project,” captivates with a fragility that feels like the crisp clarity of winter air turned into sound.

Its protagonist is a girl with a one-sided crush, and the lyrics intertwine her feelings for someone out of reach with the season’s chill, evoking bittersweet memories many of us share.

Clean guitar arpeggios and the surging dynamics in the chorus create a deeply affecting finish.

The track was included on an album released in January 2013 and was later re-released alongside their major-label debut album “SHISHAMO.” Although it had no tie-in, it has steadily become a seasonal staple.

On a winter night, when you want to quietly reflect on your feelings of love alone, this song is sure to keep you company.

Around the time winter endsberii guddoman

Berry Good Man / Around When Winter Ends (Official Full Version)
Around the time winter endsberii guddoman

A single ray of light offered in a frigid season, this song wraps gratitude born from farewell in a beautiful harmony.

It’s a track from the 2014 album “SING SING SING 2.” Standing on the seasonal boundary where snow turns to rain, it gently accepts a relationship that can never return, while expressing kindness in praying for the other person’s happiness “just as they are.” In 2015, it was chosen as an ending theme for TBS’s “Hiruobi!” and Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting’s “Dooo” among others, etching itself deeply into viewers’ winter memories across regions.

Though originally an indie-era song, it was included in a remastered version on a best-of album in 2018, and remains a staple that unites audiences at winter live shows.

For those trying to move forward while carrying a sense of loss, or when you need gentle words on a solitary night, let this one song by Benri Goodman be your companion.

snowNakanomori BAND

[MV] Nakanomori BAND / Snow (full ver.)
snowNakanomori BAND

A winter classic written and composed by Masatoshi Mashima, beautifully performed by Nakanomori BAND.

Against a backdrop of white, piling snow, a bittersweet story unfolds in which distant memories and warmth quietly return.

It opens with images of snow drifting down onto everyday scenes like the morning assembly platform and cherry tree branches, and features striking lyrics where the scent and echoes of someone nostalgic fall into the heart like tiny particles.

Released in October 2007 as the double A-side single “Isoburavo/Yuki,” it was also selected for power play on Nippon TV’s “Ongaku Senshi MUSIC FIGHTER.” It’s a song that gently stays with you on a winter night when you find yourself wanting to drift into old memories.

Snow, fall and scatter toward you.Wagakki Band

Wagakki Band / Snow, Fall and Scatter Toward You
Snow, fall and scatter toward you.Wagakki Band

This is Wagakki Band’s enchanting winter ballad, where shamisen and koto weave their tones together with Yuko Suzuhana’s vocals interlaced with shigin (poetic recitation).

Included on the album “Shikisai,” released in March 2017, it was also chosen as the theme song for the stage play “Laughing in Purgatory,” performed that summer.

Set against a landscape of falling, accumulating snow, it portrays a heartrending tale of feelings that cannot reach the one who matters most.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for a dark, beautiful rock ballad that seeps into the depths of your heart on a cold night.

Winter MorningRyokushokushakai

“Winter Morning / Ryokuoushoku Shakai” covered by Sakuya Saori [Acoustic Performance]
Winter MorningRyokushokushakai

A classic ballad that sets a heart swaying between bravado and true feelings against a winter backdrop.

This track, placed at the end of Ryokuoushoku Shakai’s 2020 album “SINGALONG,” was written by vocalist Haruko Nagaya during her university days, with moving to Tokyo in mind.

Its lyrics—where the small lies we tell to hide our loneliness intersect with the resolve to keep moving forward—are tenderly supported by delicate piano and string arrangements.

It’s a song that gently stays by the side of those who’ve started living on their own or are striving in a new environment.

A winter tune perfect for a quiet night when you want to face yourself.

My Gift to YouCHEMISTRY

CHEMISTRY “My Gift to You” Official Video
My Gift to YouCHEMISTRY

A winter ballad by CHEMISTRY that paints gentle feelings piling up like snow.

Released in 2002, this song wraps you in the warm harmonies woven by the two singers, letting a tender love for someone special fill your heart.

It’s a soothing soundscape full of warmth—like holding tight the hand of a loved one trembling in the cold wind.

It feels like a gift to someone you love, so try listening with your partner or while thinking of the person you care about.