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.
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[Winter Songs] Masterpieces you want to listen to in winter. Songs you yearn for in winter (71–80)
Winter SongKiroro
Among the many famous songs they’ve released, this winter song is especially popular.
It’s one you’ll want to listen to while thinking of someone special.
It makes you reflect anew on just how important it is to have that special person by your side.
The repeated chorus sticks in your head.
It was their third single at the time, released in 1998.
It was used in commercials for Meiji Seika’s “Meltykiss” and “Porte” and featured in a winter campaign.
The lyrics and composition were by Chiharu Tamashiro.
It’s a perfect song for winter.
Ballad of the Rainbow and SnowTo wa e mo wa
The famous song by Towa Teu Moi, created for the 1972 Sapporo Olympics, is a winter anthem that carries hope across the northern land.
Lyricist Bunichiro Kawamura was given three conditions by NHK—“a song that would be sung for many years after the Games,” “a song that expressed the feelings of Sapporo’s citizens,” and “a song ordinary people could easily sing.” After about two weeks of deliberation, he completed the lyrics.
Through the contrasting motifs of snow and rainbows, the piece conveys both the strength of people living amid harsh nature and a wish for peace that connects nations around the world.
Released in August 1971, it was also performed at that year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It’s a perfect song to listen to when visiting Sapporo in winter or when you want to face forward without yielding to the cold.
The pavement in a cold wintry windtenchi mari
Released in December 1974, Mari Amachi’s 12th single is a winter ballad set on a street corner swept by a cold, wintry wind, expressing a poignant longing for a youth that has passed.
With lyrics by Michio Yamagami, music by Koichi Morita, and arrangement by Yusuke Hoguchi, the song overlays the protagonist’s nostalgia for past love and connections onto the chill of a winter landscape.
It reached No.
14 on the Oricon chart and sold approximately 125,000 copies, marking a work in which Mari Amachi—who had captivated the nation with her bright, refreshing image—took on a new mode of expression.
When you wish to immerse yourself in the nostalgia of lost time, why not listen quietly at dusk in the cold season?
snow-cappedMatsuyama Chiharu
A beloved winter song by Chiharu Matsuyama, a singer-songwriter from Hokkaido, first released to the world on his 1978 album “Arukitsuzukeru Toki” (When You Keep Walking).
It opens with the quiet image of white snow falling steadily, and gently sings of the feelings that well up while alone in a cold room.
There’s nothing in particular to be sad about, yet the restrained, powerful lyrics leave an impression as they convey the earnest wish to simply hold someone dear.
In 1997, it was remade as the B-side to the single “Christmas,” and was also used in a commercial for Corona heating appliances.
It’s a piece that stays close to you on a silent winter night, when the falling snow mirrors your thoughts, offering quiet companionship as you think of someone special in a warm room.
December RainArai Yumi
This song, which captures the loneliness of winter and the bittersweet longing for a love that has passed, is a gem that represents the early work of Yumi Arai.
Released in October 1974 and included on the album MISSLIM, it features a restrained band performance as its foundation, while the beautiful choral work by Tatsuro Yamashita and Taeko Onuki leaves a strong impression.
There is even an anecdote that Yamashita agreed to join the recording on the condition that he handle the chorus arrangement.
Set against a winter scene of December rain, a quiet nostalgia for days that will never return rises to the surface.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to softly by a window streaked with cold rain, when you feel like immersing yourself in memories of the past.
Winter Giftmosao.
“Fuyu no Present” (Winter’s Present) is a song by singer-songwriter Mosawo, who gained attention on TikTok and YouTube.
It’s a love song told from a woman’s perspective, perfect for listening to in winter.
Released in 2020 as her sixth digital single, it also has a music video available on YouTube.
Mosawo has had six songs, including past releases, chart in the LINE MUSIC Real-time TOP 50 and has achieved the No.
1 spot in artist shares.
With lyrics that capture the flutter of an overflowing, uncontrollable love, it’s a heart-throbbing track you should definitely check out!
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.