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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] Timeless tracks to enjoy in winter: songs you’ll crave when it’s cold (91–100)

Can’t Wait ‘Til ChristmasUtada Hikaru

Can’t Wait ‘Til Christmas – Hikaru Utada (Sayulee) Day 133
Can't Wait 'Til ChristmasUtada Hikaru

A melody marked by a mid-tempo groove and a delicate piano tone leaves a strong impression.

On top of that, her heartrending vocals blend beautifully, tightening your chest.

It’s a love song with poignant lyrics about heartbreak—a popular ballad for quietly enjoying music in the winter season.

The track is included on the best-of album “Utada Hikaru SINGLE COLLECTION VOL.2” and was released in 2004.

IlluminationSEKAI NO OWARI

A song that’s become a talking point for how it encourages people in tough times.

The band has said of the track, “We’d be happy if this song could overlap with different moments and scenes in many people’s lives.” Many listeners associate its imagery with winter, which helped it gain popularity.

The song itself was written specifically for the drama Legal V: Ex-Lawyer Shoko Takanashi, starring Ryoko Yonekura, and was also used as its theme song.

Sound of SnowGReeeeN

There are times when you just want to listen to songs that amplify the chill and the wintry vibe, right? As its title suggests, GReeeeN’s song “Yuki no Oto” (Sound of Snow) is a love song packed with a rich winter mood that makes you feel the snow falling quietly and steadily.

The intro and the arrangement throughout the track include sounds that evoke winter, making it a tune that instantly lifts your wintry spirits.

Released in 2012 as GReeeeN’s 18th single, it was also used as the CM song for the 2012–2013 “JR SKI SKI” campaign.

Snow WhiteEVE

Shirayuki (White Snow) – Eve MV
Snow WhiteEVE

Shirayuki is a bittersweet song about the wish to “hold on to the time spent with someone precious, even if only in a dream.” Released in 2022 by Eve, who is active as both a Vocaloid producer and singer, it was chosen as the theme song for the film Black Night Parade.

Set against a snowy landscape where the world is dyed pure white, it portrays treasuring the brief moments from night until morning.

It’s a winter song where transparent, pure feelings in the lyrics interweave with the beautiful sound of strings.

Be sure to listen for his warm vocals that seem to nestle close to the cold and to loneliness.

Fun Fun ChristmasBENI

Francfranc 2014 Christmas Song BENI “Fun Fun Christmas”
Fun Fun ChristmasBENI

Fun Fun Christmas, sung by BENI, an R&B singer from Okinawa, is her 14th digital single, released in 2014.

It’s a collaboration with the interior shop Francfranc and is included on a compilation album presented by Francfranc.

This catchy, upbeat Christmas tune evokes Mariah Carey and is a perfect track to lift your spirits during the holidays—give it a listen!

LOVER SOULJUDY AND MARY

Her one-of-a-kind high-tone voice, unlike anyone else’s, vividly colors the winter season.

The lyrics are wonderful, too.

This song was also used as an insert track in the film Moteki, which reignited its popularity.

Back then, her voice carried more clearly than it does now, giving a different impression.

It’s a winter-perfect love song that creates a world only YUKI’s singing can bring to life.

Because it’s a cold nightTRF

It’s one of TRF’s signature tracks—the dance & vocal group that epitomized the ’90s—and of course it was produced by Tetsuya Komuro.

Compared to TRF’s other songs, its more relaxed tempo and the resonant keyboard tones evoke a loneliness like a winter wind.

The lyrics portray how the cold of winter deepens a sense of solitude, and how that growing loneliness amplifies one’s feelings for a loved one.

In contrast to that imagery, the upbeat vocal delivery is striking, making it feel as though the shifting emotions of winter are being enjoyed to the fullest.