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 with lyrics that really hit home. Winter tunes you’ll want to listen to closely.
- [Winter Songs] The Best Classic and Popular Winter Tunes to Listen to in Winter
- A poignant winter classic. A winter song that seeps into the heart on cold days.
- [Songs to Listen to in December] J-POP and Christmas Songs that Feel Like Winter [2026]
- [Winter Songs] Recommended for Women! A Collection of Winter Songs That Get the Crowd Going at Karaoke
- [Winter Songs] Recommended for Instagram Reels! Classic winter hits
- [Snow Songs] Classic winter tunes themed around snow. Snow songs that touch the heart.
- Winter songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic winter anthems that never lose their shine.
- A classic winter song you often hear recommended on TikTok.
- Unrequited love songs for winter. Songs about one-sided love you want to listen to in winter.
- Winter songs you'll want to listen to in the cold season! Recommended for the yutori generation
- [Winter Songs] Songs that evoke the feeling of winter for Instagram Stories
- A collection of timeless classics! Exquisite winter songs recommended for people in their 50s
[Winter Songs] Timeless tracks you want to hear in winter. Songs you long for in the winter (1–10)
JingleYuuma
It’s a heart-fluttering winter love song.
Released in November 2023 by Yuma, who is also known as a member of Comdot, the piece delicately portrays the intertwining of the excitement of being in love and the anxiety of whether those feelings will be conveyed.
It was first performed at YouTube Fanfest Japan 2023 and became a hot topic among fans.
The phrase that expresses feelings for the other person through jingle bells is particularly memorable.
The lyrics, which empathize with those who are timid about love, are likely to resonate at times with younger listeners.
White cityNEW!aibii karaa
A heartwarming love song you’ll want to listen to with someone special on a cold winter day.
Glittering strings and piano melodies vividly reflect a winter cityscape lit up with illuminations.
It’s filled with the excitement of heading to a meeting spot and the happy moments between lovers who find even the cold endearing, brightening the listener’s heart.
Released in November 2022 as the first installment of Ivy to Color’s “Pure Love Diptych,” this track is perfect not only for those on their way to a date, but also for nights when you want to feel the warmth of someone you love close by.
Winter Snow MagicNEW!Hirai Dai
A romantic number by Dai Hirai—an artist strongly associated with summer—that feels like it’s under a winter spell.
The grand arrangement featuring strings and his warm vocals dramatically color the feelings of two people pledging their love in the cold season.
Many listeners will likely find comfort in the imagery of savoring happiness with a loved one amid a landscape blanketed in snow.
Released first as a digital pre-release in December 2013 and later included on the mini-album “The Light,” which came out in January 2014, this song’s sweet world of confirming eternal love is perfect for setting the mood on a couple’s special night.
[Winter Songs] Timeless tracks to listen to in winter: Songs you’ll long for in the cold (11–20)
Snow Song – yukiutaNEW!Myuk
Inspired by “The Grateful Crane,” this song portrays a heartrending farewell with a loved one.
The lyrics, which employ a distinctive, folk-like melodic phrasing and archaic expressions, beautifully capture both the chill of a snowy landscape and the pain of the heart.
Released by Myuk in December 2025, the track drew major attention, surpassing a cumulative 30 million plays on social media even in its demo stage.
Its sound, blending acoustic warmth with digital textures, feels contemporary yet somehow nostalgic.
It’s the perfect number for a quiet night with steady snowfall, when you want to immerse yourself alone in the world of the lyrics.
As her first self-composed song in about two years, it’s a track brimming with her charm—be sure to give it a listen.
HibernationNEW!Yorushika
A track that strikes the heart with the impatience felt as the seasons change and the earnest wish to simply spend quiet time with you.
Yorushika—comprised of composer n-buna and vocalist suis—included this song on their May 2018 mini-album “An Encore Is Not Needed for a Loser.” Set to a driving, exhilarating guitar-rock sound, the piece portrays emotions so delicate they make you want to escape reality.
In the online concert “Previous Life” held in January 2021, it was performed as the song that closed the story, leaving a deep afterglow.
As the cold grows harsher, if you listen on a solitary night in a warm room, lost in thought, or while thinking of someone dear, it’s sure to resonate deeply in your heart.
Snow SmileBUMP OF CHICKEN
You know how there are songs you want to listen to when winter comes? BUMP OF CHICKEN’s “Snow Smile” has to be one of those must-listen tracks, right? Released in 2002, it’s their fourth single.
It has a soft, gentle feel that sits comfortably on the ears—soothing, really—but as you keep listening, you realize it’s actually a story of a sad love, and the surge of heartache suddenly hits you.
It shifts from fluffy warmth to a tight squeeze in your chest—a song that turns on a dime and grabs your 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.