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

winter fallL’Arc〜en〜Ciel

L’Arc～en～Ciel「winter fall」-Music Clip-

A soundscape that evokes a vast, expansive winter.

A ballad rock track whose unfolding sonic scenery carries your heart away, as if you were watching a short film.

A timeless L’Arc~en~Ciel classic that lingers with romance, beauty, poignancy, and a gentle afterglow.

Released in 1998 as their eighth single at the time, it was the first single after yukihiro officially joined the band, and it drew attention as the image song for the drama “Chicago Hope 2.”

DEPARTURESglobe

globe / 'DEPARTURES' (Starring: Ayaka Miyoshi)

When you think of globe—and of winter—this signature song, “DEPARTURES,” comes to mind.

Released in 1996 as globe’s fourth single, it remains a beloved winter tune across generations.

Many artists have covered it as well.

It’s a song that conveys a sense of heartache, and its realistic lyrics vividly express the emotions and winter scenery, making it especially moving.

It’s also a karaoke favorite, and just this one song can instantly put you in a winter mood.

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White BeachHY

HY – White Beach (Official Music Video)

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

Winter Song

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)

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.)

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

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.