A classic that evokes the year’s end. Looking back on the year through music [Just a little left of this year!]

What kind of year has it been for you?

This year felt long yet short, and at last it’s time to wrap it up!

Year-end always comes with all sorts of events, and music is essential for getting into the spirit, right?

So in this article, we’ve picked out plenty of songs that are perfect for the end of the year.

From songs about the year’s end to winter tunes, we’ve gathered popular tracks across generations—so you’re sure to find the perfect song for you!

Whether you’re someone who says, “This year was great,” or someone who feels, “This year was so-so,” we’ve got a full lineup of year-end songs we hope you’ll listen to.

Playlist

A classic that evokes the year’s end. Looking back on the year through music [Just a little left of this year!]
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	ephemeral blueSIX LOUNGE		A rock song by SIX LOUNGE that portrays the feelings of winter love
2	STILL LOVE HER (A Lost Landscape)TM NETWORK		A heartwarming ballad that colors the winter city
3	I’m still alive.Makihara Noriyuki		Noriyuki Makihara’s year-end cheer song
4	forgotten itemGRAPEVINE		An emotionally rich song that reflects poignant memories
5	Subaru -Subaru-Tanimura Shinji		Expressing the strength of life through Shinji Tanimura’s classic song
6	Ephemeral SwingKai Band		Kai Band’s winter classic, “City Christmas”
7	Harmony of DecemberKinKi Kids		Winter ballad, the poignancy of parting and the season
8	Please give me snow.SUPER EIGHT		A perfect song for a winter night with SUPER EIGHT
9	Milano Sandwich Axiangyu		Break the year-end slump with a sandwich
10	National Sake-Drinking Festival Song of Japanbarakūda		A fun Japanese folk song where you can drink alcohol
11	Tracks of DreamsH△G		H△G’s song, moving forward while aching with loss
12	Milk ice creamsayonara, mata kondo ne		A female-vocal track, her first as lead, that evokes parting and reunion on a winter street corner.
13	RikaSIX LOUNGE		A rock song of deep emotion that seeps into the heart with winter’s cold
14	Dance at my place (New Year’s Eve)Hoshino Gen		Hoshino Gen’s year-end cheer song. A message of growth and hope.
15	Christmas songnon		A song by Non that gently wraps the loneliness of year’s end
16	You Are the One Who Rings That BellWada Akiko		A representative song by Akiko Wada is a classic that symbolizes the year’s end.
17	travel anecdoteCreepy Nuts		A song that sings about Creepy Nuts' trajectory
18	the last day of the monthsupittsu		I feel healed by Spitz’s songs.
19	Year-end songs from 12/26 onward[Alexandros]		A song that captures the year-end atmosphere after Christmas
20	Cheers, charisma! Year-end partyShichinin no Karisuma		A song that livens up the year-end and New Year with the personalities of seven people
21	TOKYO SNOWSakurazaka46		A winter ballad of unrequited love layered over Tokyo’s snow
22	broad daylightKing Gnu		A new beginning from a painful past
23	A town where it snowsyunikōn		Unicorn “A Town Where It Snows” Winter classic
24	That gentle girlsupittsu		The theme song of Natsuzora, From Winter to Summer Sky
25	New Year’s Evethe pillows		Introduce famous songs by the pillows
26	Two Red Starskinmokusei		Song of Parting of the Fragrant Olive
27	Heart color ~a song for the wonderful year~Fukuyama Masaharu		Heading toward the New Year while enjoying changes of the heart
28	New Year’s Eve SongRemioromen		Remioromen’s happy New Year’s Eve love song
29	Together…MAX		A ballad by MAX that depicts the warmth of winter
30	Winter Phantasm ManiaKyūso Nekokami		Melodic punk that portrays celebration and solitude
31	Blues of the StarsYoshii Kazuya		A year-end memory song where the starry sky touches the heart
32	End-of-year hydrangea double suicideIchikawa Yukino		A song portraying a woman's resolve as she nestles close, set against the backdrop of the New Year’s Eve temple bell
33	December MorningMatsuda Seiko		A winter ballad. It depicts the scene of waiting for someone dear.
34	God of RomanceHirose Kōmi		A classic winter love song that expresses feelings of love in a pop style
35	North Wind ~May It Reach You~Makihara Noriyuki		A hopeful cheer song that sings of winter’s loneliness in the north wind
36	Snow Magic FantasySEKAI NO OWARI		SEKAI NO OWARI’s winter-inspired, fantastical song
37	Ode to Joy (from Symphony No. 9)Ludwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is a quintessential piece of music for the year’s end.
38	RewriteASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION		Anime theme song, a message to rewrite myself
39	silentSEKAI NO OWARI		SEKAI NO OWARI’s Christmas romance drama theme song
40	era; age; time; periodNakajima Miyuki		The history and appeal of Miyuki Nakajima’s masterpiece “Jidai”
41	City of StardustGosuperāzu		A single by The Gospellers that depicts a winter city
42	New Year’s DayELLEGARDEN		ELLEGARDEN New Year-themed punk song
43	A HAPPY NEW YEAR -Happy New Year-Matsutōya Yumi		A love song by Yumi Matsutoya that's perfect for the year-end season
44	My Dear FeetSazan Ōrusutāzu		A song included on Southern's debut album
45	Win TimeCHAI		Happy winter song to color the New Year
46	SnowdomeKimura Kaera		Warm up winter with Kaela Kimura’s gentle melodies
47	Ode to JoyToukyou Sukapara Daisu Ookesutora		Skapara’s “Song of Joy” is a year-end staple.
48	OH MY LITTLE GIRLOzaki Yutaka		Yutaka Ozaki's biggest hit song of 1994
49	DecemberFukuyama Masaharu		Masaharu Fukuyama quietly gazes at the winter scenery of December.
50	HappinessAI		Wrap up the year with a smile through AI happiness
51	Country RoadHon’na Yoko		Country road for people returning to their hometown
52	Snow MenHoshino Gen		A song written for a Shiseido advertisement, themed around the bittersweet love of adults.
53	In My TownMr.Children		I feel the year-end loneliness in a classic song by Mr. Children.
54	HOMEShimizu Shota		Shota Shimizu’s debut song “HOME” is a cheering song that expresses longing for his hometown.
55	December 31NMB48		An anthem that turns NMB48’s frustration into strength
56	Christmas songback number		Drama theme song, a heartrending love song that conveys love
57	A town where snow fallsBaishō Chieko		An old classic composed by Yoshinao Nakata
58	chicken riceHamada Masatoshi / Makihara Noriyuki		A ballad song about memories with family
59	Even when next year comesMy Hair is Bad		Introducing My Hair is Bad's new song
60	White LoversKuwata Keisuke		Masterpieces that suit the post-Christmas blues
61	January(yoru to) SAMPO		Working adult band SAMPO kicks off the New Year with a new song and a fresh start
62	waiting in vainrokudenashi		A good-for-nothing portrays an unattainable love
63	Winter SongKiroro		A gentle winter song by Kiroro that sings of winter’s warmth
64	ToughSaucy Dog		Rock that sings of winter anxiety and the feelings of youth
65	last year, this yearandāgurafu		A Japanese-style rock number by Under Graph
66	Spaceship on New Year’s EveSuga Shikao		The festive atmosphere of the city on New Year’s Eve turns ominous
67	Thank youŌe Senri		Senri Oe’s “Arigato” is a classic you want to listen to at the end of the year.
68	BlizzardMiura Daichi		Daichi Miura’s movie theme song, inspired by a world of ice
69	Auld Lang Syne ~ Hotaru no HikariHirahara Ayaka		Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish folk song.
70	29Nishino Kana		A positive feeling as I approach the end of my 29th year
71	five mon coinsMOROHA		MOROHA’s unique rap-sounding track
72	Winter, againGLAY		GLAY’s representative winter song wins the Japan Record Award
73	Winter BellsKuraki Mai		Mai Kuraki’s Christmas Song
74	The Land of ‘Good Job’ (Otsukaresama)Saitō Kazuyoshi		The beauty of “Otsukaresama desu” and a heartwarming song
75	Love Song in DecemberGACKT		Introduction to GACKT’s Year-End Classic Song
76	New Year’s Eve (Ōtsugomori)sadamasashi		Masashi Sada's New Year's Eve theme song
77	CalendarShibasaki Kou		A Year-End Song Welcomed With Kou Shibasaki’s Lover
78	Rock ‘n’ roll drummers love cleaning.Gita Panda		A song expressing Guitar Panda’s feelings about cleaning
79	I’m here (feat. STUTS)butaji		Introduction to a song that depicts memories and emotions at the end of the year
80	Mr.SnowmanE-girls		A cute song that sings of winter love
81	Good fortune comes to a cheerful home.chiitana		A year-end and New Year song that conveys the importance of smiles and positivity
82	Winter Fantasykazan		Kazun’s “Winter Fantasy” is their signature song.
83	On the calendar, it’s DecemberBeibī Reizu JAPAN		Introducing pop songs that energize you for the coming year
84	New Year’s March!Nijigasaki Gakuen Sukūru Aidoru Dōkōkai		A NijiGaku fight song that sings of hope for the New Year
85	Winter fallL’Arc〜en〜Ciel		L'Arc~en~Ciel's winter-themed skiing song
86	Year-end party! BOU! NEN! KAI!A.B.C-Z		ABC-Z's year-end party song
87	White LoveSPEED		White Love is a popular winter song.
88	BYE! THIS YEAR!! HI! NEW YEAR!!Eijia Enjinia		A New Year’s holiday-themed hip-hop song by Asia Engineer
89	the last day of the monthsupittsu		Charging ahead into the New Year with Spitz’s songs
90	orionYonezu Kenshi		Linking the winter night sky with feelings of love