![[2025] Masterpieces that sing of Hokkaido: The enduring heart of our homeland passed down in song](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/NPwYxAwH6JQ/maxresdefault.webp)
Hokkaido, a land surrounded by grand, beautiful, and sometimes harsh nature, has often been featured as the setting in songs—especially kayōkyoku and enka—from the Showa era to the present day.
Artists and bands from Hokkaido sometimes write songs about their own hometown, and there are countless masterpieces themed around the northern land.
This time, we’ll introduce a selection of songs connected to Hokkaido, regardless of genre or era.
From famous hits to hidden gems, give them a listen while picturing the scenery of Hokkaido!
- [Folk and Children's Songs of Hokkaido] Songs of Hokkaido that continue to be loved across generations
- [Local Songs] Recommended tracks packed with Japan’s nationwide classics and hometown pride
- [Hometown Songs] A curated selection of popular Japanese tracks that fill your heart with nostalgia
- [Song of Osaka] A selection of passionate, warm-hearted Osaka tunes
- [Songs of Aomori] A collection of local songs depicting the grandeur of nature and the warmth of its people.
- Chiba Songs: A comprehensive introduction, from famous tunes filled with hometown love to local theme songs
- [Japanese School Anthems] A Hot Topic at Koshien! From Beautiful Anthems to Unique Ones, All Introduced at Once
- A classic song that sings of Nagasaki: the enduring heart of our hometown
- [2025] Iconic songs and love songs themed around or set by the sea and sandy beaches — sea songs
- A classic song about Oita. The enduring spirit of our hometown [2025]
- A classic song about Miyazaki: a heartfelt ode to one’s hometown [2025]
- [Kyoto Songs] Masterpieces that sing about Kyoto — songs themed on the ancient capital. The enduring heart of our hometown passed down in song.
- [2025] A classic song themed around summer festivals. A song of summer memories.
2025: Masterpieces that sing of Hokkaido. The enduring heart of our homeland (1–10)
LAT.43°N 〜forty-three degrees north latitude〜DREAMS COME TRUE
The vocalist of DREAMS COME TRUE, Ms.
Yoshida, is from Ikeda Town in Nakagawa District, Hokkaido.
And this song, “LAT.
43°N ~forty-three degrees north latitude~,” released in 1989 as their fourth single, refers to 43 degrees north latitude, which is the latitude of Sapporo.
The snowy scenes that emerge in the poignant lyrics—about falling for someone who’s already taken—evoke Hokkaido.
It’s a perfect love song for the cold winter season.
From the North Country: From the Distant LandMasashi Sada
“From the North Country ~From the Vast Land~,” widely familiar to many as the theme song of the drama From the North Country, is a work by folk singer Masashi Sada.
From the very first notes, a wintry northern landscape unfolds before your eyes.
The melody, which has now so strongly cemented the association of “From the North Country ~From the Vast Land~” with Hokkaido, was reportedly conceived improvisationally with the image of Hokkaido’s expansive land in mind.
Though simple, it has long been cherished as a masterpiece that fully evokes the nostalgia of the northern country.
an insanely cute galMasayoshi Oishi
This is a heart-thumping track by Masayoshi Oishi, featuring lyrics that skillfully weave in Hokkaido dialect and a pop melody line that evokes a touch of nostalgia.
Expressing the unique charm of Hokkaido, the song is a new release from February 2024, serving as the opening theme for the TV Tokyo anime “Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable.” It’s also included on the album “Universe,” standing out as a piece that brilliantly captures the work’s worldview.
The music video brims with playfulness, including a collaboration with the dance performance group REAL AKIBA BOYZ.
Imagine Hokkaido’s seasonal landscapes and enjoy this heartwarming piece—like the pleasant warmth of spring—as the perfect soundtrack for a drive.
Supernova Express 2016GLAY
GLAY is a rock band in which three of the four members—vocalist TERU, guitarist TAKURO, and bassist JIRO—are from Hakodate City in Hokkaido.
Their song “Supernova Express 2016” was created in response to a request from the Hokkaido Prefectural Government and the City of Hakodate to write an image song for the Hokkaido Shinkansen, which opened in March 2016.
It’s a track where a high-speed, exhilarating melody, perfect for a Shinkansen theme, meshes with lyrics that evoke racing across Hokkaido’s vast, green landscape.
In the Great Sky and on the Vast EarthChiharu Matsuyama
Chiharu Matsuyama, one of Japan’s leading folk singers, was born in Ashoro, Ashoro District, Hokkaido.
He still tours energetically today, delivering humor-filled talks and a voice that shakes the soul, moving audiences across Japan.
When people think of songs about Hokkaido, many probably first recall “In the Great Sky and on the Vast Land.” Just listening to it brings the vast land and the sky blending into the horizon vividly before your eyes.
The Hokkaido dialect that appears in the lyrics further conveys a deep love for his hometown.
He also has other Hokkaido-related songs, such as “From Ashoro,” which portrays a nostalgic longing for home, and “The Sea of Okhotsk,” which reflects on the quietly spreading Sea of Okhotsk.
Be sure to give them a listen!
I long for Southern HokkaidoYudai Koyama
Set against the majestic backdrop of Southern Hokkaido, this enka song gently gives voice to the bittersweet feelings of a man who has left his hometown.
It weaves in scenic images unique to the region—waves breaking on the Sea of Japan, hot-spring towns wreathed in steam, and sunsets over Volcano Bay.
The powerful, soaring vocals of rising talent Yudai Koyama convey every nuance of longing for home.
Released by King Records in April 2024, this ambitious work features lyrics by Suzuko Sawada and composition by Tetsuya Gen.
It’s a song you’ll want to hear in the chill of autumn and winter—one that will resonate deeply not only with people from Hokkaido, but with anyone living far from their hometown.
North AirportYin Shuying Katsura, Keisuke Hama
Set against the vast landscapes of Hokkaido, this gem of a duet was released in 1987.
With emotionally rich vocals by Ginshū Katsura and Keisuke Hama, it delicately yet powerfully portrays a man and woman’s parting and reunion at Sapporo’s airport.
Its wistful melody and warm singing blend into an exquisite harmony, earning high marks on the Oricon charts and winning a planning award.
The song also secured a spot on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, gaining nationwide recognition.
It’s a perfect track to accompany winter travels in Hokkaido or to savor memories of parting and reunion with someone dear.
Listened to in the season of departures, it becomes a masterpiece that resonates deeply in the heart.