[Kyoto Songs] Masterpieces that sing about Kyoto — songs themed on the ancient capital. The enduring heart of our hometown passed down in song.
Here we introduce songs that are about Kyoto or use it as a theme!
Even if a song doesn’t seem like it’s about Kyoto at first glance, some tracks include related keywords in the lyrics, such as “Kamo River.”
It does feel like there are many enka and kayōkyoku numbers, but it turns out there are similar songs in more recent pop and rock as well.
Kyoto is, after all, a city with a long history.
Having flourished as the capital, it’s indispensable for understanding Japan.
With its refined, traditional atmosphere and picturesque scenery, Kyoto is truly captivating.
Take your time and enjoy these wonderful Kyoto songs that will stir your hometown pride.
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[Kyoto Songs] Masterpieces that sing of Kyoto and songs that took it as their theme: The enduring heart of our hometown (1–10)
Evenly spaced along the Kamo RiverOkazaki Taiiku
Kamo River Equidistance, which candidly sings about the feelings of lovers sitting at equal intervals along the Kamo River, is a song by Okazaki Taiiku, known for his comedic tracks.
It vividly portrays the growing gap between the maturing self and the widening world.
From a bridge overlooking the lovers by the Kamo River, the narrator wonders if, in reality, he is the one being looked down on—capturing that anxiety and inner conflict in a real and tangible way.
Beyond his comedic songs, these pieces that carry his bittersweet emotions are also part of Okazaki Taiiku’s appeal.
It’s a wistful number that stays true to a self that tends to see the world at a slight angle, honestly singing a sentimental heart.
A sudden shower in KyotoRumiko Koyanagi
When it comes to hit songs that represent the Showa era—such as “Watashi no Jōkamachi,” “Seto no Hanayome,” and “Hana no Yō ni Hisoyaka ni”—you can’t overlook Rumiko Koyanagi.
You could even call her the original, quintessential Japanese diva.
Of course, even now in her later years, the refined, lustrous allure of a sophisticated adult woman she exudes is irresistible to many in the older gentleman crowd! “Kyo no Niwaka Ame,” her fifth single, was released in 1972.
Its lyrics—about coming all the way to Kyoto to look for the person she fell in love with—are the very essence of classic Showa-era kayōkyoku.
The lyrics were written by the esteemed Rei Nakanishi.
A woman aloneDuke Aces
It is a song themed around Kyoto, included as one of the tracks in the “Nihon no Uta” series.
It was released in 1965.
The lyrics mention three locations in Kyoto: Sanzen-in, Kōzan-ji, and Daikaku-ji.
On the local station Kyoto Broadcasting, during its Kinki Broadcasting era in the 1980s, an instrumental version was at times used as the background music for the radio civic information program “Kyoto City Dayori.”
[Kyoto Songs] Masterpieces that sing of Kyoto and songs that made it their theme: The heart of our hometown passed down in song (11–20)
The millennial ancient capitalHarumi Miyako
Rather than the emotion that comes from vocal techniques like kobushi and vibrato, Harumi Miyako’s singing feels infused with something like Japan’s primordial landscape.
She has countless hit songs to her name—truly one of the quintessential national singers of the late Showa era.
“Sennen no Koto” is no exception; just listening to it makes you think, “Ah, I’m glad to be Japanese.” The lyrics carry a breeze-like feeling: “People are born and then they pass away; before Kyoto, everything is but a fleeting moment”—lines that, for some reason, I find myself wanting to read over and over.
The composition is by actor Tetsuya Watari.
The quietude of the verse and the power of the chorus make it a song that I hope will be sung for generations.
Even those who don’t usually listen to enka—please give it a try!
Kyoto NostalgiaYuko Nagisa
Yuko Nagisa, a devoted Japanophile, had a massive breakout by covering The Ventures’ “Kyoto no Koi” in Japanese.
For many people, when it comes to Yuko Nagisa’s songs about Kyoto, “Kyoto no Koi” is the one that comes to mind.
Of course, this song “Kyoto Bojo” (Kyoto Yearning) was also written and composed by The Ventures.
The Ventures’ sound must have been a natural fit with Japanese pop to begin with.
The lyrics, which revisit memorable places in Kyoto along with the pain of heartbreak and look back on those locales through tears, are quintessential Showa-era kayōkyoku.
Yuko Nagisa still appears at dinner shows and events around the country today.
Definitely one to keep an eye on!
Crying my way to KyotoChiyo Okumura
Chiyo Okumura is best known for hits like “Koi no Dorei,” which became popular for her sultry singing style.
The Kyoto-themed song she performed, “Naite Kyoto e,” was released in 1973.
The following year, in 1974, she married composer Keisuke Hama.
While she didn’t fully retire, she stepped back from the forefront of the entertainment industry.
This song was also composed by Hama.
Kamo RiverToshihide Baba
Speaking of the Kamo River, it’s a famous Kyoto landmark known for the legend that couples sit evenly spaced along its banks.
Here is a song by lovers who turned that very river into a place of sorrowful parting.
From the lyrics, it can even be read as a forbidden love.
The more you listen, the more vivid scenes come to mind.
With Toshihide Baba’s gentle voice sinking into the heart, it’s a hidden Kyoto masterpiece.