[Local Songs] Recommended tracks packed with Japan’s nationwide classics and hometown pride
Across Japan, there are many “local songs” created around themes like regional climate and traditions, long-standing customs, hometown pride, and specialty foods.
However, few people are likely familiar with songs from places far from their own living area or hometown.
Some might even have spent years in a region without knowing its local songs at all.
In this article, we’ll introduce some highly impactful, must-hear local songs from across Japan that we hope many of you will get to know.
If it’s a place you’ve visited, try listening while picturing the local scenery.
If it’s somewhere you’ve never been, let the song help you imagine the land and the lives of the people who live there.
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- [Hometown Songs] A curated selection of popular Japanese tracks that fill your heart with nostalgia
- [Kyoto Songs] Masterpieces that sing about Kyoto — songs themed on the ancient capital. The enduring heart of our hometown passed down in song.
- A famous song about Fukuoka. The heart of the hometown passed down through song.
- A classic song that celebrates Niigata. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
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- Introducing Classic Songs About Shizuoka: Local Anthems and Popular Hits [2025]
- [Songs of Kagoshima] The heart of our hometown carried on in song | A curated selection of classic tracks that embody Kagoshima
- A classic song about Nagano. The enduring spirit of our hometown passed down through song.
- A classic song that sings of Nagasaki: the enduring heart of our hometown
- Songs related to Mie Prefecture. Beloved local tunes of Mie that continue to be cherished.
[Local Songs] Must-Listen Classics and Hometown-Proud Favorites from Across Japan (111–120)
Lake Nojiri AloneKaori Mizumori
This is a gem of a regional enka song, richly performed by Kaori Mizumori, capturing the feelings of a woman trying to heal a broken heart on the quiet shores of a Shinshu lake.
Against the beautiful scenery of Lake Nojiri, it vividly portrays her poignant resolve to sever ties with the past.
Released in April 2005 as the B-side to the single “Gonō Line,” it was also included on her 10th anniversary album the same year.
Highly recommended for those facing the end of a romance or seeking a fresh start at a turning point in life.
[Local Songs] Must-listen tracks from across Japan: iconic hits and hometown-pride favorites (121–130)
Ishin dancin’ Kagoshima CityKagoshima City Travel Guide
This is a tourism promotion piece that expresses the charms of Kagoshima City through music and dance.
The first installment was released in January 2018 and drew attention with a unique video featuring the Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School boys’ rhythmic gymnastics team dressed as Saigo Takamori.
The second installment, released in January 2019, delves deeper into regional attractions such as World Heritage sites and the Kagoshima dialect.
In the third installment, Saigo Takamori returns from space and joins citizens to promote Kagoshima City.
Set to upbeat, cheerful pop music, the work blends comical performances with Kagoshima’s rich scenery and food culture.
It’s a perfect piece for those who want to explore the region’s history and culture.
Ishin Dancin’ Kagoshima City Returns: This Is the Real KAGOSHIMAKagoshima City Travel Guide
Brimming with humor and energy, this work lets viewers enjoy a tour of Kagoshima City’s sightseeing spots and gourmet locales through a dynamic performance, earning particular popularity among younger audiences and families.
It was produced as the third installment of Kagoshima City’s official tourism promotion video series “Ishin dancin’,” released in December 2022.
Featuring the Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School boys’ rhythmic gymnastics team dressed as Takamori Saigo and delivering sharp, striking routines, the video quickly drew widespread media attention and became a hot topic upon release.
It’s a track that lets not only local residents looking to rediscover Kagoshima’s appeal, but also those who have never visited, feel the passionate spirit of Satsuma and its rich culture.
Hiroshima DriveTamio Okuda
A vividly painted piece brimming with Hiroshima flavor that brings hometown scenery to life.
The lyrics overflow with Tamio Okuda’s love for his hometown, featuring one iconic Hiroshima spot after another, such as Mazda Stadium and the Hacchobori intersection.
Released digitally in October 2018, this track was created as a Hiroshima-dialect parody version of “Tokyo Drive,” with fellow Unicorn members from the same hometown joining in with rhythmic call-and-response.
The blend of the local dialect and a warm melody stirs a deep sense of nostalgia, making it a treasured song that offers comfort—not only to those from Hiroshima, but to anyone living away from their hometown.
Hometown ~Blue Sky Homeland~Misaki Usuzawa
This is the debut single by a songstress from Iwate, resonating with pure vocals and the breath of folk music.
Released in July 2012, the piece conveys her feelings for her hometown after the earthquake, expressed by 13-year-old Misaki Usuzawa through her crystal-clear voice.
With a grand melodic line that evokes the vast skies and earth of Tohoku, and vocals that deeply touch the heart, it stands as a gem of a song in perfect harmony.
Upon release, it reached No.
1 on the USEN request chart, and she went on to receive numerous honors, including the Japan Record Award’s New Artist prize.
It’s a masterpiece best listened to while picturing the landscapes of Iwate or reflecting on your own spiritual hometown.
Not not, boy, you knowKotoe Nishiyama
A lullaby passed down in the Kasari region of Amami Ōshima.
Its distinctive lyrics, written in the Amami dialect, richly express a mother’s love as she soothes her child, bringing a deep sense of peace to listeners.
The modern accompaniment by synthesizer player Ryōzō Itsumi breathes new life into this traditional folk song, which is part of its charm.
The vocals by Ms.
Nishiyama—who won the Kanto-Koshinetsu regional Grand Prix at the 1991 National Children’s Song Singing Competition—bring out the very best in this work.
Recommended for people from Kagoshima who are away from home, those who want to feel the warmth of a lullaby, and anyone interested in experiencing Japan’s traditional culture.
Star SandRumiko Koyanagi
This song was reportedly turned into a record after Rumiko liked a version sung by someone else on a show where celebrities write and compose music.
Because she’s so attached to it, I think she sings it dramatically and with great care.
It conjures up the blue sea of Ishigaki Island.
I want to walk on the sand and touch the legends.