[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.
- [2025] Masterpieces that sing of Hokkaido: The enduring heart of our homeland passed down in song
- [Songs of Saitama] A Wealth of Humor-Filled Classics! Local Anthems Packed with Love for Saitama
- [Song of Osaka] A selection of passionate, warm-hearted Osaka tunes
- [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.
- Songs about Tokyo: A Collection of Popular J‑Pop Classics [2025]
- 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] Recommended Masterpieces and Hometown-Love-Filled Tracks from Across Japan (141–150)
The City of Love, SapporoYujiro Ishihara
I can imagine walking with my lover from the Clock Tower to Odori Park.
It puts me in a romantic mood.
Hearing Yujiro sing a woman’s song, I realized again how well it suits him.
I also think the melody perfectly matches the city of Sapporo.
Yokosuka StoryMomoe Yamaguchi
I always think Momoe-chan captures the world of the Uzaki–Aki duo very well.
And although I’ve never been to Yokosuka, this also makes me feel it’s a city that suits Momoe-chan perfectly.
Even though she was young (at the time), the cool way she sings is really great.
Cape ErimoTakuro Yoshida
I still feel it fits the lyrics better when performed as folk.
The lyrics are compelling, and I can sense the feelings—and even the lives—of the people who live in this town.
Every word resonates with deep meaning.
There’s a depth that goes beyond off-the-cuff phrasing.
[Local Songs] Must-listen tracks from across Japan: beloved classics and hometown-pride picks (151–160)
Flying to IstanbulMayoyo Shōno
I was once again made aware of a city that hadn’t left much of an impression on me.
It feels light and I think it’s a stylish song too.
Even a breakup song brings up Istanbul, which felt very fresh at first.
The wordplay makes it feel like a foreign song and that’s interesting.
Mayoyo-san’s crisp, clean impression is nice as well.
Honmoku MärchenTakashi Shikanai
I felt it was a sad song, like watching a movie.
To be frank, Honmoku gives me a rather seedy impression, and that might be why.
It feels dramatic, and you can sense that the people around were quite fond of him, which only deepens the sorrow.
Mr.
Shikanai’s voice is unexpectedly soft and gentle, as if he were telling a fairy tale.
Azusa No. 2hunter
It’s a touching song about getting on a train bound for Shinano and trying to shake off a past love.
The harmonies by Kariudo are, as you’d expect from brothers, wonderful.
But it’s actually about heading toward a new love, isn’t it? It might not be the same as being fickle, but it’s a bit surprising.
hometownsong
Blue mountains, pure waters, and memories of childhood play.
The gentle melody that wraps these scenes of a beloved hometown, along with feelings for family and friends living far away, holds a universal appeal that resonates with everyone.
First published in 1914 as a Ministry of Education school song, this piece was created by Tatsuyuki Takano and Teiichi Okano, vividly reflecting the rural landscapes and lifestyles of Japan at the time.
It was sung at the closing ceremony of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, moving countless people.
Its simple, memorable melody in G major and triple meter continues to be sung at life’s milestones, such as graduation and coming-of-age ceremonies.
With lyrics and melody that evoke nostalgia, it is truly a song that stands by all who live away from their hometowns—a work that can be said to symbolize the heart of Japan.