Classic songs about Nara: Local anthems and popular tracks [2025]
The captivating scenery and historic streets of the ancient capital Nara, along with the daily lives of the people who live there, have stirred the hearts of countless artists and been expressed through music.
From local songs that weave in distinctly Nara elements like the Great Buddha, Sento-kun, and the deer, to lyrical pieces that capture scenes set in Nara, there exists a wide variety of celebrated songs connected to the city.
In this article, we introduce a selection of exquisite tracks that convey Nara’s charm through music.
Please enjoy these pieces that let you feel Nara’s allure through sound, imagining the landscapes as you listen!
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Iconic Songs About Nara: Local Anthems and Popular Tracks [2025] (21–30)
Nara Road NostalgiaKoichi Miura
Koichi Miura, who made his name as a leading figure in literary kayō (art song), pours his inexhaustible love for the ancient capital of Nara into the emotive “Nara-ji Bojō.” His supple, classically trained voice seems to gently invite listeners on a journey to Nara.
Carried by the serene interplay of flute and piano, the deepening hues of autumn in the old capital rise vividly before the mind’s eye.
Whether it rekindles bright memories of a past visit or stirs longing for sights yet unseen, it is sure to move the heart.
When you want to step back from the bustle of everyday life and sink into quiet nostalgia, this may be just the song to keep you company.
Rainy Nara RoadKazuo Chiba & Kazuko Ono
This is a duet released in 2006 by Kazuo Chiba and Kazuko Ono.
It’s also known as a recommended song by the Nara Tourism Association.
Set against Nara’s famous sites—such as the solemn ceremonies at Todai-ji Temple and the ancient ruins of Asuka Village—the song portrays the secret feelings of love between a man and a woman caught in the rain.
The shakuhachi and shamisen in the intro instantly transport listeners to a tranquil night in the ancient capital.
Kazuo Chiba’s warm vocals intertwine exquisitely with Kazuko Ono’s deeply expressive delivery, weaving a poignant story with dramatic flair.
Listening to this track may leave you feeling as if you’re walking together along Nara’s rain-soaked paths, wrapped in a gentle, wistful mood.
Lingering Attachment to the Yamato RoadGoro Minami
An enka ballad of tragic love set in the ancient capital of Nara, sung by Goro Minami with rich emotion.
Shamisen and koto tones resonate over a gently subdued melody, conjuring Nara’s ink-wash landscapes before your eyes.
Though the singer devoted himself to his beloved, the love came to an end.
Unable to forget that person, the protagonist wanders alone through places of memories, and Goro Minami’s restrained yet wistful voice conveys his aching helplessness.
Real locations—such as Mount Mikasa—appear in the song, mirroring the protagonist’s loneliness and adding profound depth to the story.
As he thinks of the one he cannot forget and walks the old road in the rain, some listeners may find their own experiences reflected in his figure.
Muro-ji TempleMieko Makimura
Mieko Makimura’s song “Murō-ji” is a piece set at a secluded temple in the ancient capital of Nara, powerfully voicing the anguish of a love with no way out.
Murō-ji, long known as the “Women’s Kōya” for welcoming women’s prayers since olden times.
Exhausted by a hopeless love, the woman seeks salvation and clings to the Buddha—her heartrending emotions are deeply conveyed through Makimura’s poignantly wistful vocals.
The song evokes the temple’s serene scenery—vermilion bridges and a five-story pagoda spring to mind.
Many listeners may find their hearts tighten at the sight of the protagonist burdened with feelings that have nowhere to go.
It is a compelling masterpiece where the solemn aura of an age-old temple blends with inescapable human passion.
Heijō-yamaIchiro Fujiyama
It’s a classic brimming with historical romance, its resonant, far-reaching vocals by Ichiro Fujiyama soaking into the heart.
Grounded in classical technique, his deeply expressive singing evokes the timeless flow of the ancient capital, Nara.
The solemn melody and warm voice pair exquisitely with the grand vistas of Heijō-kyō and the gentle passage of time.
Even without specific place names, the song has the power to conjure up each listener’s own vision of Nara.
Many will likely feel a sense of nostalgia, as if leafing through a tale of history.
Nostalgia for a Journey — In IkarugaAkira Fuse
This is a single by Akira Fuse released in 1977, and it is a song about Ikaruga in Nara Prefecture.
It reached a peak position of 16th on the Oricon weekly chart and sold 135,000 copies.
Akira Fuse performed this song at the 28th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
MahorobaTomoe Yoshida
Mahoroba is an archaic word meaning “a place easy to live in,” and it is also known for appearing in a poem by Yamato Takeru.
This song was created with the hope that it would be cherished for a long time by the people living in Nara, and it is sung by Tomoe Yoshida, a singer from Nara.