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Introducing Classic Songs About Shizuoka: Local Anthems and Popular Hits [2025]
Shizuoka Prefecture, one of Japan’s most nature-rich regions.
With its majestic Mount Fuji, vast tea fields, and the shimmering waters of Suruga Bay, the breathtaking scenery this land boasts has stirred the hearts of many artists and set the stage for countless beloved songs.
From pieces sung by local musicians pouring their love for their hometown into the music, to works in which visitors transformed their moving experiences into sound, songs connected to Shizuoka are truly diverse.
Why not lend an ear to a musical world filled with the unique charm of this land, woven from the blessings of nature and the lives of its people?
Introducing Classic Songs About Shizuoka: Local Anthems and Popular Hits [2025] (1–10)
Tōjin Monogatari (Song of the Lahja-men)Southern All Stars
It’s a song that draws you into a majestic, beautiful world, as if you’ve wandered into Shimoda at the end of the Edo period.
Even among Southern All Stars’ catalog, this track stands out for its singular character, with Yuko Hara on vocals.
It’s themed around the story of a real woman who lived in Shimoda, Shizuoka, and her heartrending life is delicately portrayed through Hara’s clear, translucent voice.
The hybrid of shamisen-like tones and sweeping strings creates a Japanese-Western fusion sound that feels like a historical epic.
Strolling through the town of Shimoda while listening to this song might make the cherry-blossom-lined slopes and harbor views look different than usual.
It’s a perfect companion for a journey.
Song of the Old Lady of GotenbaFusako Fujimoto
With lyrics by Shizuka Ijuin under the pen name Ayumu Date and music by Akihiro Komori, this song became widely beloved by Shizuoka Prefecture residents as a campaign song for Television Shizuoka.
Set to Fusako Fujimoto’s bright, buoyant vocals, the uniquely structured lyrics string together place names from across Shizuoka, leaving a strong impression.
It feels as if you’re traveling throughout the prefecture along with the song.
Since it even mentions municipalities and districts that no longer exist, many listeners may find their memories of that time vividly revived.
Fujimoto’s charming high tones paint a picture of the good old Shizuoka, making this a treasure-like local song.
Maru-chan’s Shizuoka OndoPierre Taki
This song was created in connection with the fact that Momoko Sakura, the creator of Chibi Maruko-chan, is from Shimizu City (now Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City).
The composition was done by Haruomi Hosono.
In this video, you can also learn the choreography by Papaya Suzuki.
Lament of the Hot Spring TownAraki Ichiro
This song, performed by Ichiro Araki—who showcases his multifaceted talents as a singer and actor—is set in Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
It depicts a heartbroken journey, with the protagonist visiting the hot-spring town filled with memories, unable to forget a former lover.
Araki’s sweet yet wistful vocals evoke flickering memories and a tender melancholy, like visions shimmering beyond the steam.
The sorrowful melody—where enka and kayōkyoku blend—overlaps with the protagonist’s helpless state of mind, tightening the chest.
It’s a masterpiece that conjures the emotionally rich nightscape of Atami, where the loneliness of traveling alone sinks deep into the heart.
Rain in IzuHiroshi Kadokawa
Hiroshi Kadokawa’s deep, nostalgic voice melds with the scenery of Izu in this classic rich with the feel of travel.
Released in 1984, the song is an “enka-pop” blend that fuses the emotion of enka with the lightness of pop.
Its gentle melody evokes the atmosphere of a hot spring town glistening in the rain.
The lyrics overlay unwavering devotion to a loved one with the image of unrelenting rain.
You can feel the protagonist’s single-minded yearning, as if searching beyond the steam for the beloved’s lingering silhouette.
The quiet sound of the rain seems almost like subdued sobbing, stirring a poignant ache in the listener’s heart.
AtamiKroi
Kroi’s “Atami” feels like a snapshot from a carefree trip with close friends.
A breezy, bossa nova–tinged rhythm layered with cool acoustic guitar tones creates an easy, airy feel.
The melody carries a hint of nostalgia, evoking the atmosphere of a retro Showa-era hot spring town.
Its unique blend of languidness and chic pairs perfectly with a slightly faded, film-like sense of nostalgia.
Just listening, you can feel your shoulders relax and sink into the mood of a calm holiday.
Night in AtamiShinichiro Hakozaki
This was Shinichiro Hakozaki’s debut single and a song that can be called a milestone of mood kayō.
As the sweet tone of the saxophone intro flows in, the night view of Atami—its steam and neon lights shimmering mysteriously—unfolds before your eyes.
A fleeting love encountered on a journey, only once and never again.
He sings those aching memories with rich emotion.
Hakozaki’s sweet, heartrending falsetto—often described as almost feminine—soaks into the chest and grips the listener’s heart.
The song caught fire through snack bars and cable broadcasts and came to be loved by many.
Perhaps no other piece captures the unique melancholy and romance of a Showa-era hot-spring town so perfectly.