[2025] Japanese karaoke songs you’ll want to sing at year’s end: A roundup of popular hits and classics

As December comes around each year and the end of the year approaches, chances to sing karaoke at year-end parties and company gatherings tend to increase.

Since it’s a special time, you might be thinking of singing the perfect year-end song to get everyone excited.

In this article, we introduce classic J-pop songs about December scenery, the year’s end, and New Year’s Eve, spanning different eras and genres.

Whether you want to fire up the crowd with a group singalong for one last hurrah, or deliver a gentle performance to bid farewell to the year, pick a song that suits you and enjoy a wonderful year-end!

Playlist

[2025] Japanese karaoke songs you’ll want to sing at year’s end: A roundup of popular hits and classics
	Title	Playlist	One point
1	Dance at my place (New Year’s Eve)Gen Hoshino		Sing the hopes of the New Year with someone special
2	1991Kenshi Yonezu		Kenshi Yonezu’s 1991, a masterpiece that portrays emotions
3	The Story of the Wind and MeAdo		A film theme song that Hiroji Miyamoto gifts to Ado
4	JANE DOEKenshi Yonezu, Hikaru Utada		A sad yet beautiful song by Kenshi Yonezu × Hikaru Utada
5	five mon coinsMOROHA		Fusion of message-driven rap and acoustic guitar
6	universal gravitationMasaharu Fukuyama		An anthem of support that portrays urban loneliness and the connections between people
7	CharismaxSnow Man		Transform everyday life with a Para Para fusion dance track
8	The limits of languageHinatazaka46		Hina Kawata sings of bonds of the heart ahead of graduation.
9	Spaceship on New Year’s EveShikao Suga		Moved by the year-end scenery and enjoying the New Year’s countdown
10	The Land of ‘Good Job’ (Otsukaresama)Kazuyoshi Saito		Kazuyoshi Saito’s song of appreciation resonates with people’s hearts.
11	New Year’s EveMasashi Sada		A heartwarming song that positively sings about the year’s end
12	A town where it snowsUnicorn		A song of winter cityscapes and quiet moments
13	You Are the One Who Rings That BellAkiko Wada		A moving song by Akiko Wada that resonates at year’s end
14	Subaru -Subaru-Shinji Tanimura		Shinji Tanimura’s classic song “Uchū” (The Universe) is a masterpiece that resonates with the heart.
15	Cheers, charisma! Year-end partySeven Charisma		A fun year-end party song by the seven charismatic members
16	TOKYO SNOWSakurazaka46		Poignant winter thoughts in snowless Tokyo
17	waiting in vaingood-for-nothing		Good-for-nothing “Machibōke,” a lonely love song
18	Winter is starting.Noriyuki Makihara		A winter song portrays the warmth of a lover.
19	travel anecdoteCreepy Nuts		The appeal of Creepy Nuts’ masterpiece “Miyagebanashi” (“Souvenir Stories”)
20	CocktailA.B.C-Z		A sweet love song like a cocktail
21	IrohaKent on this side		Kento from this side and the new song shake the soul.
22	the last day of the monthSpitz		A brisk, fast-paced song that refreshingly sings of year-end sentiments
23	December 31NMB48		A lonely year-end, a song of determination and hope for the future
24	ToughSaucy Dog		Saucy Dog’s captivating songs and vocals
25	National Sake-Drinking Festival Song of Japanbarracuda		A masterpiece that joyfully portrays Japan’s nationwide sake culture
26	New Year’s Eve SongRemioromen		The quiet night of New Year’s Eve—its scene and emotions
27	RikaSIX LOUNGE		A SIX LOUNGE song that portrays deep bonds and emotions
28	ELUSIVEm-flo loves n-choco		A collaboration song by m-flo and n-choco portrays the push-and-pull of romance.
29	Love Like ThisFujii Kaze		Fujii Kaze’s English-lyric love songs: exploring the shapes of love
30	HOWLAyumu Imazu		A youth dance track brimming with a sense of speed that stirs the heart.
31	Last lookKeina Suda		Transcend common sense and unleash your potential
32	HEROMr.Children		Mr. Children’s masterpiece, a moving song that touches the heart
33	Year-end songs from 12/26 onward[Alexandros]		An [Alexandros] song that’s perfect for the year-end mood
34	Love Song in DecemberGACKT		A heartwarming song that portrays a winter romance
35	Lovers AgainEXILE		Cool male kayōkyoku songs to listen to in winter
36	New Treasure IslandSakanaction		An impressive song by Sakanaction
37	Ode to JoyLudwig van Beethoven		Ode to Joy, a masterpiece that resonates in the heart at year’s end
38	Happy Endingback number		The heartrending breakup song “Happy End” by back number
39	Snow White’s girlfriendBase Ball Bear		Winter love, a bittersweet song of youth
40	In My TownMr.Children		A moving song that portrays the feelings after the earthquake disaster
41	Even when next year comesMy Hair is Bad		A year-end classic that portrays a heartrending love
42	last year, this yearUnder Graph		A heartwarming song that sings of year-end memories and hopes
43	spring cleaningKing Ghidorah		An innovative track aiming to cleanse the rap scene
44	A gentle cityHiromi Ohta		Hiromi Ohta’s touching classic that resonates with the heart: Scenes of Tsukishima
45	New Year’s March!Nijigasaki High School Idol Club		Nijigasaki’s new song celebrates the New Year brightly.
46	29Kana Nishino		Last memories of my twenties and expectations for my thirties
47	January(Night and) SAMPO		An amateur adult band wins the Grand Prix at a music contest
48	All-Night RadioAdo		Ado's lively new song adds color to New Year's Eve.
49	SPECIALZKing Gnu		King Gnu’s smash hit song “SPECIALZ” is making waves.
50	Even when next year comesMy Hair is Bad		An emotional song by My Hair is Bad that portrays year-end feelings
51	BYE! THIS YEAR!! HI! NEW YEAR!!Asia Engineer		New Year’s song by an Asia-oriented hip-hop group
52	Smile for me.Sambomaster		A moving rock band fused with punk rock
53	Harmony of MidwinterMika Nakashima with Ryota Fujimaki		Mika Nakashima, a classic winter song marking 20 years since her debut
54	Year-end party! BO! U! NEN! KAI!A.B.C-Z		Hyadain’s song enjoying the year-end party
55	spring cleaningDECO*27 feat. Hatsune Miku		A big cleanup is an opportunity to refresh the mind.
56	Winter SongDREAMS COME TRUE		A classic winter song, a soothing ballad
57	holly (Japanese holly tree, Ilex crenata)Do As Infinity		Heartwarming Winter Karaoke Songs
58	Mr.SnowmanE-girls		A winter song for women, perfect for Christmas
59	New Year’s DayELLEGARDEN		A song portraying New Year’s Eve memories and the transience of life
60	Winter againGLAY		In the snowy season, Gray’s winter song
61	Sound of SnowGReeeeN		Blow away the cold with classic winter songs
62	Winter SongKiroro		Winter ballad, a heartwarming classic
63	EverythingMISIA		Memories of Karaoke and the Allure of “Everything”
64	vintageOfficial HIGE DANDism		Official HIGE DANDism’s “Vintage” is an inspiring masterpiece.
65	Possibility (prod. Masayoshi Iimori)Official HIGE DANDism		A song that laughs off the year-end rush
66	A morning hastened by snow arrives.Official HIGE DANDism		A bittersweet winter love song, a moving listen at year's end
67	Snow Magic FantasySEKAI NO OWARI		A poppy love song that brightens up winter events
68	White LoveSPEED		A refreshing and fun love song, perfect for singing in winter
69	WHITE BREATHT.M.Revolution		A classic winter song—sing it with passion and it will warm your body too.
70	loadTHE Toraba-ryu		A timeless, heart-touching masterpiece that paints a winter scene
71	Because it’s a cold nightTRF		A classic winter song I sing over and over at karaoke
72	If (they were) cousinsSato Moka feat. Mom		For the latter half of karaoke, let's go with mellow songs.
73	somedayyuzu		Soothe the year-end loneliness with winter songs
74	powder snowRemioromen		Looking back on memories with a bittersweet winter song
75	Winter TaleSandaime J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE		The third generation’s winter love ballad, “Winter Story”
76	era; age; time; periodMiyuki Nakajima		Courage to move into the future with timeless masterpieces
77	Snow BlossomMika Nakashima		Mika Nakashima’s poignant love ballad
78	youKumi Koda		A winter ballad, a pleasant song by Kumi Koda
79	Turning Upstorm		A song that’s fun to dance to and gets you hyped
80	DEAR…againKohmi Hirose		A bittersweet song perfect for winter
81	A winter fairy is melting a snowmanKaela Kimura		Favorite song, sing it at karaoke, unique charm
82	A HAPPY NEW YEAR -Happy New Year-Yumi Matsutoya		Yumi Matsutoya’s poignant song that resonates at year’s end
83	CalendarKo Shibasaki		The joy of looking back on memories at year-end karaoke
84	White LoversKeisuke Kuwata		A classic winter song, a song that resonates with the heart
85	MAyumi Hamasaki		A nostalgic song perfect for winter
86	Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneSayuri Ishikawa		A classic enka song, nostalgic winter scenes at year’s end.
87	orionKenshi Yonezu		An impressive song from the anime March Comes in Like a Lion
88	Horse and deerKenshi Yonezu		Kenshi Yonezu’s masterpiece tied to the Rugby World Cup
89	Goodbye ElegyMasaki Suda		Swoon to Masaki Suda’s emotion-filled theme song
90	Dear…Kana Nishino		I want to listen to Kana Nishino’s December love songs.
91	Crossing Amagi PassSayuri Ishikawa		Winter enka: classic songs to listen to at year’s end
92	I’m in love.Every Little Thing		A wistful winter love song warms the heart.
93	broad daylightKing Gnu		King Gnu “Hakujitsu,” an emotionally charged masterpiece
94	Christmas songback number		Winter love song, the feelings of a bittersweet unrequited love
95	Departuresglobe		Be captivated by Globe, the classic of winter
96	Tokyo Winter SessionHONEY WORKS		HoneyWorks songs that feel like Christmas
97	Beyond the Night SkySMAP		A poignant classic that you want to listen to at the end of the year