How to say "nostalgia" in Japanese

• ノスタルジアCommon
  nounCovers nostalgia as a general wistful longing, often for times or places one cannot return to. A loanword with a somewhat stylish or artistic flavor, common in titles and cultural writing.
• 郷愁きょうしゅうJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe classic word for nostalgia tinged with homesickness — a wistful ache for one's homeland or for the past. Suits literary and reflective contexts describing that bittersweet feeling.
  管弦かんげん楽団がくだんは郷愁きょうしゅうに満みちた音楽おんがくを演奏えんそうし始はじめた。↗

  The orchestra struck up nostalgic music.
• ノスタルジーCommon
  nounThe other loanword form of nostalgia, essentially interchangeable with ノスタルジア for wistful longing for the past. Either katakana form works when you simply mean 'nostalgia'.
• 望郷ぼうきょうCommon
  nounCenters on homesickness — longing for one's home or homeland from afar. Use it when 'nostalgia' really means missing home; it is a poorer fit for general wistfulness about the past.
• 懐古かいこCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbMeans reminiscence: thinking fondly of the past or recalling the old days. It stresses the act of looking back fondly rather than the aching feeling, so it suits contexts of remembering old times.

For wistful longing for the past or home, 郷愁 and 「ノスタルジー」/「ノスタルジア」 are the safest choices; 望郷 leans toward homesickness, 懐古 toward fondly recalling old days.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ノスタルジアnostalgia
• 郷愁きょうしゅうnostalgia
• ノスタルジーnostalgia
• 望郷ぼうきょうhomesickness
• 懐古かいこreminiscence
• 懐郷かいきょうnostalgia
• 懐旧かいきゅうreminiscence
• 里心さとごころhomesickness