The highest-selling singles in Japan are ranked in the Oricon Singles Chart, which is published by Oricon Style magazine. The data are compiled by Oricon based on each singles' physical sales. This list includes the singles that reached the number one place on that chart in 1986.
| Issue date | Song | Artist(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 6 | "" | Akiko Kobayashi | [1] |
| January 13 | "" | Eri Nitta | |
| January 20 | |||
| January 27 | |||
| February 3 | "" | Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi | |
| February 10 | "" | Yukiko Okada | |
| February 17 | "Desire (Jōnetsu)" | Akina Nakamori | |
| February 24 | Momoko Kikuchi | ||
| March 3 | "Jā ne" | Onyanko Club | |
| March 10 | "" | Akie Yoshizawa | |
| March 17 | |||
| March 24 | "" | Misato Watanabe | |
| March 31 | "" | Sonoko Kawai | |
| April 7 | |||
| April 14 | "" | Nyangilas | |
| April 21 | "" | Eri Nitta | |
| April 28 | |||
| May 5 | "Otto CHIKAN!" | Onyanko Club | |
| May 12 | "" | Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi | |
| May 19 | "" | Sayuri Kokushō | |
| May 26 | "" | Momoko Kikuchi | |
| June 2 | "" | Satomi Fukunaga | |
| June 9 | "Gypsy Queen" | Akina Nakamori | |
| June 16 | "" | The Checkers | |
| June 23 | "" | Sanae Jonouchi | |
| June 30 | "" | Nyangilas | |
| July 7 | "" | Mamiko Takai | |
| July 14 | "" | Sonoko Kawai | |
| July 21 | "" | Shonentai | |
| July 28 | "" | Minayo Watanabe | |
| August 4 | "Osaki ni Shitsurei" | Onyanko Club | |
| August 11 | "" | Eri Nitta | |
| August 18 | "" | ||
| August 25 | "" | Sayuri Kokushō | |
| September 1 | "Aozora no Kakera" | Yuki Saito | |
| September 8 | "" | Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi | |
| September 15 | "" | Momoko Kikuchi | |
| September 22 | "" | Akie Yoshizawa | |
| September 29 | "" | Mamiko Takai | |
| October 6 | "Fin" | Akina Nakamori | |
| October 13 | "" | ||
| October 20 | "" | Marina Watanabe | |
| October 27 | "" | Minayo Watanabe | |
| November 3 | "" | Sonoko Kawai | |
| November 10 | "Koi wa Question" | Onyanko Club | |
| November 17 | "" | ||
| November 24 | "" | Eri Nitta | |
| December 1 | "" | Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi | |
| December 8 | "" | Shonentai | |
| December 15 | "" | Sayuri Kokushō | |
| December 22 | "" | C-C-B | |
| December 29 | "" | Mamiko Takai |