Like Western and some Asian countries, Japan also celebrates Christmas. The holiday constitutes family gathering and placing decors. Unlike in Christian-majority countries, Christmas in Japan is treated as a secular (without religious connotation) or an unofficial holiday. If you’re religious you can visit Christian and Catholic churches that offer mass across Japanese cities. Planning to visit Japan or stay in the country this Christmas? Here we present facts on how the Japanese celebrate Christmas. By the way, the Japanese for Merry Christmas is Meri Kurisumasu, メリークリスマス (Katakana) and めりーくりすます (Hiragana).
Admire sparkling decors
During the season, Japanese cities illuminate with hundreds to thousands of LED lights hanging on trees, lining structures and figures. Here are some of the best spots to visit across the country.
Note: The months and dates are for references only. Organisers and the cities’ and towns’ local governments may change, cancel or reschedule the official months and dates due to unforeseen events and the ongoing pandemic. For updates, please refer to the websites below.
Photo by Kakidai and licensed under creative commons
-
Country Farm at Tokyo German Village
- Attraction: Enchanted fairytale garden dotted with 3 million LEDs
- Address: 419 Nagayoshi, Sodegaura City, Chiba
- Time: 9:30 am to 8:00 pm Between October and - late March
- Website: https://www.t-doitsumura.co.jp/
-
Tokyo Dome City
- Attraction: Winter illuminations in the style of Hansel and Gretel cottage
- Address: Near the station of Suidōbashi
- Time: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Early November - Mid-February
- Website: https://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/en/tourists/
-
Sagamiko illumillion
- Attraction: A bamboo forest decorated by open-air lanterns.
- Address: Near the Arashiyama station, 1634 Wakayanagi, Midori Ward, Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Time: 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm, early November to April
- Website: http://www.sagamiko-resort.jp/illumillion/
-
Starlight Garden at Tokyo Midtown
- Attraction: LED displays and nearby shops, restaurants and cafes
- Address: Near the station of Roppongi
- Time: 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm, mid-November - Late December
- Website: https://en.tokyo-midtown.com/
-
Osaka’s Hikari Renaissance
-
Attraction: Historic buildings lit up with entertaining decors. Nearby food-stalls
-
Address: Near Naniwabushi and Yodoyabashi stations, Osaka
-
Time: Mid to last week of December
-
Website: https://www.hikari-kyoen.com/en/
-
-
Nabana no Sato
- Attraction: Entrance decorated with a million lights
- Address: Near Nagoya Bus Station, Nagoya
- Time: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (Monday to Wednesday), 10 am to 10 pm (Friday to Sunday)
- Website: https://www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/
-
Shinjuku winter illumination
-
Attraction: Festive Christmas trees and lanterns
-
Address: Between 1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, and 2 Yoyogi, Shibuya City, Tokyo
-
Time: 5:00 pm to 11: 00 pm, mid-Nov 2020 (cancelled) to Mid Feb 2021
-
Make Christmas like Valentine’s day
Christmas is the holiday of giving and that’s why it’s also the other Valentine’s day because after all it’s a time of love and joy. Couples whether married or unmarried can spend the month in an open restaurant, nighttime stroll at illuminations and exchanging gifts.
Make Christmas-themed Japanese food
Photo by Mitantig and licensed under creative commons
The Japanese fuse traditional food with Christmas themes and Western influences. Here are some:
-
Yule log cake or Buche de Noel
Similar to swiss roll cake, yule log cake is akin to a traditional log covered with chocolate and chips to resemble bark and ridges. This log cake comprises a curled sheet of sponge cake with a spread. Here’s a recipe video.
-
Wagashi
In December, many people eat Wagashi as a part of dinner or a dessert. Wagashi refers to Japanese sweet or dessert that is available in different sizes, colour, shapes, toppings and mixture of ingredients. Mochi is one of the most popular forms of wagashi. It’s usually made from glutinous rice, and azuki beans and other ingredients depending on the type. The sweets are too cute to eat and therefore make excellent food decor in most Christmas dines. Examples of this sweet include:
(i) Sakura-mochi - Pink mochi wrapped with cherry leaf
(ii) Neri-yokan - Rectangular block of adzuki beans, sugar and Kanten (agar-agar seaweed)
(iii) Nerikiri - Made with sticky rice, white bean and flour, shaped into flowers and animals
-
KFC
KFC is a US fast-food chain with its main menus consisting of chicken. It has become a tradition for the Japanese to eat fast food every Christmas. The story began when KFC Japan manager Takeshi Okawara started the marketing plan named “Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii (Kentucky for Christmas) which brought the idea of chicken as a substitute for turkey.
Visit Christmas-themed places
Tokyo Christmas Market
December 16-25, 11am-11pm daily
Throughout the country, cities and towns host Christmas markets from the start until the end of winter. Among the most popular places to visit is the Tokyo Christmas market - a Western-style venue sponsored by the German embassy and German Tourism Association.
Christmas Shopping
Japan has a lot of malls that offer holiday shopping and Christmas-themed ornaments and trees as well as department stores. These include:
Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture
1 Chome-2-1 Kashiwadaiminami, Chitose, Hokkaido
902, Higashi Shiokoji Cho, Shimogyo Ward
2 Chome - 7 -70 Mattomiya, Tsurumi Ward, Osaka
5 Chome-52, Nakano City, Tokyo
2 Chome-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya City, Tokyo
6 Chome-10-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061
1-1-3 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023
6-10-1, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-6108
4-30-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0001
1-3-15, Aomi, Koutou-ku, Tokyo, 135-0064
Login with Google.jpg){kind=link}