Experience the Festivities: How to Celebrate Christmas in Japan

Christmas in Japan is a captivating blend of Western traditions and Japanese customs, offering a unique take on the holiday season. Despite not being a traditional holiday in Japan, Christmas is celebrated with great enthusiasm, incorporating whimsy and local flavors into the festivities. This period is distinguished by spectacular light displays across the country, transforming cities into enchanting wonderlands of sparkling illumination that captivate both residents and visitors.

Highlights of Christmas in Japan:

Tokyo: transforms into a radiant winter wonderland with its stunning array of Christmas and winter lights. Elegant champagne-gold LEDs brighten the area near Tokyo Station at Marunouchi Illumination. Every corner of the city, including the fashion-forward illuminations of Shinjuku Minami Lumi and Omotesando, exudes a magical vibe. Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi Hills artfully mix creative designs with festive lighting, featuring magnificent Christmas trees. At the heart of these festivities, the Grand Hyatt Tokyo is ideally located on Keyakizaka Street, adorned with beautifully lit trees that stretch along the 1000-foot avenue in mesmerizing shades of blue and white. Adding a touch of luxury, Yebisu Garden Place features a Baccarat chandelier and a classic carousel, set near the Westin Tokyo. For a delightful outdoor adventure, The Meguro River Illumination turns the riverside into an enchanting spectacle with thousands of LEDs that echo the cherry blossoms of spring with their pink and white hues.

Osaka: Osaka’s Festival of Lights features the Midosuji Illumination, creating a dazzling tunnel of light along the city’s main thoroughfare, and the Osaka Hikari Renaissance, which brings artistic light installations to the Nakanoshima area. The city also hosts charming Christmas markets and other festive illuminations.

Hokkaido: For a White Christmas, Hokkaido is the destination of choice. The snowy landscapes and ski resorts, such as the Park Hyatt Niseko and Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, offer a quintessential winter wonderland experience.

Hotels: Across Japan’s major cities, hotels embrace the holiday spirit with Christmas-themed dining, buffets, and afternoon teas. Their lobbies and public spaces become festive wonderlands, adorned with lights, Christmas trees, and sometimes even miniature Christmas villages.

Theme Parks: Tokyo Disney Resort, including Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, goes all out for Christmas. The parks are transformed with decorations, lights, and holiday parades, featuring Disney characters in seasonal attire. Special holiday treats, exclusive merchandise, and spectacular nighttime shows make for a magical Christmas experience.

Christmas in Japan is a testament to the country’s ability to blend different cultural traditions into a unique and festive season, full of light, joy, and community.

In Japan, the Christmas experience blends both traditional and modern elements, creating a celebration that is both familiar and uniquely shaped by Japanese culture. Something I think everyone should experience.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Japan. In need of further inspiration? Check out Rod Carrillo-Lundgren’s guide, Tokyo to Sapporo: 8 Days Exploring Northern Japan.