How Do Japanese People Celebrate Christmas? A Complete Guide to Enjoying the Holiday Season in Japan

In Japan, many people see Christmas as a special day for couples to spend romantic time together.
Common ideas include going on a date to see illumination events or visiting a theme park hosting Christmas events. Many couples also enjoy a special dinner at an upscale restaurant.
Exchanging gifts during dinner is another popular tradition.

In families with small children, it’s common to host a home party on Christmas Eve or Christmas night.
People decorate a Christmas tree indoors and add seasonal ornaments to fill the house with a festive Christmas mood.
Many families enjoy Western-style dishes such as KFC fried chicken and pizza, along with cake, at their home parties.
It’s also common for Santa’s presents for children to be placed by their pillows, instead of under the tree.

Many people like to spend Christmas in a lively way with friends. They go out drinking together, host Christmas parties at home, or head out to bowling alleys or karaoke.
Some also enjoy dressing up in Christmas-themed costumes, such as Santa or reindeer.

The biggest charm of Hokkaido’s illuminations is the unique contrast between snow and light.
Light reflects off snowfields and snow walls, adding depth and creating a soft glow you won’t see in the big cities.
Each area and facility plans illuminations with their own story. You can also enjoy them together with food stalls, strolls, and hot springs, which is very Hokkaido-like.
The events usually run for a long period, so they’re perfect if you want to spend Christmas in a snowy setting.
If you’re planning a Christmas trip to Hokkaido, try to visit the illumination events introduced below.

Tokyo’s illuminations are known for their large scale that makes full use of urban spaces.
Skyscrapers and tree-lined streets are lit up with stylish LEDs. You can enjoy a chic, grown-up atmosphere that blends with business districts and shopping areas.
There are many artistic installations and photo spots that look great on social media, so simply strolling around becomes a sightseeing experience.
Nearly 150 events take place across the city. Areas like Omotesando and Shibuya offer trend-conscious displays, while Roppongi and Akasaka feel more luxurious, so you can enjoy different styles depending on the neighborhood.
Here are three popular illumination events in Tokyo that are well worth a visit.

Illuminations in Osaka and Kobe combine light with local features such as rivers, the sea, historic buildings, and commercial complexes, giving them an impressive sense of scale.
Osaka’s events focus strongly on entertainment. Entire areas become zones of light, so they are perfect if you want to enjoy lively city lights along with shopping and food.
Kobe, on the other hand, offers a romantic and solemn mood created by its port town scenery and international atmosphere. It suits those who want to slowly take in emotional, story-like night views.
Here are three of the most iconic illumination events.
Each one has different production and staging, so choose according to your taste and who you are traveling with.

Besides the areas and events introduced so far, all kinds of illumination events are held across Japan during the Christmas season.
Starting with the “Three Great Illuminations of Japan,” light festivals that reflect each region’s unique character offer visitors special winter-only experiences.
From Hokkaido to Okinawa, check out the article below for a roundup of famous illumination events across Japan that will make your winter trip even more memorable.
You can hop between multiple illumination spots in one area, or enjoy them together with sightseeing spots and hot springs.

This popular event recreates an authentic traditional German Christmas market.
In 2025, its 16th year, the theme is “Time.” It will be held at three venues: the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Event Plaza, Red Brick Park, and Shinko Central Square.
In the main venue, 61 shops open in wooden huts, and the romantic seaside setting enhances the Christmas mood.
You can enjoy hearty German-style food such as Glühwein (hot wine) and sausages, as well as browse stylish goods at general stores. It’s perfect for both snacking and shopping.
The main highlight is a huge 12 m real fir tree, the largest ever for this event.
Its dazzling shine, created by over 20,000 LED lights and the latest digital technology, is truly impressive.

This large event has been held since 2015 and is known as a place in Tokyo where you can enjoy an authentic German-style Christmas market.
In 2025, it will take place at two venues: Meiji Jingu Gaien and Shiba Park (in front of Onarimon Station).
The Meiji Jingu Gaien venue is themed on Grimm’s fairy tales and European stories. Colorful lights and music create a magical atmosphere that wraps the whole town.
There are plenty of cute-looking drinks and food that invite visitors into a dreamlike Christmas world.
Meanwhile, the Shiba Park venue recreates the atmosphere of Dresden, the capital of a state in eastern Germany. Wooden huts line up around a 14-meter-tall Christmas pyramid.
Photos taken here with nearby Tokyo Tower in the background are especially popular.

A genuine Christmas market that carries on the traditions of Munich in Germany, Sapporo’s sister city.
It takes place at a special venue in Odori Park 2-chome, right by Odori Station on the Namboku, Toho, and Tozai subway lines.
It is next to the Odori venue of the “Sapporo White Illumination” mentioned above, so it is a great idea to visit both together.
The romantic setting created by the snowy scenery and wooden huts lets you feel just like you are in Germany.
There are plenty of Highlights, including the illuminated symbolic object in the center, rope light displays, and Santa Claus greetings.
You can also enjoy German sausages, pretzels, roasted almonds, and more. The chance to see, eat, and experience everything at once is part of the appeal.
Free admission is another nice highlight.

A large illumination and Christmas market event held at 12 venues in Fukuoka City and Kitakyushu City.
It began in 2013 and has drawn a total of Approx 12 million visitors, making it a winter tradition in Fukuoka.
Under the theme “Five Senses Christmas – A Christmas to enjoy with all five senses,” the whole area is connected by bands of light, and visitors can enjoy art, food, and music.
On top of the sparkling illuminations, there are plenty of Highlights such as the “Fukuoka Classic Music Festival” and “KBC FESTA de SANTA,” which brings together Approx 130 Santas.

A popular Christmas market held at Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens in Kitano-cho, Chuo Ward, Kobe.
The entire area around the old castle at an elevation of Approx 400 meters transforms into a Christmas wonderland. You can enjoy a superb view of Kobe’s cityscape and the sea below.
In 2025, the theme is “Botanical Christmas.” Heartwarming displays that make use of nature will appear throughout the garden.
Among them, the main highlight is the “Forest Christmas Tree” standing in the garden area.
A 25-meter-tall dawn redwood is decorated with Approx 1,600 bulbs. The magical collaboration of illuminations, lit-up autumn leaves, and night views is unique to this garden.
To reach the venue, take the Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway to the mountaintop station, which takes Approx 10 minutes, then walk a few minutes.

The world‑famous theme park Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu, Chiba, is a “kingdom of dreams and magic” where you can forget everyday life and fully immerse yourself in the fun.
“Disney Christmas” is the name of the special winter event that fills the park with festive fun all day long.
The top highlight in 2025 is the brand-new daytime parade “Toys Wonderous Christmas!”, the first major update in 10 years.
Don’t miss the magical scenes created by Disney friends and toys born in Santa Claus’s toy factory.
At night, you can enjoy the Christmas version of the “Electrical Parade Dreamlights” and “Starbright Christmas,” a stunning fireworks show set to Christmas songs.

Tokyo DisneySea is one of Japan’s leading theme parks, alongside Tokyo Disneyland.
Set around seven ports themed on the sea, it offers a unique world view and a more relaxed atmosphere that adults can also enjoy.
“Disney Christmas” is a special winter‑only event.
One thing you can’t miss is “Disney Christmas Greeting,” held at the Mediterranean Harbor.
Mickey Mouse, Duffy and their friends, together with Santa Claus, arrive on a Christmas‑themed boat and perform cute dances to the music.
Another highlight is the approx 15 m‑tall Christmas tree rising over American Waterfront, along with special photo spots, limited-edition merchandise, and seasonal food.

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in Konohana Ward, Osaka, is a world‑class entertainment theme park.
It features many immersive attractions based on Hollywood movies and popular characters.
“Universal Christmas Joy,” first held in 2025, is the new Christmas event replacing “NO LIMIT! Christmas” from 2022–2024.
The first edition is themed “Today, I’ll decorate it myself,” and suggests a new way to spend Christmas by choosing your own style of happiness.
There are many highlights, but the night show “Light Up the Night – Christmas Celebration” at Gramercy Park is a must‑see.
Experience the heartwarming story created by lights, music, and snowfall effects right in the park.

Huis Ten Bosch’s “Kingdom of Light” is counted as one of Japan’s three greatest illumination displays.
At the “Kingdom of Light,” you can enjoy illuminations all year round, and there are seasonal events too.
One of them is the winter event “European Holy Christmas.”
In the central area of Huis Ten Bosch, “Amsterdam City,” the “Christmas Square” returns this year, where the European-style streets are decorated with Christmas ornaments in every direction.
New to “Christmas Square” is the “Grand Chandelier Tree,” where countless lights and crystals overlap to create a breathtaking glow.
This chandelier-inspired tree has a completely new design, and its magical, glamorous shine wraps the town in light.
The Christmas Town, where a Christmas market opens, is another highlight of the event.

Yomiuriland is one of Tokyo’s classic amusement parks, located across Inagi City in Tokyo and Kawasaki City in Kanagawa.
Every year from winter to spring, it hosts the illumination event “Jewellumination.”
Even in Tokyo, where many illumination events take place, this one is known for its outstanding popularity and scale.
The park sparkles with illuminations using the world’s first LEDs inspired by gemstone colors. Visitors can enjoy all kinds of experiences in a dreamlike, fantastical space. A fountain show with powerful laser and flame effects is another must-see.

Trips during the Christmas season are popular all over Japan, and it can be very hard to book restaurants and hotels at the last minute.
Reservations generally open Approx 2–3 months in advance. After November, options for the peak period of December 23–25 start to shrink.
In city centers, around theme parks, and for packages with special Christmas dinners included, reservations can sell out as soon as they open.
So if you want to spend your ideal Christmas with your preferred plan or at your chosen venue, it’s best to fix your dates and destination as early as possible and make your bookings right away.

During the Christmas season, especially on December 24 and 25, public transportation gets very crowded.
Stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area and near illumination events and theme parks fill up with visitors, and trains are packed both ways.
The peak hours from Approx 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. overlap with the evening rush, so entry restrictions and major delays are more likely.
It can also be hard to secure tickets for Shinkansen and flights, and if you take a bus, expect traffic jams on expressways and regular roads.
Getting around tends to take longer than usual, so plan a schedule with plenty of buffer time.

Nights during the Christmas season can get colder than you might expect, no matter which area you visit.
Illumination events and Christmas markets usually involve walking around outside, so don’t forget to bundle up.
In especially cold areas like Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, warm items such as thick coats, scarves, gloves, hats, earmuffs, boots, and pocket warmers are essential.
In relatively mild regions like Kyushu and Okinawa, it’s a good idea to bring a light down jacket or a light coat.
Because the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors can be large, layered outfits that are easy to put on and take off (layering) are recommended.
You can adjust your body temperature easily depending on the situation and stay comfortable.