Christmas is in the air! While it isn’t a national holiday in Japan, since only about 1 percent of the whole population in Japan is Christian, it’s still felt throughout the country.
If you are visiting before the New Year in Japan, you will find many things traditionally associated with Christmas: decorations, Christmas markets, and magnificent lights. You can also discover a few unique Japanese traditions with numerous charms that can and should be appreciated in their own right. So while it may be a little different from what you might be used to, Christmas is still celebrated in the land of the rising sun.
To truly experience Christmas in Japan, there is no better way than with a Japan Rail Pass in hand. You will be able to travel all around Japan by train checking the sites. It is the easiest and most affordable way to see all that Japan has to offer.
One fun fact about the holiday season in Japan is that Christmas Eve (december 24) is the most romantic day of the year. It’s the Japanese version of Valentine’s Day. As a matter of fact, if you don’t have a date on Christmas Eve, you won’t want to be seen alone in public. Japanese couples, especially the youngest, book dinners at romantic restaurants, the stores sell romantic Christmas gifts, and the streets are decorated to perfection to embody this most romantic day.
This video is a walk through one of such celebration at Hibiya. Feel free to experience the lights, markets, etc via this video
You can also watch the illumination of Osaka using the below link
https://youtu.be/kKYskpn86l8
Tokyo Christmas
Christmas in Tokyo
Hibiya Christmas Illumination
Hibiya Christmas
Christmas in Japan