The most wonderful time of the year has come early to Japan Market, and we can already feel the sparkle of Christmas magic in the air!
Although Christmas is a relatively recent tradition in Japan, it has blossomed into a beloved celebration of lights, giving, and joy. Cities across Japan shine with festive lights and the sound of cheerful music. However, the way Christmas is enjoyed in Japan is a little different from how we celebrate in Canada.
We encourage you to discover some of the most amazing events happening in Japan this holiday season, and learn how Christmas is celebrated in Japan.
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In Japan, Christmas is not usually celebrated in a religious way, but the joy and sparkle of the season are everywhere. The country has warmly adopted the festive traditions we all know and love, from twinkling lights to heartwarming gifts and shared treats.
People enjoy spending time with family, partners, and friends; admiring city illumination displays, and listening to festive music. In addition its common for businesses to get into the festive spirit with commercial initiatives such as holiday sales, Christmas cake, fried chicken, and gift exchanges. In fact, Christmas in Japan is often viewed as a romantic occasion, so many couples exchange gifts and spend the day together like a special date. And just so you know, Christmas isn’t a public holiday in Japan, so December 25th is usually a normal work or school day.
During the Christmas season, illumination displays and Christmas markets are held across the country, and entire cities are filled with a festive atmosphere. Interestingly, Japan also has a unique custom of eating KFC at Christmas, which many people consider the “traditional” Christmas meal in Japan. This is a charming and unique cultural point compared to other countries.
So let’s take a look and see how Japan celebrates the season! 🎄✨
Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo (Hokkaido)
Sapporo has a sister-city relationship with Munich, Germany.
The Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo began as part of their international friendship exchange.
At the event, you’ll find booths offering traditional German Christmas foods such as glühwein (mulled wine), along with a variety of Christmas goods and decorations.
The market brings a warm and festive Christmas atmosphere to the streets of Sapporo during the winter season.
Christmas Market in Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse（Kanagawa）
The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse was originally built in the 1910s as a customs warehouse to support the development of Yokohama Port as an international trading hub. Incorporating advanced architectural techniques from Germany and the United States at the time, it served as one of Japan’s most modern logistics facilities. Although it later lost its original function, the buildings were preserved and restored, and today they are cherished as iconic cultural and tourist landmarks in Yokohama.
During the holiday season, the Red Brick Warehouse hosts one of Japan’s most famous Christmas markets. The venue features traditional wooden “hütte” stalls, festive decorations, and ornaments imported directly from Germany—the birthplace of Christmas markets. Visitors can enjoy an authentic Christmas atmosphere with warm lights, seasonal foods, mulled wine, and handcrafted gifts, all set against the historic red-brick backdrop.
European Holy Christmas (Nagasaki)
Nagasaki has a deep historical connection with the Netherlands.
During the Edo period(16th–18th centuries), Japan practiced a national isolation policy known as sakoku, which restricted contact with most foreign countries. However, the Netherlands was the only European country permitted to trade with Japan, and the trade gateway was Dejima, a small artificial island in Nagasaki.
Through the Dutch, various forms of European knowledge—such as medicine, science, cartography, architecture, and culture—were introduced to Japan. This influence is known as “Rangaku” (Dutch Studies) and played an important role in Japan’s modernization.
Today, this historical connection is reflected at Huis Ten Bosch, an amusement park modeled after Dutch towns. Each year, the park hosts a Christmas Market, where the entire area is illuminated with spectacular lights. Visitors can enjoy a festive Christmas atmosphere that feels just like being in the Netherlands—right here in Japan.
Tokyo Christmas Market (Tokyo)
The Tokyo Christmas Market features a 14-meter-tall Christmas pyramid brought from Seiffen, Germany—famous as the home of traditional Christmas ornaments. Since 2015, this outdoor event has recreated the authentic atmosphere of a European Christmas market, with stalls offering glühwein, holiday sweets, and European-style Christmas ornaments.
Festive of Lights in Osaka (Osaka)
In January 2015, the Midosuji Illumination was recognized with a world record for having the most illuminated street trees.
Along Osaka’s main avenue Midosuji, visitors can enjoy a spectacular display of lights stretching over 4 kilometers.
In addition, various illumination programs are held across different areas of Osaka, each showcasing the unique charm and character of its local community.
With so many styles and themes, you can experience a wide variety of festive light displays throughout the city.
You may be surprised to see how actively Christmas is celebrated in Japan. Following Christmas, Japan prepares for its biggest annual event—New Year, which is also a major vacation season.
There are so many Christmas events happening all over Japan, so if you’re curious, definitely take a look and make plans for your next trip to Japan!
