How’s Christmas in Japan? A Unique, Quirky, and Surprisingly Romantic Holiday
If you think Christmas in Japan is all about cozy family gatherings, religious traditions, and Santa sliding down chimneys, think again. While Western countries celebrate Christmas as a family holiday rooted in religious traditions, Japan has turned it into something fun, flashy, and oddly romantic.
From eating KFC as the ultimate Christmas dinner to treating Christmas Eve like a second Valentine’s Day, Japan’s version of the holiday is a mix of borrowed traditions, brilliant marketing, and pure festive magic. Let’s take a look at how Japan does Christmas differently—and why it might just be the most unique place to celebrate the season.
1. Christmas in Japan is Basically Valentine’s Day 2.0
If you’re single in Japan during Christmas, brace yourself—this holiday is not for you. While most countries celebrate Christmas by spending time with family, decorating the tree, and stuffing their faces with turkey, Japan treats Christmas Eve like a romantic date night.
Couples book fancy restaurants, exchange expensive gifts, and go on dreamy walks under sparkling Christmas lights. If you don’t have a date, you might find yourself feeling a little left out—kind of like being the only single person at a wedding.
Many hotels also run “Christmas Couples’ Packages” because, well… let’s just say Christmas Eve in Japan is also a very popular night for hotel stays. If you ever wondered why Christmas falls exactly nine months before September, now you know.
2. KFC is the Ultimate Christmas Dinner – No, Seriously
Forget turkey, ham, or roast beef—in Japan, Christmas dinner means one thing: a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
How did this happen? It all started in the 1970s when KFC ran a brilliant marketing campaign called “Kentucky for Christmas.” The idea? Convince Japan that eating fried chicken for Christmas is an American tradition. Spoiler alert: It’s not. But Japan ran with it anyway, and now KFC is so deeply embedded in the country’s Christmas culture that people place their KFC Christmas orders weeks in advance.
That’s right—you can’t just walk into KFC on December 24th and expect to get a bucket of chicken. There are pre-orders, long lines, and even special Christmas-exclusive KFC meals that include wine, cake, and premium chicken. Imagine telling your American friends that your Christmas dinner was a luxury fried chicken combo meal.
Japan, we salute you.
3. Forget Christmas Cookies – It’s All About Strawberry Shortcake
While the rest of the world bakes gingerbread cookies and festive pies, Japan’s go-to Christmas dessert is strawberry shortcake.
This isn’t just any shortcake—it’s a beautiful, fluffy sponge cake topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. You’ll find it everywhere in December, from convenience stores to high-end bakeries. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, you can’t escape the national obsession with Christmas cake.
But here’s the kicker: Christmas cake also has a hidden meaning. In Japan, an unmarried woman over 25 used to be called “Christmas cake”—because, just like unsold cake after December 25th, she was considered “past her prime.” Ouch.
Luckily, that outdated idea has faded, but Christmas cake remains a delicious and essential part of Japan’s holiday season.
4. Christmas Lights in Japan Make Times Square Look Basic
If you love Christmas lights and over-the-top holiday displays, Japan takes it to another level. Every major city competes to create the most breathtaking, high-tech illuminations that make even Times Square look underwhelming.
Here are some of the best places to see Japan’s legendary Christmas lights:
- Tokyo Midtown & Roppongi Hills – High-tech LED displays that make you feel like you’re walking through a futuristic Christmas dream.
- Osaka’s Midosuji Avenue – A street covered in millions of lights, stretching for miles.
- Kobe Luminarie – A spectacular light festival created in remembrance of the 1995 earthquake, blending beauty with history.
If you want to impress your Christmas date, just take them to one of these light displays and act like you planned it all along.
5. Christmas Markets? Yes. Christmas Carols? Not So Much.
Japan has fully embraced the European-style Christmas market trend, with festive pop-ups in Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama. You’ll find mulled wine, German sausages, Christmas ornaments, and people pretending they know what eggnog is.
But if you’re hoping to hear Christmas carols and classic hymns, you’ll be disappointed. Most people in Japan don’t really know Christmas songs, except for the ones that play on repeat in shopping malls. That means you’re way more likely to hear Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” than “Silent Night.”
Honestly, Mariah Carey playing on a loop might be the most universal Christmas tradition of all time.
6. Christmas is Fun – But New Year’s is Serious Business
While Japan enjoys the festivities, shopping, and romantic vibes of Christmas, the real family holiday is New Year’s (Shogatsu).
New Year’s is when:
- Families gather for traditional meals and deep cleaning (to “start fresh” for the year).
- People visit shrines and temples for blessings.
- Everyone watches the first sunrise of the year as a symbol of hope.
While Christmas in Japan is a lighthearted, commercial holiday, New Year’s is when people reflect, reset, and reconnect with family.
Final Thoughts: Should You Spend Christmas in Japan?
Absolutely—if you love romantic holiday vibes, next-level illuminations, and the idea of eating KFC while surrounded by couples in matching outfits.
Japan’s take on Christmas is a fascinating blend of Western traditions, corporate marketing, and cultural reinterpretation. It may not have Santa coming down chimneys or children waiting for presents on Christmas morning, but it has its own unique magic.
So if you ever find yourself in Japan during Christmas, grab a bucket of KFC, buy a Christmas cake, and enjoy the dazzling lights—because Christmas here is unlike anywhere else in the world.
Would you celebrate Christmas the Japanese way? Let us know in the comments!