Japan provides an experience unlike any other if you’re looking for a holiday season with vibrant lights, cultural traditions, and a one-of-a-kind blend of East and West. Japan has embraced the holiday season in its own exclusive way, particularly in Tokyo, despite the fact that Christmas is not a holiday that is traditionally observed in the country. Japan transforms into one of its most significant cultural celebrations as the New Year approaches, making it the ideal destination for a travel experience that combines modern day celebrations with deeply rooted spiritual practices. Let’s take a look at what makes Christmas in Tokyo and the beginning of the new year so special and fun in Japan.
A Festive Paradise in Tokyo
While Christmas in Japan is certainly not a religious occasion or a holiday, Tokyo illuminates during the season with fabulous culture, happy beauties, and a lively environment. The capital city takes on a magical glow, making it ideal for tourists seeking a different kind of Christmas.
Spectacular Winter Illuminations
The incredible winter illuminations that spread in the city are one of the highlights of Christmas in Tokyo. Tokyo becomes a glittering wonderland as competing neighborhoods compete to put on the most spectacular displays.
Some of the best spots to see these light displays include:
Shibuya Blue Cave: A captivating passage of blue lights that stretches along Shibuya’s streets, creating a stunning visual experience.
Yebisu Garden Place: Home to an immense Baccarat precious stone ceiling fixture, this location offers a more lovely and modern holiday vibe with its heartfelt lighting and European-style decoration.
Tokyo Midtown: It is located in the Roppongi region. Tokyo Midtown has one of the city’s most well known light shows, highlighting over half a million LED lights across its stretched out nursery.
Christmas Markets and Shopping
Tokyo embraces the Christmas market culture with its own extraordinary energy. While sipping mulled wine, you can enjoy the Tokyo Christmas Market in Hibiya Park, which features stalls selling gifts, festive foods, and ornaments. Different business sectors, similar to the one at Roppongi Slopes, offer a comparable encounter, with an emphasis on German-style food, wooden specialties, and holiday spirit.
Shopping is also a huge part of Tokyo’s Christmas culture. In the city, department stores and malls like Ginza and Omotesando go all out with extravagant holiday decorations and sales. It’s the perfect time to pick up unique gifts or engage in some retail therapy in one of the world’s best shopping cities.
Quirky Japanese Christmas Traditions
Over the years, Japan has established its own amusing and unconventional Christmas culture. One of the most renowned is the custom of eating KFC on Christmas Day! Since its inception in the 1970s, this strange but beloved culture has grown into a national event. To observe the season, couples and families order fried chicken from KFC weeks in advance.
Another must-try is Japanese Christmas cake, a light wipe cake finished with strawberries and whipped cream. This sweet is a Christmas staple, and you’ll track down it in pastry shops all over Tokyo during the Christmas season.
New Year in Japan: A Relaxed Start to the Year
Christmas is a fun and festive holiday in Tokyo, but New Year’s Day is a very important cultural holiday in Japan. It is celebrated with family gatherings, spiritual reflection, and peaceful rituals. In Japan, here are some tips for having a peaceful start to the new year.
Hatsumode: The First Shrine Visit
Hatsumode, or the first visit to a shrine or temple to pray for good fortune in the coming year, is one of the most significant cultural practices associated with the Japanese New Year. Many people visit shrines at midnight on December 31 or in the early days of January because it is a peaceful and spiritual experience.
Toshikoshi Soba: Eating for Longevity
Many Japanese families eat toshikoshi soba on New Year’s Eve, a simple bowl of buckwheat noodles that represents the end of the old year and the beginning of the new one. It is believed that consuming the long noodles in the coming year will guarantee a long and healthy life.
On New Year’s Eve, toshikoshi soba is served at many Tokyo restaurants; however, if you want a truly local experience, you should think about going to a small, family-owned soba shop.
Osechi Ryori: Traditional New Year’s Feast
New Year’s Day in Japan is frequently enjoyed with family, and the customary dinner, known as osechi ryori, has a major impact on the festival. Osechi is a multicourse meal served in lacquered boxes. Each dish represents a different wish for the coming year, such as happiness, health, and prosperity.
You can attempt osechi at some very good quality inns or request extraordinary osechi boxes from retail chains and eateries. It’s a tasty way to get a taste of Japanese culture and start the year with a meaningful meal.
Fukubukuro: Lucky Bags for New Year Shopping
For the people who love shopping, New Year in Japan additionally brings the fukubukuro (fortunate pack) custom. It’s a fun and exciting way to start the year because many stores offer mystery bags that contain items that are worth more than the price of the bag. Everyone sells these lucky bags, from electronics shops to fashion boutiques, and customers line up early to get the best ones.
Conclusion
Western Christmas celebrations and traditional Japanese New Year’s traditions collide in fascinating ways during Japan’s holiday season. Japan promises a holiday experience unlike any other, whether you choose to stroll through Tokyo’s illuminated streets, indulge in quirky Christmas customs, or embrace a tranquil start to the new year with a spiritual shrine visit.
This year, why not skip the usual and engage yourself with a Christmas and New Year experience in Japan? As you celebrate the start of the new year in a truly unique way, you’ll come away with priceless memories and a sense of calm.