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Christmas is an internationally recognized holiday associated with important values such as generosity and familial bonds. To many people, it also has deep religious significance. For these reasons and others, Christmas is among the largest holidays in many countries.
But Christmas isn’t considered among the major Japanese holidays. Regardless, Japanese people have developed their own spin on Christmas traditions, which are a joy to experience if you have the chance!
When is Christmas in Japan?
As in other places, Christmas in Japan is December 25. Christmas Eve, December 24, is also treated with importance. The majority of Christmas light displays are set up during November, and Christmas markets start in late November or early December.
How big is Christmas in Japan?
The scale of Christmas in Japan is somewhere between that of St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween in the US. Most people participate to an extent, but it’s not unusual to throw large parties or simply abstain. There’s no expectation of time off from work, as it’s not a national holiday.
There are a few reasons Christmas is not as big in Japan. Christmas is relatively new there and was introduced through cross-cultural exchange. So, it doesn’t have the same degree of historical and traditional connection. Another reason Christmas is more toned down is the religious association, as only around 1% of the Japanese population is Christian. Finally, Christmas is shortly followed by New Year’s, which is the largest holiday in Japan.
Still, the appeal of Christmas is strongly felt, especially in its aesthetics. Japanese people embrace opportunities to put up beautiful kazari (飾り; decorations). Town squares and malls often have huge displays with Christmas trees. You’re also likely to hear Christmas music, giving you a similar shopping atmosphere to that of the West.
How to celebrate Christmas in Japan
Some people emulate traditions brought over by foreigners or seen depicted in film. Those who celebrate in a more Western style may partake in gift-giving and Christmas parties.
While people in other countries often emphasize relationships with family and friends, Japanese people primarily think of Christmas as a romantic holiday, similar to Valentine’s Day and White Day! Couples take the opportunity to have dates in a romantic winter setting. They hope for a white Christmas with yuki (雪; snow).
There are a few large-scale events that draw crowds during this season, namely Christmas light displays and German-inspired Christmas markets. These can be appreciated with any company, or even solo.
Japanese illumination
Instead of “Christmas lights,” Japanese people say iruminēshon (イルミネーション) based on the word “illumination.” Going to see iruminēshon is perhaps the most popular activity around Christmas in Japan. Huge crowds are drawn to various locations to appreciate the beauty. One such place is the Yomiuri Land theme park in Tōkyō, which keeps its elaborate displays up for months.
Although people in the US often decorate their private homes with lights and other flashy decorations, people in Japan typically don’t. Another difference in how Japanese people handle iruminēshon is that colors are not mixed or are minimally mixed. If you go to Yoyogi Park in December, you may see long lines of trees uniformly draped in blue.
Japanese Christmas markets
The Christmas markets that open in Japan are directly inspired by those originating in Germany. The Japanese versions mirror the charming appearance of the house-shaped stalls and warm lighting.
At these markets, you’ll find many adorable trinkets and general goods. Common items include candles, ornaments, and wooden dolls. The main draws, however, are the consumables. You’re bound to find German sausage, German cakes, and mulled wine (called Glühwein in German). If you buy a hot drink, you can receive a cute mug with a seasonal design!
Since the Christmas markets are very popular, yet space is limited, you’ll typically need to buy a ticket to enter. It’s highly recommended that you reserve your tickets beforehand. Prices vary depending on when you go, so to get the best deal, go on a weekday at least a few days before Christmas.
Japanese Christmas parties
More young people in Japan are opting to throw Christmas parties to enjoy time with friends. Home parties are common, but as restaurants in Japan typically don’t close on Christmas day, many people also go out to eat.
Interestingly, the first Christmas party held in Japan is very well-documented! It was hosted by a well-liked American teacher named William Elliot Griffis in 1871. Instead of stockings, he filled split-toed tabi (足袋) socks with candy to give to his guests. His legacy lives on with an annual celebration in the city of Fukui.
Gift giving on Christmas in Japan
Presents may be given to anyone, but the main recipients are children and significant others.
As you’d probably expect, toys are the most popular gifts for Japanese children. Kids who receive Christmas presents are extra fortunate because they’ll soon also be receiving New Year’s money called otoshidama (お年玉). Since New Year’s is the biggest holiday in Japan, more funds are dedicated to the latter.
Among couples, clothing items and accessories are popular gifts. Any gender can appreciate a warm scarf, which Japanese people call a mafurā (マフラー).
Is Santa part of Christmas in Japan?
Japanese people are well acquainted with the image of Santa and his tonakai (トナカイ; reindeer). They either refer to him as santa kurōsu (サンタクロース) or use a Japanese honorific and call him santa-san (サンタさん).
Many Japanese children believe Santa brings presents to their homes. An interesting deviation is that he isn’t said to come down the chimney, as those are rare in Japanese residences. Instead, parents may say he comes through the window, he can slip through tiny gaps, or he just magically appears.
While Japanese people enjoy putting on Santa hats, it is rare for them to fully dress up as Santa. Mall Santas are also uncommon.
Christmas foods in Japan
As Christmas is relatively new to Japan, there is no traditional Japanese food associated with the holiday. However, there are a couple of delicious Western-style foods that Japanese people gladly enjoy during this season!
KFC for Christmas
The fast food chain KFC is immensely popular throughout Asia. It first came to Japan in 1970 and took on the nickname kentakkī (ケンタッキー). For kentakkī, the busiest time of year is around Christmas.
Why is this? It’s said that foreigners visiting Japan longed to eat traditional Christmas foods like turkey, but there were none available. The most obvious alternative was chicken. As more people had the same thought and picked up chicken for Christmas, the marketing team for KFC saw a great opportunity. In 1974, they officially launched a “kentakkī for Christmas” campaign.
It’s so popular to eat chicken from kentakkī for Christmas that you’ll need to preorder! Just for the holiday, they even offer whole roasted chickens. You can start making order reservations in early November.
Kurisumasu kēki (Christmas cake)
A great celebration needs something sweet! In Japan, there is a particular style of cake referred to as kurisumasu kēki (クリスマスケーキ). This is a layered shortcake with fresh cream and strawberries.
Just as kentakkī started a tradition through advertising, a confectionary store named Fujiya was the first to advertise Christmas cakes in 1910. At first, though, they sold fruit cakes with a plum-flavored base. Throughout the years, they upgraded and sold different iterations of Christmas cakes. It wasn’t until 1967 that they hit upon the formula that continues to this day.
If you go to a bakery in Japan during winter, you’re sure to see the iconic white-cream-covered cake topped with strawberries. It has become such a recognizable symbol that it has its own emoji:
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Where to spend Christmas in Japan
Where you spend Christmas in Japan depends on who you’re celebrating with. If you’re celebrating with family, you’ll probably have a cozy gathering at home. If you’re celebrating with friends, you may hold a party at someone’s house or go to a restaurant. If you’re celebrating with a significant other, you can go anywhere you would on a typical nice date.
For those who want an experience that feels similar to a Japanese festival, check out a Christmas market or search for “illumination” events!
Words and phrases for Christmas in Japan
Because Christmas is a relatively modern holiday to Japanese people, most of the Japanese terms for Christmas-related things are Japanese loan words derived from English. Consequently, the only difference between the English and Japanese are some differences in pronunciation. Still, pronunciation is crucial to practice.
Reference this list to learn the Japanese pronunciation of Christmas terms:
| Japanese | Romanization | Pronunciation | English |
| メリークリスマス | merī kurisumasu | meh-RI koo-ree-soo-mah-soo | Merry Christmas |
| クリスマスイブ | kurisumasu ibu | koo-ree-soo-mah-soo ee-boo | Christmas Eve |
| クリスマスツリー | kurisumasu tsurī | koo-ree-soo-mah-soo tsoo-ree | Christmas tree |
| クリスマスパーティ | kurisumasu pātī | koo-ree-soo-mah-soo PAH-tee | Christmas party |
| フライドチキン | furaido chikin | foo-rye-doh chee-keen | fried chicken |
| ローストチキン | rōsuto chikin | roh-soo-toh chee-keen | roasted chicken |
| クリスマスマーケット | kurisumasu keki | koo-ree-soo-mah-soo KAY-kee | Christmas cake |
| クリスマスマーケット | kurisumasu māketto | koo-ree-soo-mah-soo MAH-keh-ttoh | Christmas market |
| マグカップ | magu kappu | mah-goo kah-POOH | mug (cup) |
| サンタクロース | santa kurōsu | sahn-tah koo-ROH-soo | Santa Claus |
| プレゼント | purezento | pooh-reh-zehn-toh | present |
| リボン | ribon | ree-bohn | ribbon |
| オーナメント | ōnamento | OHH-nah-mehn-toh | ornament |
Celebrate Christmas in Japan with Rosetta Stone
Christmas in Japan includes a mix of things familiar and distinct. You can certainly choose to celebrate the holiday in the same way as in your home country. You can also embrace a more Japanese way to celebrate, such as by going to see “illumination,” having a special winter date, or eating fried chicken.
Just by mastering Japanese pronunciation, you’ll quickly be able to join Japanese people in embracing the festivities! Rosetta Stone’s TruAccent speech recognition engine gives you immediate feedback, so you can start saying merī kurisumasu ( “Merry Christmas”) with confidence.