{"id":12497,"date":"2019-12-10T13:00:54","date_gmt":"2019-12-10T13:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/?p=12497"},"modified":"2019-12-10T15:33:34","modified_gmt":"2019-12-10T15:33:34","slug":"christmas-in-japan-what-you-expect-when-you-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/christmas-in-japan-what-you-expect-when-you-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas in Japan: What You Can Expect When You Visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u30e1\u30ea\u30fc\u30af\u30ea\u30b9\u30de\u30b9 – that\u2019s Merry Christmas in Japanese!<\/strong><\/p>\n

It may not be a Christian country, but that doesn\u2019t stop Japan from getting into the Christmas spirit too. Stunning Christmas light and tree displays, seasonal food menus in restaurants and cafes as well as the shopping are the staple of the yuletide season. Welcome to Christmas in Japan.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you visit Japan during this season, you\u2019ll soon realise that Christmas is done a little differently. So what can you expect? What are the Japanese Christmas traditions? What can you do to get your Christmas fix!?<\/p>\n

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Have yourself a traditional Christmas<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Christmas-in-Japan-lights-at-a-shopping-mall\"<\/p>\n

Lights! Oh, the lights! Be that on Christmas trees or displays in city centres and shopping malls. Make no mistake; you\u2019ll see plenty of lights. Just don\u2019t expect them to last beyond the 25th<\/sup> December! 12 Days of Christmas don\u2019t exist! Christmas day is a typical working day for many so wander around Tokyo, and displays will have been replaced with New Year \u2013 a more important time for the Japanese.<\/p>\n

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Don’t forget the shopping<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Christmas-in-Japan-lights-and-christmas-tree-in-the-shopping-mall\"<\/p>\n

Fear not, the shopping malls from Sapporo to Osaka and beyond will be decked with holly and assorted Christmas decorations. Gift giving is not commonplace, but younger couples may buy each other a gift. To not get disappointed, don\u2019t expect Santa to deliver. You\u2019ll need to make some special arrangements with him (wink, wink).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anyone for Strawberry cake? <\/strong><\/h4>\n

If there is one Japanese Christmas food<\/a>, it would be Strawberry cake! It\u2019s often thought of as being Christmas cake here and enjoyed together throughout the lead up to the 25th\u00a0 <\/sup>\u00a0and beyond, especially birthdays. Cafes also get in on the act with their strawberry themed drinks \u2013 calories are definitely added during this time!<\/p>\n

And not to be outdone KFC \u2013 yes they of the chicken kind have been associated with Christmas in Japan since the early 1970s! Some pre-book a Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner weeks in advance! Also if you are trying to book a restaurant for Christmas Eve \u2013 good luck! That\u2019s couples night (much like Valentine\u2019s Day), so again be prepared to look around for a place.<\/p>\n


\n\"Christmas-in-Japan-a-bucket-of-KFC\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Tokyo Disneyland<\/a> Parades<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Head to a convenience store or Disney store, and you\u2019ll probably see queues of excited families snaking their way around the shop floor! Tokyo Disneyland have their Christmas parade throughout December and to say that it\u2019s popular is perhaps an understatement! It\u2019s an essential part of the season and to miss out\u2026well, it\u2019s not worth thinking about.<\/p>\n