Christmas in Japan is lovely but it’s all about Winter Illuminations and end of year parties.
So I’m being the Tokyo Grinch here but it does require a bit more work to make it feel festive.
Here are the things that make it extra special for us. Because you kind of need to plan ahead and be your own Christmas angel ahead of time – to avoid the homesickness monster.
The makings of an awesome Christmas in Japan.
It does require more preparation. It requires flexibility. It requires being open-minded and reminding yourself that this is Japan and it’s meant to be different. It also requires remembering that other people around you might be missing their own kind of Christmas – even if they are from the exact same home town as you – everyone does it a bit differently right? The timing of the presents, the kinds of food, the gigantic vs big Christmas.
IT’S ALL IN THE PREPARATION FOR TOKYO WINTER
I would start to draw up the things that you love about your Christmas Day and meal and what you’re not willing to do without.
Can you get those things here? Can you order those ingredients from overseas? Can you tweak something here to make it a little bit closer to what you would normally like?
My husband gets bread sauce ingredients sent and we always try and do a version of pigs in blankets – no matter what country we are in.
As for me, I really really love for our whole family to have Christmas themed pyjamas for Christmas Eve – the snuggly the better – a real novelty after growing up in a country that has Christmas in the summertime.
AND GOING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION FOR THE TOKYO WINTER THINGS YOU CAN’T MAKE HAPPEN
For those options that are no… you can’t manage them here… I highly recommend giving them a brand new ‘vision’ this year. Have a sense of humour about it… go the opposite way.
In what way can you add an usual Japanese flavour to your Christmas this time?
One of my first christmases as an adult in Japan I got together with another Aussie, and two American friends and we decided to all do a Family Style roast dinner ( we all lived in tiny one room apartments with no oven) at one of the major hotels in Osaka , close to where we were living at the time. We were devastated to learn, when we got there that the restaurant had some sad pieces of tinsel and the Christmas Dinner was a bit of a sad buffet style that kind of felt like a crappy hotel breakfast…
We all wanted to have a little cry.
But I’m glad to say that we all helped it turn a corner when we decided to put a spin on it and do it our way instead of complaining. From memory, we went for drinks in an Irish pub, took a whole bunch of tacky Christmas themed print club (those photo booth stickers) and, in a spur of the moment decision, we all jumped on the train and took ourselves to Universal Studios – so ‘over-the-top’ adorned with all things jolly that even Jaws had a Christmas wreath around this neck.
So I think its about improvising and compromising.
A few years ago, agirlfriend of mine went for a Harajuku inspired candy coloured Christmas tree and another decided to decorate as much of her home with Christmas themed origami.
Another friend was really frustrated with the Christmas Cake idea here (in Japan, the thing to do on Christmas Eve is to each a white and red sponge cake. Have a look around and you’ll see the signs for the pre-order options in the department stores and even convenience stores. White is the whipped cream. Red are fresh strawberries) as it made him so homesick that this was the only tradition some of his Japanese friends thought to be Christmassy.
He was getting so annoyed that he decided to go the other way. He ordered six of them. He adorned the whole table with 6 Christmas cakes and decorated around them with tinsel and lights. I think there was almost one cake per person, from memory. It was fun and we all digged in with teaspoons and clutching Chu-hais (sake mixed with soft drinks) for Christmas afternoon.
Another friend of mine was only to be in Japan for one year and this would be her only Japanese Christmas. She wanted it to be as Japanese as possible so they had Japanese friends over. Everyone wore kimonos. They all cooked tempura and made rice balls and gyoza.
I love how creative people can be!
Why not just GO for different?
PLAN YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS IN TOKYO DECORATIONS
Bring as many decorations from overseas as you can manage. The range is more limited and expensive here.
It’s cliche but I do lots of decorations shopping at Ikea.
I also love one brand of 100 yen shop called Seria
And I just bought my Christmas table decorations at Tokyu Hands (the shop has changed its name and it is now just called “Hands.” These were made in the UK.
And this advent calendar ( Tokyu Hands.)
BUY CHRISTMAS COOKIES & SMALL FESTIVE GIFTS
Dean & Deluca always have beautiful iced cookies and ready wrapped treats for if you’re popping into someone’s house in Japan.
REVEL IN THE FACT THAT ALMOST EVERYTHING IS STILL OPEN!
Your favourite restaurants, the parks, the playcentres, the bowling alleys, the cinemas. Christmas is not a national holiday here so see what is the most random thing you could do for part of your Christmas Day.
TAKE CHRISTMAS PRINT CLUBS
They are cheesy but so fun and we never regret them.
My favorite print club spot is Moreru Mignon in Shibuya. More information and details in my Shibuya with Kids suggestions.
KEEP UP (OR START) NEW CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
I know this isn’t quintessentially Japanese but my friends and relatives remind me just how Japanese I am when I do this stuff. Hahahaha. Laugh all you like but a reindeer sandwich just tastes “jolly” ok?
A Santa pizza is all fun and games until he comes out of the oven like Freddie Krueger….
IF YOU KNOW YOU’RE LIKELY TO BE HOMESICK – GO WAAAAYYYYY CHEESIER THAN EVER BEFORE
Order some Christmas jumpers online.
Book a cheesy cheesy Christmas show at Tokyu Theatre Orb ( I bought my tickets to the Christmas Wonderland show this week.)
FYI ! FOLLOW UP ! We went to this show ! It was fantastic !!! It was cheesy and soooo well done. We absolutely looooved it. Probably the cutest Tokyo Christmas thing we did for Christmas 2018 in Tokyo! Recommend!!! It was a properly broadway Christmas themed – musical.
The Grand Hyatt in Roppongi is always decorated for Christmas..
The bakery at the restaurant Fiorentina, just off the lobby, also sells the most beautiful iced cookies. Themed according to the season.
OUTSOURCE CHRISTMAS DINNER
Preorder chicken or turkey at an international supermarket, preorder at Costco.
Contact a lot of the big hotels around you and see what they have organized too. Try British & Irish pubs, Australian sports bars… you’re not the only one looking for special treats.
GET CRAFTY
Two christmases ago we bought a big old Ikea couch. The box then became our Gingerbread House. It was so much fun that it was so sad when it had to come down.
All of the “accessories” ( including the tape) were from the 100 yen shop.
GO CRAZY ON THE JAPANESE CHRISTMAS CARDS
They are the cutest. My favourites are the Sanrio store options. My family know we give the best Japanese Christmas Cards each year – thanks, Japan.
And I’ve heard that this card is sold at the Post Office but I found mine at Tokyu Hands in Takashimaya, Shinjuku. ( For other things in and around this department store see my post on Shinjuku with kids . )
This is probably my most favourite Japanese card ever. Little Santas out for sushi! And the sushi train moves slightly when the card opens and closes.
I also love Erica Ward’s cards – used as Christmas cards too.
GO FOR JAPAN THEMED PRESENTS FOR FRIENDS & FAMILY OVERSEAS
See my ‘Love From Japan’ gift suggestions and my Japan gift ideas for children here.
PLAN YOUR EVENTS
In Japan it is all about the Christmas illuminations and the dinners with the pretty view of the city.
EXPLORE WINTER ILLUMINATIONS AROUND MIDTOWN AND KEIYAKIZAKA STREET, ROPPONGI
We love it every single year.
Illuminations in this area continue up until a few days after Christmas.
If you’re clever, you’ll have dinner at one of the Midtown restaurants on the park side of the complex beforehand. I recommend Pizzeria-Trattoria Napule which has a terrace that overlooks the illumination. Here are more Roppongi with kids recommendations.
There is also often an iceskating rink set up behind Tokyo Midtown.
The sun sets so early at the moment that, if you’re going with kids, I highly recommend going right at 5pm and also missing the “after dinner” crowds.
Don’t forget to take pictures on the angle so that you can also see Tokyo Tower.
CHRISTMAS TREE OUTSIDE OF TOKYO TOWER
Between 4pm – 10pm.
There is also a light projection show at the Observation Deck of the Tower called City Light Fantasia.
It is on every night until February 3, 2019. From 6pm – 10:50pm ( project starts every thirty minutes.)
We’ve been to several of these projection shows before and they are short but kept my kids entertained and made a night time Tokyo Tower trip feel a bit more special.
See here for other things to do in and around Tokyo Tower.
THE WOBBLE-HEAD, JUMPING CASTLE DWARVES IN HIROO
It’s not a major event but my kids just love the wobbly guys. They bob along all of December. My little boy likes to punch them out and my little girl likes to pretend that they she is Snow White.
(These can be found outside of the new Dean & Deluca in Hiroo. )
MT FUJI SIGHTSEEING
I’ve mentioned it before in previous posts but blue Winter skies are the BEST time to see Mt Fuji. It is so much easier to see Fuji in all her glory. Here are my Mt Fuji with Kids trip suggestions.
TEAM LAB EVENTS
Team Lab events are definitely worth including in your Winter plans.
I recommend Team Lab Planets
Book in advance to make sure you get the days/ times you like.
ICING BISCUITS , OUR FAMILY TRADITION
We now ice with icing sugar but, when my kids were smaller, we used greek yoghurt and fruit.
And , to be completely honest, I used to bake the cookies but…since having a second child the store bought variety seems to do the same job…..
And , of course, indoor activities with kiddies are a must!
DISNEY CHRISTMAS
Apart from being at home with my family, my favourite place to spend Christmas is at the Tokyo Disney Resort. It makes the Grinchiest grinch feel all festive – promise. I challenge you to be grumpy here at this time of year!
If you are having a hard time choosing which Disney Park in Tokyo is best for your family, see my post here. *But go to both if you can!!
And once you’ve decided on which works best for you… my Disneyland tips are here and Disney Sea tips are here. * Another tip : January 1st – 5th is almost a ghost town (well… for Tokyo, I mean, of course) at Disney Resort. If you’re in town – go then! go then!
Early January is usually very very vacant at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Use a crowd prediction calendar to see which days at Tokyo Disney will be the least busy.
Many of the restaurants have special Christmas menus at this time of year too.
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, KNOW THAT JAPANESE NEW YEAR ISN’T FAR AWAY
I always tell friends that Christmas in Japan can be a bit meggghhh if you don’t plan ahead but New Years in Japan is amazing. I highly recommend visiting a shrine at midnight.
Not Tokyo but….
If you’re visiting Kobe during the winter months, you may be lucky enough to visit during Kobe Luminarie. I’ve written about Luminarie Kobe here.
