Christmas traditions in Japan: 5 unique traditions

Japan has its own set of unique Christmas traditions. If you go to Japan during Christmas, you’ll notice that there are festive Christmas decorations and illuminations! Although Japanese people are mostly Shinto or Buddhist, they’ve adopted Christmas in their own way.

Christmas Eve

Most people celebrate Christmas eve, instead of Christmas day. Kids usually enjoy the food, decorations, and time with family and friends. Tokyo Disneyland has special Christmas parades from November till Christmas. For adults, it’s considered a romantic holiday, similar to Valentine’s Day. It can be a special time for couples to go on dates and exchange gifts.　

KFC – Kentucky Fried Chicken

A unique Christmas tradition in Japan is the popularity of KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). In the 1970’s when there weren’t so many Christmas traditions, the head of KFC Japan marketed “Party Barrels” containing fried chicken, cake, and coleslaw. This created a lasting tradition, which now accounts for a significant portion of their yearly sales. If people don’t pre-order their Christmas meals, there can be huge lines for KFC.

Does KFC taste different in Japan?

Since I grew up in the U.S. I can say that the KFC in Japan is significantly better. The chicken is juicier and the outside crust is crispier. In the states, I couldn’t imagine eating KFC for Christmas, but in Japan I would be happy to have it as my Christmas dinner! Be sure to try KFC in Japan so that you can also make your own comparisons.

Christmas Cake

If you are in Japan during Christmas, you’ll also notice that many bakeries have beautiful Christmas cakes. These cakes are traditionally Japanese-style strawberry shortcakes. Japanese-style shortcakes are less sweet, topped with light whipped cream and strawberries.

If you’re interested in making yourself a Japanese-style christmas cake, I recommend this recipe here.

Illuminations

Another important Christmas tradition are the Christmas illuminations. Bright lights cover the trees in big cities like Tokyo. Since Japanese people consider Christmas a romantic holiday, it’s trendy to go to these places with your date. If you are in Japan during the winter holidays, the illuminations are a must-see.

Romantic Date Night

As mentioned before, Christmas in Japan is especially popular for couples! It’s the one holiday during the year that people hope to have a date. Date plans can include a Christmas eve dinner at a fancy restaurant, exchanging gifts, and walking along a street with beautiful Christmas lights.  

Be sure to try out some of these traditions, when you find yourself in Japan over the winter holidays! If you can’t make it to Japan, try having some KFC and strawberry shortcake! Check out my other Japanese culture articles like  Ojigi or Bowing in Japan: Learn the Basics! or Unlucky and lucky numbers in Japan

~Tanuki