When you think of Christmas, you probably picture kids building a snowman, carolers at the door, and families gathered around a big Christmas feast. But Christmas in Japan is something else entirely. The holiday spirit here gets a super interesting (and sometimes downright weird) makeover!
Let's Jump Right In!
- KFC for Christmas Dinner
- Strawberry Shortcake Is a Must-Have
- Christmas Is for Lovers
- Santa Claus Goes Through a Window
- Santa Claus Has Many Cousins
- Illuminations Are a Big Deal
- People Celebrate Loneliness on Live TV
- Christmas Eve Is More Important than Christmas Day
- Christmas Is Not a Holiday in Japan
- Decorations Are Gone by December 26
Japanese Christmas traditions twist in unexpected ways. From what people eat to who they spend it with, almost every part of the celebration feels like a remix of Christmas you thought you knew. So if you think you’ve seen every version of the holiday, think again. Let’s find out what makes Christmas in Japan unique!
1. KFC for Christmas Dinner
In Japan, Christmas dinner doesn’t mean turkey, ham, or mashed potatoes. Instead, it means a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken! It sounds wild, but this fried chicken tradition has been around since 1974. Back then, KFC launched a campaign called “Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii!” (“Kentucky for Christmas!”) after realizing turkey was nearly impossible to find in Japan.
What started as clever marketing is now one of Japan’s most beloved modern traditions. Every Christmas, an estimated 3.6 million Japanese families line up at KFC for their holiday meal, with some people even preordering their meals as early as October to make sure they don’t miss out. KFC’s “Party Barrel” sets, complete with chicken, shrimp gratin, and cake, sell out quickly. In fact, some stores open before dawn on December 24 just to handle the rush.
Colonel Sanders even gets dressed up in a Santa outfit! It’s the busiest time of year for KFC Japan, and for many, Christmas simply wouldn’t be complete without it.
2. Strawberry Shortcake Is a Must-Have
Forget heavy fruitcakes. In Japan, the star dessert at Christmas is the “kurisumasu keki,” or Christmas cake, a light sponge cake with whipped cream frosting and red strawberries on top. The roots go back to the early 1900s, when Western-style bakeries like Fujiya in Yokohama began introducing European-style cakes. By the 1950s, the red and white design became a symbol of celebration and post-war prosperity.
Today, you’ll spot festive strawberry shortcakes on display as soon as December hits. Whether it’s a convenience-store version or a premium patisserie cake, everyone gets in on the fun.
3. Christmas Is for Lovers
In many other countries, Christmas is about family. But in Japan, it’s about lovers! December 24 is treated like the most romantic day of the year. Valentine’s Day, who?
Couples stroll under Christmas illuminations, book dinners at fancy restaurants, or stay over at love hotels with Christmas special deals. It’s also a popular time for wedding proposals. Because of this tradition, young people actually feel they have to get a date for Christmas Eve, so they look for a boyfriend or girlfriend in the weeks before Christmas!
4. Santa Claus Goes Through a Window
Traditional Western homes have chimneys, while many Japanese homes do not, aside from some homes in Hokkaido. So what does Santa do in Japan? He’s imagined as coming through a window or sliding door instead.
Japanese kids leave their Christmas wish by the pillow or window before they sleep, asking for just one gift rather than a long wishlist. It’s a small cultural twist, but it shows how Christmas was adapted in Asian countries like Japan.
5. Santa Claus Has Many Cousins
In Japan, Santa doesn’t just have one look. He’s got a whole extended family! The most traditional version is Hoteiosho, a Buddhist monk from Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods. He’s portrayed as a cheerful, child-loving monk with a sack of gifts and eyes in the back of his head so he knows who’s been good. He’s also believed to be delivering gifts from December 24 to January 4, unlike Santa, who does it all in one night.
But over time, Japan has added plenty of new Santas to the mix. Every December, the country’s cutest characters slip into Santa’s role! Chiikawa, Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, and other cuties dress as Santa and spread holiday cheer. You’ll see them in stores, at special events, and even as limited-edition kawaii plushies!
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6. Illuminations Are a Big Deal
When it comes to Christmas lights, Japan goes all in. From mid-November to February, cities across the country glow with massive illumination displays that turn ordinary streets into spectacular light shows. These light shows are so dazzling that people plan full dates or family trips to these displays.
Tokyo alone has dozens of them. Tokyo Station glows in gold, department stores line their windows with moving light displays, and entire streets shimmer in synchronized colors set to music. Osaka’s Kaiyukan Aquarium transforms into a glowing ocean fantasy, while Nabana no Sato in Mie Prefecture lights up its onsen gardens with millions of bulbs.
7. People Celebrate Loneliness on Live TV
One of Japan’s strangest Christmas Eve traditions happens on live television. Every year, comedian Sanma Akashiya hosts “Akashiya Santa Shijo Saidai no Christmas Present Show” (Akashiya Santa’s Biggest Christmas Present Show Ever). This show is for people who are lonely on Christmas Eve.
Before the show, people can write to share their stories of heartbreak or loneliness, and Sanma-san then picks the most interesting respondents and gives them a call. If the respondent entertains him on the phone, they get a chance to pick a number from a huge bingo board and win a random prize. The prize can be as simple as a toy or as big as a brand new car!
8. Christmas Eve Is More Important than Christmas Day
In Japan, the real excitement happens on Christmas Eve. Rather than a quiet family night, it’s often treated like a romantic holiday for couples. Restaurants offer special dinner courses, and illuminations light up city streets, making everything feel like a dreamy date scene straight out of an anime.
But Christmas Eve isn’t just for couples. Friends also gather to throw small parties or host cozy get-togethers at home. Convenience stores and bakeries are filled with Christmas-themed Japanese sweets, and families often share their KFC meal.
9. Christmas Is Not a Holiday in Japan
After all the sparkle and celebration on Christmas Eve, December 25 in Japan might surprise you. It’s not a national holiday, so offices, schools, and stores all stay open like usual.
Part of the reason is that Japan isn’t a Christian-majority country. Only a small percentage of people in Japan identify as Christian, so Christmas isn’t seen as a religious event. Instead, it’s more of a fun, romantic, and commercial holiday inspired by Western pop culture.
10. Decorations Are Gone by December 26
The moment Christmas ends, all the trees, wreaths, and Santas vanish overnight. By the morning of December 26, shops are decked out for the Japanese New Year instead. Houses and commercial spaces are decorated with bamboo, pine branches, and shimenawa ropes for good luck.
That’s because New Year’s is Japan’s true family holiday. People clean their homes, prepare osechi ryori (traditional dishes), and visit shrines. Christmas is for lights and cake. New Year’s is for reflection and renewal. Check out our blog about Japan’s New Year traditions if you want to learn more about this big celebration!
Let’s be honest—Christmas in Japan is weird. But that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating! It’s Christmas flipped upside down in the best way possible.
So tell us, which Japanese Christmas tradition surprised you the most? Would you try celebrating it this way, or stick to the classic version? Drop your thoughts in the comments! We’re curious to see which side you’re on!
