Dec
22
2011
Life in Japan
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Christmas in Japan

We all know it, in a few days it’s Christmas!
Yes, even here in Japan! But to be honest, most of the time I don’t even notice it’s Christmas time here. Maybe that’s just me.
Today, I want to tell you a little about how Christmas in Japan is celebrated.
Actually I live in the prefecture that first celebrated Christmas in Japan! How cool is that? :D

Christmas in Japan illumination

Illumination around Tokyo Dome in winter 2008.

Christmas does exist in Japan, but it has no religious background.
Just like other Western holidays it has been adopted and modified! As it doesn’t have a religious background and is also not an original Japanese holiday, it’s no national holiday here in Japan.
Almost everybody (including me ) has to work on Christmas!
However, December 23rd is a national holiday. This has nothing to do with Christmas, though. It just happens to be the birthday of the current “Tennou” (天皇, emperor)!

 

What do Japanese do on Christmas?

Well, I guess it depends, but quite common things are:
Especially Christmas Eve is considered to be for dating, so you’ll see a lot of lovey-dovey couples.
It’s also very common to eat a Christmas cake, often decorated with a cute Santa Claus figure.

Christmas in Japan, Japanese Christmas cake Christmas in Japan, Japanese Christmas cake

I have no clue where this is coming from. Japanese people (at least the ones I asked) seem to think that it’s how American people celebrate x-mas!?!?
Do they? I don’t think so.

Presents are also given .. by Santa Claus. However, he’s not coming through the chimney (99% of all Japanese houses don’t have any!!), but he’ll sneak in the bedroom of the kids and put the presents next to them while they’re sleeping. At least that’s how people do it where I live. There might be regional differences.

I find that quite creepy! Me being German, I find the idea of an old geezer coming into your house while you’re sleeping quite disturbing and creepy anyways! In Germany we also have Santa Claus, but he’s usually coming on December 6th. There’s also Black Santa.
In my part of Germany (there are regional differences) a young angel-like girl (with long blonde curly hair) is coming on Christmas Eve (usually while the family is eating their x-mas dinner). The living room (or wherever you’ve put up your tree) is locked so that the shy girl called “Christkind” (“Christ child”) won’t be scared and runs away without leaving any presents if somebody suddenly enters. Isn’t that cute?
Japanese people quite like that story whenever I tell them about it!

When you ask Japanese people what is being celebrated on Christmas, a lot of them will say “the birthday of Santa Claus” ….

Christmas in Japan is not really something where you sit together with your family and spend some calm and relaxing days.
Japan doesn’t really need that because that’s what they’ll do on “Omisoka” (大晦日, Japanese New Year’s Eve) and “Shougatsu” (お正月, Japanese New Year’s Day).
Those are national holidays (January 1st is) and can be compared to our Western Christmas!
That’s when everybody comes together, eats a feast, goes to “church” (aka visiting a shrine).

Let’s go back to the actual Christmas celebration.
With only 1-2% Christians living in Japan it’s not surprising that Christmas is only a “commercial” event.
You’ll find AWESOME illuminations all over the country, though!

Christmas in Japan illumination

Christmas illumination in Kobe 2009.

Christmas in Japan illumination Christmas in Japan

Christmas trees in Kobe and Osaka.

Christmas in Japan illumination

Christmas illumination around Tokyo Dome.

Christmas in Japan illumination

Kobe is really famous for its SUPER HUGE illumination every December. I’ve never seen it with my own eyes … YET!

Christmas in Japan illumination

To me Japanese Christmas illuminations seem less x-mas-like and romantic, but more kitschy and amusement park-like.
It’s still very nice and often each city has their own BIG illumination thingie going on!

As for x-mas decoration most Japanese houses are too small, so you won’t find huge trees that often and in 99% it’s only a plastic tree anyways.
You can find tons of cute and useful x-mas decoration even in 100yen stores (that’s where I got mine from ), so I think almost everybody has at least a little set up.
I see a lot of windows with x-mas decoration right now, too!

Christmas decoration in Japan

Most parts of Japan don’t get white Christmas. Hokkaido, some parts in Tohoku and the Chubu area usually do.

Hida Takayama in Chubu Japan

I visited the Chubu area last year in early January and in the photo above you can see how much snow there is!!

So, you do notice that it’s Christmas because of the
a) illuminations
b) x-mas songs and decorations in the department stores
c) pamphlets in your mail box featuring awesome x-mas cakes

You won’t notice it’s Christmas because:
a) there is no “Advent” countdown whatsoever
b) most of the time you’ll have to work during the most precious Christmas time
c) no “real” Christmas atmosphere (with or without snow)

 

How do YOU celebrate Christmas?

This post was written to be submitted to the J-Festa December 2011 Blog Carnival.
It’s my first time taking part. It’s a lot of fun and I hope I’ll be able to contribute more in the future as well.
Thanks for reading!~


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19 Comments

  • Simone UNITED STATES 62 comments 2011/12/23 @ 2:05

    The birthday of Santa Claus…Lol.

    Well, of course, strictly speaking, a “white” Christmas is a north European and north east US idea. In the real Bethlehem, there is no snow in December.

    Here in the US one sees even kitschier decorations than in Japan…The way some people decorate the outside of their house is really flashy, in every sense of the term. As for instance, reindeer and sleigh with Santa on the roof, no less, lights all over the place, etc. I actually rather like a lot of the Tokyo displays.

    No Advent here. And you progressively get to dislike Christmas because you hear the same carols and Xmas songs repeated over and over everywhere, even the supermarket. Not to speak of seeing Xmas sweaters, Xmas scarves, Xmas everything. No matter whether you might be Buddhist, Shinto or Moslem, you can’t escape it!

    Do you detect a certain Christmas fatigue here? I will have to cook Christmas dinner, …and cakes and pies…

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    • zoomingjapan JAPAN 766 comments 2011/12/24 @ 20:40

      Uh, sounds busy!
      I guess many people are stressed out a lot during the Christmas time, but I certainly miss that “Christmas holiday” feeling and everything. Not so much the stress and all, of course :mukatsuku:
      When I went to the supermarket, there were so many Christmas cakes today, but I never feel like eating CAKE on Christmas Eve. I doubt I ever will. :hihi:

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  • Funtom PHILIPPINES 4 comments 2011/12/23 @ 11:57

    LOL, Christmas being the birthday of Santa Claus sounds like a child’s response. :hihi: And really lovely illuminations! :D

    It’s kinda lonely working on Christmas day, isn’t it? :stressed: My country celebrates perhaps the loooongest Christmas season ever. Even if December just arrived, you can already see Christmas trees and Christmas lights all over. :shock: Students get to have a two weeks long Christmas vacation too, and although working people only have the main holiday on the 25th, it’s customary to celebrate the “Christmas Eve” together with families. The Christmas Eve matters more to me than the Christmas day itself though, so the idea of working on the Christmas Eve really hurts! :teary:

    There are still a lot more of customs observed during Christmas season here, and it would take almost a day to list it all. XD

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    • zoomingjapan JAPAN 766 comments 2011/12/24 @ 20:44

      Same in Germany!! Actually you’ll finde Christmas related things even in November or earlier!
      I think in America, too, as soon as Halloween is over! XD
      Usually the Christmas season is over on January 6th in Germany. That’s when you should put away all of your decorations and toss the tree (^-^”) …

      In Germany students also have 1 or 2 weeks of winter vacation.

      Yes, Christmas Eve is the real Christmas for Germans, too! It’s when you spend the day or at least the evening with your family, when you get your presents, when you sing x-mas carols in front of the tree etc.

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  • Bre. AUSTRALIA 2 comments 2011/12/23 @ 22:06

    I love the “Santa Claus’s birthday” idea. And funny, I too always used to think that the “christ child” was a girl. It wasn’t until I was in my mid-twenties that I realized that it was in fact baby Jesus. So weird.

    I love those Christmas cakes! I should make one myself next year and give it to my friend who has lived in Japan; she would love that!

    I can actually imagine that it’s easier to get into a Christmas mood in Japan than it is in Australia, where I live (I’m originally German). 30 degree weather? OK, that’s Christmas ruined. ;)

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    • zoomingjapan JAPAN 766 comments 2011/12/24 @ 20:46

      I think baking a Christmas cake for your friend would be a great idea! :D

      *LOL* I see, but at least once I’d love to spend a Christmas like that … let’s say a tropical Christmas?! :hihi:

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  • Chris 1 comments 2011/12/23 @ 22:25

    Beautiful pics!
    This sites layout is very nice too BTW!!

    Merry Christmas!!

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  • Stess PHILIPPINES 1 comments 2011/12/23 @ 23:58

    wow, I so loved those illuminations- it’s sparkling all over! :kyah:
    and…Christmas is Santa’s birthday?! sounds like any child would answer. :hihi:

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    • zoomingjapan JAPAN 766 comments 2011/12/24 @ 20:49

      Those photos are actually quite old (and so was the camera), so they’re not really good.
      I wish I could post some really awesome illumination photos, but I’m usually too busy in December to travel around. Glad you like them nevertheless! :D

      Yes, such a cute idea! :hihi:

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  • C Ohara 1 comments 2011/12/24 @ 10:55

    Cool site layout!

    I’m from Canada, but my family is mostly German, so I experienced some apparently German customs as a kid: the Christmas Angel was the one who stood out to me. She came with presents before Christmas. I wonder if this is a real German custom or something that was changed a bit since coming to Canada?

    But I agree – - there’s no lead up to Christmas here in Japan. No advent or otherwise. So even when I get’s to being Christmas, I still don’t really feel any different like I would back home.

    Nice first entry to the J-festa blog! :)

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    • zoomingjapan JAPAN 766 comments 2011/12/24 @ 20:50

      Hm. I think it’s not too strange to get presents before Christmas but usually you would just put them under the tree and open them on Christmas Eve. It’s also not uncommon to get presents after Christmas from relatives that couldn’t make it during the holidays for whatever reason.

      Thanks a lot, also for your comment!! :D

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  • reesan AUSTRALIA 1 comments 2011/12/26 @ 11:18

    thank you for participating in j-festa. great post and cool site.

    > So, you do notice that it’s Christmas because of the
    b) x-mas songs and decorations in the department stores

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    • zoomingjapan JAPAN 766 comments 2012/1/10 @ 11:14

      Thank you very much.
      I really enjoyed taking part in it and I hope I’ll have time to do it again in the future! :music:

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  • Alyse UNITED STATES 8 comments 2011/12/27 @ 12:24

    I’m so impressed with all the gorgeous photos you have taken! I am so excited for my first Christmas in Japan… years away, but still, so stoked!! Haha! :heart:

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    • zoomingjapan JAPAN 766 comments 2012/1/10 @ 11:15

      Aww~ thank you so much!! :hearts:
      I’m sure you’ll have a great time then! Definitely something you can look forward to, right? :fan:

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  • Sandy Schwab NEPAL 1 comments 2012/1/16 @ 16:32

    Hey … I really like your blog.
    I learned about it from your associate, Patrick Nolan, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
    I am very interested in your commentary on GERMANY as my relatives are from Baden Baden and Schwabing.

    I have always wanted to visit the Christmas Markets — any and all as I have never been to Germany.

    I like Japan. I have only been there once and it was coming through Tokyo on a connecting flight to Singapore.

    The people were SUPER nice. I bought some green tea carmels. The females DID NOT look real.

    Their papers, art, just their way of being is delightful.

    Loved your Christmas deocrations from the 100 yen store …. ha ha … our USA version of the dollar store.

    Want to read more of your blog.

    Again, thank you.

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    • Alyse UNITED STATES 8 comments 2012/1/18 @ 0:39

      When you said Patrick Nolan, I thought of our local Fox News anchor in my hometown! Haha! I was thinking “Wow, small world.” But nope, your Patrick Nolan is not in Florida. :P

      http://www.fox4now.com/about/people/125128489.html

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    • zoomingjapan JAPAN 766 comments 2012/1/18 @ 11:43

      Hello Sandy! :D

      Thank you very much for your nice comment!
      Baden Baden is such a nice region! A lot of people go there for the spas or rehabilitation! Fresh air, beautiful nature! :music2:

      I’m glad to hear you had such a great Japan experience!

      Thank YOU! I will work hard on building up this blog! :thumbup:

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