Tokyo at Christmas and in the New Year comes alive with a feast of festive favorites and classic Christmas lights and events – a joyful Japanese 2024 Christmas in Tokyo awaits!
There are countless Tokyo Christmas events from winter wonderlands at Tokyo theme parks such as Hello Kitty Puroland or Tokyo Disneyland to Tokyo Christmas Market, the biggest in Japan!
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Ice-skating is another popular Christmas activity in Tokyo (plus there is a Christmas ‘Art Rink’ in nearby Yokohama) or stay warm and feast on a KFC Christmas chicken bucket.
Whilst Tokyo at night in winter may be cold, these Tokyo Christmas lights and events warm the heart – there is even a special Harry Potter Christmas tree in Akasaka and Christmas fireworks in Odaiba.
From a merry Marunouchi Christmas to the chaos of Roppongi Hills illuminations (what an experience!), here are the best Tokyo Christmas events, lights and markets in 2024 with photos.
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Do they celebrate Christmas in Japan?
Whilst Christmas isn’t an official holiday in Japan (the main religions are Buddhism and Shintoism), Japan embraces Christmas and many special seasonal events, winter displays and illuminations are held.
From early November onwards, you’ll see Tokyo Christmas lights and events pop-up and some of the winter ice-skating rinks stay open until late February.
In Japan, it is actually Christmas Eve that is more ‘celebrated’ than Christmas Day and kind of becomes their Valentine’s Day or White Day, as couples exchange gifts or arrange festive activities. So the Japanese really do LOVE Christmas.
P.S. There hasn’t been white Christmas in Tokyo for over a decade as it usually snows in January or February but there is always a chance!
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Celebrating Christmas in Tokyo – best Christmas markets, lights & events 2024
1. Tokyo Christmas Market – late November to late December 2024
Tokyo’s biggest Christmas Market, this Winter Wonderland was one of our favorite things to do in Tokyo at Christmas and it returns in 2024.
Very similar to the European Christmas Markets, here you’ll find dozens of alpine style cabins with lots of festive food and drink stalls, street performers, magicians and even Santa Claus himself.
Fun for all the family, you can find gorgeous Christmas gifts like Russian dolls or fragrant candles plus children can ride on Thomas the Tank Engine or meet Father Christmas.
Dining choices include German sausages, Lindt chocolate pick and mix (so popular) plus mulled wine and huge steins of German beer – prost!
Live music and entertainment is also provided but food and drink prices are a little expensive compared to Japanese chain restaurants.
Tokyo Christmas market is paid admission and tickets must be bought in advance – they include a festive Tokyo Christmas Market Glass. Dates are late November to late December 2024.
Please note Tokyo Christmas Market is usually held in Hibiya Park but in 2023, it was held at Meiji Jingu Gaien as Hibiya Park was closed for renovations. 2024 location is TBC.
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2. Ice Skating & Christmas Lights at Tokyo Midtown – mid November 2024 to late February 2025
An annual Christmas tradition in Tokyo, the Christmas ice-skating rink at Tokyo Midtown Grass Square has popped up every winter for almost 15 years and is a n-’ice’ thing to do!
Open daily from mid November to late February, it is one of the biggest outdoor Christmas skating rinks in Tokyo with ice-skating sessions available daily from 11am to 9pm.
Skating costs from 1,800 Yen per adult on weekdays and 2,200 Yen at weekends, plus 500 Yen skate-hire. Visit the official site here >
If you don’t like skating or would rather just enjoy the winter lights, Hinochiko Park next door plays host to a massive winter illumination trail which is free to visit.
We went in 2022/ 2023 and it was so busy but well worth it – it was sponsored by Netflix so some of the light displays had the Netflix ‘tuh-dum’ sound which was kinda kitsch but cute.
Tokyo Midtown Christmas runs from mid November 2024 to late February 2025.
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3. Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse ice skating / art skating 30 Nov 2024 to late Feb 2025
An easy day-trip from Tokyo, there are so many things to do in Yokohama year round, from the Cup Noodles Museum to Japan’s largest Chinatown.
Yokohama at Christmas is a magical time as the famous Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse transforms into a festive and fun place with an outdoor Chriistmas market plus a huge outdoor skating rink.
We visited in January 2023 and it is a splendid setting with the ice-skating rink against the backdrop of the Red Brick Warehouses.
Each year, the Yokohama Art Rink has designs by a different artist plus there are lots of live music and special ice-skating events. Afterwards, grab some crafts and gorgeous Christmas gifts in the shops inside or at the outdoor market. See our Red Brick Warehouse guide here >
Check the official Red Brick Warehouse events site for details >
Yokohama Christmas ice skating runs from 30 November 2024 to late February 2025.
You might like – Plan My Japan’s guide to things to do in Yokohama including the Landmark tower and the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum
4. Roppongi Hills Christmas illuminations – mid November to 25 December 2024
Honestly, this was the craziest Christmas in Tokyo activity we went to – the annual Roppongi Hills Christmas lights along Keyakizaka Street illuminate in mid November every year, with thousands of fairy lights strewn in trees along Roppongi’s famous fashion district.
Thousands visit every evening but the mad thing is that people run out across the road when cars stop at the traffic lights to pose in the middle of the road with fairlights all around and the Roppongi Tower lit up in the background.
It is Christmas chaos – every time the lights turn green, it is chaos as police and security guards usher everyone out of the road so the traffic can move, waving their batons and blowing their whistle so loud.
The illuminations continue across Roku-Roku Plaza and the nearby lake – there is often a small Christmas market here too selling hot wine and snacks.
The Roppongi Hills Christmas lights are well worth a visit but it is utter madness – but in a beautifully bizarre kind of way!
The Roppongi Hills Christmas Illuminations are free to visit and light up mid November until the 25 December 2024.
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5. Roppongi Christmas Market – 2024 Christmas dates TBC
Snow joke – the German style Roppongi Christmas Market has been running for almost 20 years and is located in the Big Roof Plaza shopping center and free to visit.
There are around 10 German Christmas style stalls selling everything from beer to baubles, sausages to snow globes. Each year, they produce an exclusive Christmas cup which you can purchase and enjoy your festive drinks in.
Whilst not the best Christmas market in Tokyo (it has only a handful of stalls), it is nice to visit if you are here already for the much more epic Roppongi Hill Christmas Lights on nearby Keyakizaka Street.
Roppongi Christmas Market Big Roof Plaza runs from mid November 2024 to 25 December 2024; 11am to 9pm daily.
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6. The Peninsula hotel Tokyo Christmas market – December 2024 dates TBC
A very quick mention of The Peninsula Hotel Tokyo Christmas Market because whilst it is festive, it is tiny, consisting of just a couple of themed stores (often a Christmas gingerbread house) and a few decorations around Naka Dori Terrace.
Look in the Peninsula Hotel reception for the annual gingerbread decorating class as well as the opportunity to write a letter to Santa Claus or family members.
The Peninsula also has Christmas afternoon tea and beautiful Christmas cakes made by their renowned pastry chef.
The Christmas Tokyo Peninsula activities usually take place in the two weeks before Christmas.
Check Peninsula Tokyo room availability and rates with Agoda and Booking.com.
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7. Shibuya Ao no Dokutsu blue lights – 1 December to 25 December 2024 (TBC)
Usually the promise of a ‘blue Christmas in Tokyo’ sounds like a bad thing but not at the Shibuya Ao no Dokutsu Blue Cave illuminations.
Located along the Meguro River towards Yoyogi Park and boasting over almost 1 million blue LEDs and fairy-lights, Shibuya’s Christmas lights sure do sparkle!
In 2023, a new Christmas market was also added to the proceedings so lets hope it returns in 2024.
Shibuya’s Christmas lights and markets are free to visit and run from 1 December to 25 December 2024 (TBC).
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9. Tokyo Shopping Malls at Christmas including Tokyo Midtown Hibiya
Pretty much every shopping mall in Tokyo and Japan has some form of Christmas decorations and Christmas trees.
You are spoiled for choice in Tokyo but some of the best Christmas shopping mall lights include Ginza Six and Kitte.
Our personal favorite shopping mall in Tokyo at Christmas is Tokyo Midtown Hibiya as it has numerous lit up Christmas trees in its plaza outside (very close to the Tokyo Peninsula Christmas Market too).
Better yet, it has an outdoor viewing terrace overlooking Hibiya Park that is covered in thousands of Christmas fairy lights. With several seats in the gardens, it is a popular spot for romantic couples and a wonderful winter wonderland.
Most Tokyo malls have their Christmas lights on from early November and some have Santa’s Grottos too.
You might like – Our Ginza Neighbourhood guide which includes Japan’s oldest beer hall and Tsukiji (Fish) Outer Market
10. Harry Potter Christmas tree in Akasaka
There are many Harry Potter things to do in Tokyo including a day trip to Warner Bros The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo – this is the largest indoor Harry Potter visitor attraction in the world and Asia’s first official Warner Bros Studio Tour.
We were lucky enough to be in Tokyo at Christmas so we got a glimpse of the Harry Potter Christmas tree, which takes pride of place in the Harry Potter Plaza every winter.
Around 20 feet tall and lit with hundreds of LEDs and fairylights, it is so pretty that it would even melt Lord Voldemort’s heart (probably).
The Tokyo Harry Potter themed Christmas tree has a huge clock and is a colorful Christmas promo for Harry Potter and The Cursed Child.
You might like our guide to Harry Potter things to do in Tokyo >
Book your Harry Potter Studio Tour with Klook >
11. Marunouchi Christmas illuminations – November 2024 to February 2025
A very merry Christmas awaits in Marunouchi’s Nakadori Avenue – see over 1 million LEDs strung into the trees in this famous shopping area near Ginza in downtown Tokyo.
As well as the outdoor lights, there are lots of immersive selfie spots in the buildings around Marunouchi and Brick Square.
When we visited a couple of years ago, there was a giant golden iPhone you could pose with plus in 2023, the theming was inspired by Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
This is also a good one to combine with the lights at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Mall – you’re welcome and our early Tokyo Christmas gift to you!
The Marunouchi Christmas Illuminations are free to visit and light up every evening from November 2024 to February 2025.
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12. Shinjuku Southern Terrace
A popular shopping and eating spot near Shinjuku station, Shinjuku Southern Terrace is an alfresco avenue of nice restaurants and coffee shops with popular places like Shake Shack burgers, eggslut and a Starbucks.
Even though there are so many things to do in Shinjuku, Shinjuku Southern Terrace sparkles at Christmas with over 200k fairy lights and LED Christmas trees.
There is a small woodland walk (well, a dozen or so trees) with are illuminated so it looks like Narnia!
If you are heading to Shinjuku, check out our neighborhood guide or our Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden guide.
13. Tokyo Dome winter lights and market – November 2024 to March 2025
We’re more used to seeing baseball at the Tokyo Dome (go Giants!) – but every winter, the outer perimeter lights up with millions of fairy-lights and LEDs plus a pop-up Tokyo Christmas Market.
The centerpiece is normally a huge 10 meter tall Christmas tree and there are often performers, pop up shops and a few seasonal surprises along the way – the official Tokyo Dome Christmas site can be found here >
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14. Sanrio Puroland at Christmas – mid November to 25 December 2024
‘Feline’ like something festive to do at Christmas in Tokyo? For the ‘purr-fect’ winter wonderland and a joyful Japanese Christmas, head to the Hello Kitty Puroland Christmas.
The Hello Kitty Christmas band and choir will perform festive favorite songs like Jingle Bells plus there is a nightly illumination show synchronized to music.
Other additional activities include themed food and meet and greets with your favorite Sanrio characters – and you can be sure there will be lots of cute Christmas gifts in the shops.
Buy your Sanrio Puroland Tokyo tickets in advance with Klook >
Try this – Tokyo Christmas tour with a local guide >
15. Japan KFC buckets at Christmas
A tasty but possibly unusual Japanese Christmas tradition, lots of locals order in the famous KFC Christmas buckets every year (you can almost hear the turkeys breathe a collective sigh of relief).
Families sit around a big bucket on or near to Christmas day and these limited edition KFC Christmas buckets must be ordered in advance, usually from early November – talk about a ‘clucking’ good Christmas in Japan!
It is said that the whole thing came to be when one KFC store manager in the late 1970s heard an expat moaning about the lack of turkey in Japan. As fried chicken was the closest thing, a marketing campaign began and a new tradition grew.
Japan Christmas KFC boxes usually contain a lot of chicken, chocolate cake, shrimp gratin, gravy and sometimes seasonal specials. Nom!
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16. Omotesandō Christmas illuminations – November 2024 to early January 2025
Similar to the Roppongi Christmas lights and the Marunouchi Christmas Illuminations, Omotesandō lights up from early November to early January every year.
As well as hundreds of thousands of LEDs, in 2023, there was a 10 metre 3D printed crystal Christmas tree.
The main Christmas decorations can be found along Omotesandō Avenue and Omotesando Hills, Main Building Atrium – all the activities are free to visit.
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17. Tokyo Skytree Christmas Town – early November 2024 onwards
Every winter, the Tokyo Skytree lights up in different colors – this kind of makes it the biggest Christmas tree in Japan!
Downstairs in the Sky Arena area, there is a small Christmas market with pop-up performances and festive projection mapping – also make sure you get selfies at the seasonal photo spots.
Tokyo Skytree Christmas activities are free and run from early November to late December 2024.
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18. Tokyo Disneyland Christmas – 15 November 2024 to 25 December 2024
The Tokyo Disneyland Christmas dates for 2024 have already been confirmed, beginning from 15 November.
The events programme is still TBC and often kept under wraps until later in the year but expect Christmas parades, a snow-covered Disneyland and colorful Disney decorations – you’d be ‘Goofy’ to miss it!
The festive fun also covers Disney Sea and there is always a big Disney Tokyo New Year’s Day event and parade on 1 January!
Get your Tokyo Disneyland 1 Day Passport or 1 day pass to Disney Sea.
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19. Caretta Shiodome Christmas winter illumination – 2024 dates TBC
We like Caretta Shiodome near Ginza because it has a free observation deck on level 46 and one of Tokyo’s best sky towers with ocean views looking out towards Odaiba .
It is also a short walk from the hustle and bustle of Ginza (great for Christmas shopping in Tokyo too).
Also at Christmas, the Caretta Shiodome dazzles with a captivating winter illumination display plus seasonal shops – so do some shopping or grab a Ginza Lion beer before walking over to this free winter display, usually held from mid November.
You might like – Our guide to Tokyo’s best craft beer bars and breweries; kanpai! >
20. Our final Tokyo Christmas events, markets and lights / illuminations
If you are still looking for more Tokyo Christmas activities, you could also consider:
- Yebisu Garden Place lights
- Azabudai Hills Christmas market
- Yomiuriland amusement park lights
- Odaiba lights and Illuminations Yakei, plus Odaiba December fireworks
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