Visiting Tokyo in December? Or are you planning to celebrate Christmas in Tokyo or see in the New Year in style? Lucky you!
From temple celebrations to evening illuminations, there is lots to do and epic events to enjoy in December 2025 in Tokyo – plus see Johnny Depp and other stars at Tokyo Comic Con (Japan’s biggest comic festival) or raise a glass to the Belgian Beer Festival in Shinjuku.
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Religious and temple festivals in Tokyo in November 2025 include Sensōji Temple Hagoita-Ichi Fair in Asakusa and the Ako Gishisai 赤穂義士祭 / 47 Ronin parade.
Tokyo concerts in December 2025 include lots of K-Pop including J-Pop from Band Maid and Number_i, K-Pop from Babymonster and Seventeen, plus international artists like Doja Cat, Katy Perry, Tool and Franz Ferdinand all take to the stage.
Here is our pick of the best Tokyo events in December 2025.
Japan / Tokyo public holidays in December 2025
Please note there is one official public holiday in Japan / Tokyo in December 2025:
- 31 December 2025 – New Year’s Eve
However some offices may close down for a few days and some families will take time off to spend with their loved ones. Christmas Day in Tokyo is not a recognised public holiday.
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.
Across December 2025 onwards, you’ll see Tokyo Christmas lights and events pop-up and some of the winter ice-skating rinks stay open until late February 2026.
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.
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Will it snow in Tokyo this Christmas?
Sadly, 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!
Tokyo December 2025 Festivals and Events
From festive fun to fireworks, there is lots to enjoy in Tokyo in December:
Tokyo Christmas 2025 events in December
All of the top Tokyo Christmas activities are well underway in December – we were lucky enough to spend last Christmas in Tokyo so here are some of our top Christmas markets and displays to go to:
Tokyo Christmas Markets 2025 in Meiji Jingu Gaien & Shiba Park
21 November to 25 December 2025 (plus in Shiba Park too from 5 December)
Tokyo’s biggest Christmas Market, this Winter Wonderland was one of our favorite things to do in Tokyo at Christmas and it returns to Meiji Jingu Gaien in December 2025.
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.
New for December 2025, a second smaller Tokyo Christmas Market site pops up in Shiba Park from December 5 onwards.
2025 Tokyo Christmas Market tickets are now on sale on KK Day.
Book the Shiba Park Christmas Market >
Tokyo Mega Illuminations (Oi Racecourse Illumination)
1 November 2025 until 11 January 2026
One of Tokyo’s biggest Christmas lights and winter illumination events in 2025 / 2026, tickets are now on sale for the Tokyo Mega Illumi lights >
Visitors to the Christmas Tokyo Mega Illuminations at Oi racecourse can enjoy various winter illuminations such as a fountain show synchronized to music, the Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis display, a huge 100-meter Christmas light tunnel plus you can see tiny miniature horses.
We thought it was easily one of the top 5 Christmas displays in the city and well worth the small entry free – check out our guide to the Tokyo Mega Illuminations here >
Tokyo Skytree Christmas Town 2025 market
6 November 2025 to 25 December 2025
Every winter, the Tokyo Skytree lights up in different colors – this kind of makes it the biggest Christmas tree in Japan!
As well as festive fun and seasonal selfies at the top of Skytree (admission fees apply – Klook link?), downstairs in the Sky Arena area, there is a small Tokyo Skytree Christmas market with pop-up performances and festive projection mapping.
The Tokyo Skytree Christmas market is free and runs daily throughout December to 25 December 2025, 11am to 10pm (last orders at 9pm).
Read more about the Tokyo Skytree Christmas market in our detailed guide >
Roppongi Hills Christmas illuminations 2025
Throughout December 2025
Honestly, this was the craziest Christmas in Tokyo activity we went to – the annual Roppongi Hills Christmas lights along Keyakizaka Street illuminates every evening in December with fairy lights strewn in trees along Roppongi’s famous fashion district.
The Roppongi Hills Christmas Illuminations are free to visit and light up from the 4 November until 25 December 2025. The Roppongi Christmas Market also opens up daily from 22 November 2025.
Read more about Roppongi Hills Christmas lights >
Ice skating & Christmas lights at Tokyo Midtown 2025 / 2026
December 2025 until late February 2026 (TBC)
An annual Tokyo Christmas tradition, the Tokyo Midtown Christmas ice-skating rink and winter illuminations has popped up every winter for over 15 years and is a n-’ice’ thing to do!
It is one of the biggest outdoor Christmas skating rinks in Tokyo with ice-skating sessions available daily from 11am to 9pm.
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.
Read our Tokyo Midtown Christmas guide >
Check out all our Tokyo at Christmas guides!
Christmas lights, markets and events in Tokyo >
Tokyo Skytree Christmas Market 2025 >
Tokyo Christmas Market 2025 >
Midtown Christmas Lights / Ice Skating 2025 >
Tokyo Mega Illuminations 2025 >
Roppongi Hills Christmas Lights 2025 >
Tokyo Dome Christmas Lights 2025 >
Marunouchi Street Christmas Lights >
Tokyo Comic Con 2025
5 to 7 December 2025
Located at Makuhari Messe, the 3 day Tokyo Comic Con is one of Japan’s biggest festivals of films, anime, manga and a general comic book and pop culture celebration.
Attendees at the 2025 Tokyo Comic Con include Lord of the Rings stars Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, Back to the Future’s Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson (Great, Scott!), Christina Ricci, Nicholas Hoult and …..Johnny Depp!
Individual ticket prices start from 5,500 Yen for adults and 1,000 Yen for under 18s. Three day passes currently start from 9,900 Yen.
Visit the official Tokyo Comic Con 2025 site and buy tickets here >
Sensōji Temple Hagoita-Ichi Fair in Asakusa
17 to 19 December 2025
Dating back to the Edo times, this market is held from 17 to 19 December every year outside the sacred Senso-ji festival in Askusa where beautiful fans are sold (which are often shaped like Mount Fuji as a good luck charm). It has taken place almost every December for over 350 years!
Hagoita (羽子板 ｢はごいた｣) are wooden paddles which are often covered in beautiful adornments that are used to hit shuttlecocks, when playing the historic ‘hanetsuki’ during the Japanese New Year.
There used to be an old custom of giving hagoita as a year-end gift to families.
We were lucky enough to attend the Hagoita-Ichi Fair in Asakusa last year but sadly did not have room to buy any beautiful Hagoita to take home as souvenirs.
There were around 50 stalls (plus food kiosks) selling hagoita with everything from traditional design and Edo styling through to more modern day characters like Spongebob Squarepants!
You might like these Tokyo neighbourhood guides:
Akihabara
Asakusa
Ginza
Harajuku
Ikebukuro
Nakano
Odaiba
Ryogoku
Shibuya
Shimokitazawa
Shinjuku
Also check out our
Where to stay in Tokyo guide
Belgian Beer Festival Shinjuku
3 to 7 December 2025
‘Kanpai’ to this top Tokyo beer festival held at the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building – Belgian Beer Weekend is a touring beer festival which pops up all over Japan and now 15 years old.
Admission is free but you need to buy tickets / tokens to purchase food and drink.
Early bird token packages start from 3,700 Yen when booked in advance which includes a special souvenir beer glass and several drinks tokens.
Check out the official Shinjuku beer festival website here >
You might like – Our favourite Tokyo craft beer bars including some Shijuku suggestions
Ako Gishisai 赤穂義士祭 / Ronin Festival
12 to 14 December 2025
The Ako Gishisai is an annual religious festival on the 14 December every year that commemorates the 47 Ronin samurai who died avenging their master.
Located at Tokyo’s Sengakuji Temple, the festival features a solemn parade and recreation of 47 Ronin walking from near Tokyo Tower to Sengaku-ji.
Mt. Takao Autumn Leaves Festival
On until 14 December 2025
Tokyo in Autumn time is hard to top and one of the best known fall festivals is the Mt. Takao Autumn Leaves Festival, held throughout November until mid December.
Around a 1 hour drive from Tokyo or 2 hours by public transport, this is a celebration of colorful Autumn leaves and gathers large crowds.
As well as exploring the foliage on foot, one of the best ways to see all the Mt. Takao Autumn Leaves is by taking a cable car to the peak of the mountain from Kiyotaki Station.
Check out the official website >
You might like – our Japanese food guide >
New Year’s Eve in Tokyo
31 December 2025 to 1 January 2026
Please note there are no New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Tokyo.
A reminder that the once annual and famous Shibuya Crossing New Year Countdown is still cancelled and the famous Hachiko dog statue will be boarded up.
That said, we spent a recent New Year’s Eve (2022) in Shibuya drinking in craft beer bars and thousands of revellers still congregate here every year – but it is more of an impromptu celebration than an actual organised event.
The police shut the famous Shibuya Crossing and nearby roads for just a few minutes either side of the New Year – there is no music or bells ringing etc.
On New Year’s Eve Meiji Jingu 明治神宮 shrine is also a popular place to worship, as the traditional Taiko drums sound at midnight along with a ceremony.
We visited Meiji Jingu one New Year’s Day (1 January) and the queue to get in and pay our respects was huge. Honestly, allow at least an hour or two to get in if you arrive after mid morning.
Others prefer to do a Tokyo New Year’s cruise or go to a party at a club.
Tokyo Concerts and Gigs in December 2025
Baby Monster
2 December 2025 at Ariake Arena
Kacey Musgraves
2 December 2025 at Toyosu Pit
Katy Perry
3 December 2025 at K-Arena Yokohama
Morning Musume
5 December 2025 at Yokohama Arena
Band Maid
7 December 2025 at Tokyo Garden Theater
Seventeen (K-pop)
11 and 12 December 2025 at Tokyo Dome
Franz Ferdinand
11 December 2025 at Tokyo Garden Theater
Tool
11 December 2025 at Yokohama Arena
Doja Cat
15 December 2025 at K-Arena Yokohama
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
16 and 17 December 2025 at Kanda Square Hall
Number_i (J-Pop)
25 December 2025 at Saitama Super Arena
Upcoming Tokyo January 2026 events, festivals and concerts
- Hatsumōde (New Year Shrine Visits) – from 1 January 2026 onwards
- Daikon Radish Festival in Asakusa on 7 January 2026
- Torigoe Shrine Tondoyaki Bonfire in Asakusa on 8 January 2026
- January Grand Sumo Tournament in Ryogoko from 11-25 January 2026 – read our sumo wrestling tournament guide >
- Blackpink concert at Tokyo Dome on 16 to 18 January 2026
- Lady Gaga concert at Tokyo Dome on 25 and 30 January 2026
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