Christmas is a great time to be in Tokyo: The city is decorated with incredible lights and displays and everything is still open (unlike New Year’s). Here is a list of great Tokyo Christmas activities and events.
Tokyo Tower and Roppongi Christmas Illumination © suzumenonamida
While most Japanese are Buddhist and Shinto, they’re happy to celebrate the outward trappings of Christmas, including shopping, dining and decorating public spaces. If you’re in Tokyo in Christmas, here are some suggestions for things to do and where to stay.
Christmas Lights in Tokyo
Most of the major urban hubs in Tokyo will be decorated for Christmas, often starting as early as December 1 and often lasting right until New Year’s Day. Here are our favorite spots:
- Tokyo Station and the Marunouchi Area: The Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station (the side closest to the Imperial Palace) is a great place to enjoy the lights. The Kitte Building, which is outside and to the left of the station, contains the largest Christmas tree in Japan at over 14 meters. Gyoko-dori Street, which runs directly from the station to the palace is home to a huge lighting display known as Michi-Terasu, and the Naka-dori Street, which crosses it, is also festively decorated.
- Harajuku’s Omotesando Street: This wide boulevard in the fashionable district of Harajuku is one of the most attractive streets in the city and it looks great when decorated for Christmas.
- Roppongi: Roppongi is manthe locals’ favorite spot to see the Christmas lights. You’ll find the best displays at Keyakizaka Street, the Roppongi Hills Complex and the Tokyo Midtown Complex.
- Odaiba: Odaiba is a bit out of the way, but there are several good lighting displays here around Christmas. Decks Tokyo Beach has some nice lights and the Gandam Statue at Divercity Tokyo is always festively illuminated. As a backdrop to it all, you can enjoy the lights in the windows of the giant Fuji Television Building.
Christmas shopping in Ginza © zengame
A Romantic Christmas Dinner In Tokyo
A nice dinner after checking out the holiday lights is a great idea. Just be warned that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are huge date nights in Japan. You can expect most high-end Western restaurants to really jack up their prices during this time. If you want to join the crowds for a special meal out at a good French or Italian restaurant, be sure to reserve well in advance. A lot of Japanese restaurants also serve special meals (at inflated prices) on these days, but you can usually find better deals and open tables if you are willing to eat Japanese food on these days. See our Best Tokyo Restaurants page for some tips.
Christmas Shopping In Tokyo
Shopping is the number one Christmas activity in Tokyo and it’s a good way to experience the lights and the holiday ambiance of the city. All of Tokyo’s big department stores put on festive displays during the Christmas season and some run some special year-end sales. Here are some of our picks for atmospheric Christmas shopping in Tokyo:
- Ginza: The big department stores in Ginza are sumptuously decorated for Christmas. Our favorites are Mitsukoshi, Wako and Matsuya. In addition to the department stores, many of the smaller boutiques will be decorated for the season and the holiday shopping and strolling here is the best in the city.
- Shibuya: If you’re looking for a more youthful shopping experience, head to the big department stores and smaller shops crammed into ultra-trendy Shibuya. It’s more crowded than Ginza, but it’s worth dealing with the crowds to experience this side of modern Tokyo.
Christmas shopping in Ginza © globalismpictures
Where to Stay for a Romantic Christmas in Tokyo
For a Christmas that you won’t soon forget, book a room in one of Tokyo’s luxury hotels. Needless to say, you’ll have to book well in advance as Japanese also like the idea of spending Christmas in a Tokyo hotel. Here are our top choices for a romantic Christmas hotel stay:
- Mandarin Oriental Tokyo: Within walking distance of the festive lights of Marunouchi and the great shopping of Ginza, this superb hotel is a natural choice for Christmas in Tokyo.
- Peninsula Tokyo: Another choice within walking distance of Marunouchi and Ginza, this rivals the Mandarin as our top hotel pick in the city.
- Ritz-Carlton Tokyo: If you want to be in the fine dining and nightlife capital of Roppongi, this is the top choice. It sits atop the Tokyo Midtown Complex, which has some of the best Christmas decorations in Tokyo.
- Shangri La Tokyo: Right above Tokyo Station, this hotel offers superb rooms and easy access to the lights and shopping of Marunouchi and Ginza.
Visit our New Year’s in Tokyo page for details on year-end festivities in the city.
Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on the Truly Tokyo Google map:- Open the Tokyo map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Hiroshima
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals. Check my guides to arriving at Narita Airport and at Haneda Airport.
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help