Christmas in Japan Explained: A Guide for Americans in Misawa

Updated October 30, 2026

Images are for illustration.

Christmas in Japan is a romantic, food-filled season rather than a family holiday. Here is what Americans in Misawa should know: Christmas Eve dates, KFC, strawberry cake, lights, and where a European-style market fits in.

Key points

Christmas in Japan is mostly a secular, romantic and food-focused occasion, not a family holiday: Christmas Eve (Dec 24) is the big night, especially for couples.
The classic foods are fried chicken (KFC is a famous tradition) and a strawberry-and-cream sponge "Christmas cake".
Dec 25 is not a public holiday. It is a normal workday, and the decorations often shift toward New Year very quickly.
A European-style outdoor Christmas market fits right in, and Risoukyo's market in Towada runs Dec 23-27, 2026 (planned).

Christmas in Japan: the short version

If you grew up with a Christmas built around church, a family dinner, a tree full of gifts and a day off on the 25th, the Japanese version will feel like a different holiday wearing the same costume. Christmas is widely enjoyed, but for most people it is not a religious or public holiday. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) describes it as largely a couples' occasion, with romantic restaurant dates, German-style Christmas markets and impressive light displays, and notes that families gather at New Year's instead.

That does not mean Japan is lukewarm about it. Shops, stations and shopping streets start decorating in November, cakes and chicken are pre-ordered weeks ahead, and cities across the country turn on their lights. It is a season more than a day, and it is cheerful, commercial and surprisingly sweet.

Christmas Eve is the couples' night

The emotional center of a Japanese Christmas is the evening of Dec 24, not the morning of Dec 25. The Japan Times has described Christmas Eve as being considered akin to Valentine's Day: couples, especially those who are still dating, are expected to plan a nice evening out, often at an upscale restaurant, and to exchange a gift. Another Japan travel guide, Good Luck Trip, likewise describes dates, "illumination" outings and special dinners as typical.

In practice this means popular restaurants book up in advance, and anything with lights, a view or a romantic mood is busy on the 23rd and 24th. If you are planning a date night yourself, keep that in mind and reserve early. We have a separate idea list in our Christmas date night in Towada article.

KFC for Christmas: how fried chicken became a tradition

Yes, it is real. Eating KFC at Christmas is a widespread custom in Japan, and in the days before Dec 24 you will see long lines outside branches and a Colonel Sanders statue dressed as Santa. The Japan Times notes that modest home meals often feature KFC chicken instead of turkey, and JNTO says buyers often reserve weeks ahead and may queue for hours to collect their order.

The company itself dates its first Christmas campaign to December 1974. KFC Japan's official company history lists "First Christmas campaign held" for that month, and the first Japanese store had opened in Nagoya in November 1970. The campaign slogan is usually translated as "Kentucky for Christmas" (Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii), and the party barrel, a bucket of chicken with trimmings, became the centerpiece. Accounts of exactly how the idea started differ. A frequently told version credits an early store manager, Takeshi Okawara, who reportedly heard foreign customers wishing for turkey at Christmas, and the Daily Meal and other press repeat that story. Treat the origin details as folklore and the 1974 campaign as the part the company confirms.

Orders open early. For Christmas 2025, KFC Japan began taking reservations on Nov 4, and early-order discounts are common. If you would like to try it, order ahead or expect a wait; picking a branch up at an off-peak time helps.

Christmas cake: strawberries and whipped cream

The other must-have is the "Christmas cake" (kurisumasu keki). It is almost always a light sponge cake layered with whipped cream and strawberries, usually decorated with more strawberries, a Santa or a small tree. Good Luck Trip describes it as a staple at Christmas parties, and JNTO credits confectioner Fujiya's 1922 slogan, "Let's eat cake at Christmas!", with helping make strawberry shortcake the country's top holiday dessert. Stollen-style fruit cakes are also found, according to the Japan Times.

For Americans, the closest comparison is a birthday cake that happens to be red and white. Bakeries, convenience stores and supermarkets all sell them, typically in advance by pre-order. You can buy a small one if you only need dessert for two.

Illuminations and decorations

Light displays, known as "illuminations", are a major draw. Good Luck Trip notes that cities begin lighting up in late November, with large displays in places like Hokkaido, Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe, and JNTO points to winter light events such as the Yukitoro snow-lantern festival at Jozankei Onsen in Hokkaido. In winter regions like Tohoku, a lit tree against snow is a big part of the appeal.

You will not usually find the American habit of decorating every house exterior. Public lighting, malls, train stations and event venues carry most of the Christmas look.

December 25 is a normal workday

This is the part that surprises many Americans most. Neither Dec 24 nor Dec 25 is a public holiday in Japan (Good Luck Trip, Japan Times). In 2026, Dec 24 is a Thursday and Dec 25 is a Friday, so offices, schools and many shops operate as usual. Many people work, then go out for dinner, and on weekends the date-night crowds spill into Saturday and Sunday.

The other surprise is how fast it ends. Christmas displays often give way to New Year decorations soon after the 25th, as the next big holiday approaches. If you want the full holiday season, our guide to Japanese New Year traditions explains what comes next and what is closed.

How it differs from a US Christmas

Main night: Dec 24 (dates, dinner, cake), not Dec 25.
Time off: Dec 25 is a regular workday; the real family holiday is New Year.
Food: Fried chicken and strawberry cake, not turkey, ham or pie.
Who celebrates: Couples and young families, with a secular tone.
Outdoor events: Light displays and German-style Christmas markets are popular rather than church services.

Where a European-style Christmas market fits

The fit is a natural one. German-style Christmas markets are well established in Japan as a winter outing, and JNTO lists them as part of the couples' Christmas scene. Markets are held in cities such as Aomori and Sendai - Aomori City's ASPAM market is announced for Dec 11-25, 2026, and Sendai's market for Dec 4-25, 2026 - so a market in Tohoku is part of the season rather than a novelty.

Risoukyo is a little different because it is a garden-village setting in the countryside near Towada. The Christmas Market 2026 is planned for Dec 23-27 from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m., outdoors around a spruce tree grown at Risoukyo that stands about 36 ft (11 m) tall. Planned features include food stalls and food trucks, handmade crafts, workshops, a stage with DJs, dance and singing, an eat-in area, kamakura snow huts, snowman making and a sled slide. Since it opens on Dec 23 and runs through Dec 27, it covers Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself. Check the English overview for the latest, and see Christmas markets near Misawa in 2026 for the wider list.

Which foods and drinks are sold will be listed by the organizers. Hot wine and hot chocolate are classic at European markets, but check the official page for what Risoukyo actually offers.

Tips for joining a local Christmas event

Bring yen cash. Smaller events often rely on it - see paying at local Japanese events.
Learn a few phrases. Our list of Japanese phrases for a Christmas market covers ordering, prices and "Merry Christmas".
Dress for the cold. Read what to wear in an Aomori winter.
Respect the local customs. See etiquette at local Japanese events.
Do not drink and drive. Japan has very strict drunk-driving laws, and in practice there is zero tolerance. If you plan to enjoy a drink, arrange a designated driver or a taxi.

Also follow your unit's and the base's current guidance for off-base travel and winter driving, and check the road forecast before you head out, since snow is possible in Towada in December.

Make it a Misawa-area Christmas

Because Christmas in Japan is a season rather than a single day, you can spread your plans: a cake and chicken on Dec 24, a market evening on a weekend, and a New Year's Eve countdown. Risoukyo plans New Year countdown fireworks on Dec 31 from 10:00 p.m., covered in our fireworks guide. If you prefer a day trip, see the day trip from Misawa to Towada.

__GLANCE__

At a glance: Risoukyo Christmas Market 2026

Dates: Wednesday, Dec 23 - Sunday, Dec 27, 2026 (5 days)
Hours: 3:00-9:00 p.m. (15:00-21:00) (planned)
Venue: Handmade Village Risoukyo, 2-21 Torigamori, Fukamochi, Towada, Aomori 034-0106
Admission (planned): adults ¥1,500; high school and university students ¥1,000; junior high and younger ¥500; age 5 and under free
Parking: 300+ spaces (planned)

Details are planned and may change - see the English overview and the official page (Japanese).

FAQ

Do Japanese people really eat KFC on Christmas?

Many do. It is a widespread custom, and KFC Japan has promoted it since its first Christmas campaign in December 1974. Branches get long lines in the days before Christmas, and reservations open early. Not everyone takes part, and plenty of families eat other food, but fried chicken is a familiar part of the season.

Is Christmas Day a holiday in Japan?

No. Neither Dec 24 nor Dec 25 is a public holiday in Japan. In 2026, Dec 25 falls on a Friday, so many businesses and schools operate normally. New Year is the major family holiday.

What is a Japanese "Christmas cake"?

It is typically a sponge cake with whipped cream and strawberries, decorated for the season. Bakeries and convenience stores sell them, often by pre-order. Fruitcake and stollen-style cakes are also found.

Is Christmas a romantic holiday in Japan?

Yes. Christmas Eve is widely treated like a date night, similar to Valentine's Day in the US, with dinners, light displays and gifts for couples. Families with children also celebrate, usually with a cake and a special meal at home.

Will the Risoukyo Christmas Market feel like a European Christmas market?

It is designed in that spirit: outdoors, in the evening, around a large tree, with stalls, music and snow-play areas planned. It is also distinctly local, so expect a Japanese event rather than a replica. Dates are Dec 23-27, 2026 (planned). See the English overview for current details.