What It's Like Visiting Japan for Christmas and New Year's

Last Updated on December 5, 2025 by Charlotte

A snowy forest trail in Hakuba Japan with two travelers embracing, surrounded by white winter scenery.

If you’ve ever dreamed of spending the holidays in Japan, let me tell you: it’s not exactly the snowy, Santa-saturated wonderland you might imagine like a Hallmark movie. In fact, it’s a delightful menagerie of romantic boyfriend-girlfriend dates, KFC buckets, strawberry shortcake… and, if you time your trip as we did, a crash course in being borderline bored out of your mind when the country hits pause for New Year’s. Here’s everything we wish that we knew before we bought those “too good to be true” $300 USD cheap airplane tickets to Japan for Christmas through New Year’s.

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Christmas in Japan: Like Love Actually, But With Fried Chicken

First, let’s clear up the biggest surprise—Christmas in Japan is a couples’ holiday. Forget the big family gatherings and Santa hysteria; December 24 is basically “date night on steroids.” Fancy restaurants book out weeks ahead, and every bakery window is lined with picture-perfect Christmas cakes complete with ruby red strawberries.

A couple takes a selfie surrounded by festive lights on a bustling Osaka street at night.

If you’re single or traveling with friends, expect to feel slightly third-wheely as you wander past couples posing for photos under all the string lights. Believe it or not, the most “festive” thing that I saw was a marching band in Santa suits in the train station on Christmas Day. And yes, the rumors are true: KFC reigns supreme. We didn’t do the fried chicken dinner ourselves (the lines were epic), but we watched dozens of people head home with giant Colonel Sanders buckets in tow.

New Year’s in Japan: The Great Shutdown

The real “everything stops for the holidays” moment is over New Year’s. Suddenly, once December 27th rolls around, and the cities go ghost-mode: shops close, restaurants lock up, and even convenience stores run on skeleton crews. Near our hotel in Osaka, there was only one restaurant open the whole weekend, so we ate there every day.

A city street in Japan lined with bright Christmas lights and illuminated buildings on a winter night.

If you’re traveling cross-country, train travel over New Year’s is crowded, with everyone journeying to see family. If you don’t make a seat reservation on the Shinkansen during this time, you can expect to be standing in the aisles for four hours straight (learn from our mistakes!!). Shops and businesses tend to reopen around the 3rd of January. Thankfully, during this period, shrines were open, and the Nara Park still had some cheeky deer wandering around, so we at least had some things to do.

Thank Goodness for the Osaka Aquarium

On New Year’s Day in Osaka, we found ourselves wandering the famous Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium, which was one of the only touristy things open in the city.

A whale shark and other fish swimming in a large tank at the Osaka Aquarium, viewed from behind the glass.

We were marveling at the whale sharks, reef sharks, and neon-bright fish in the XL-sized tanks. And then it hit us: we’d traveled 4,000 miles just to wave at some of the same exact fish that we see on snorkeling days back in Hawaii.

Visitors walking through a glass tunnel at the Osaka Aquarium, surrounded by fish and blue-lit water.

I couldn’t decide if I felt homesick or just oddly reassured that the world is smaller than we think. At least the chubby seals were super cute!

Looking for a More Festive Holiday Atmosphere? Head North for Snow

If you’re dreaming of more of a classic Christmas with twinkling lights, snowflakes, and that “just stepped into a holiday card” feel, Japan’s got you covered…you just need to head a little farther north.

Two bundled-up skiers taking a selfie on a snowy day in Hakuba, Japan, with white ski slopes in the background.

Spots like Hakuba in Nagano, or Sapporo in Hokkaido, are famous for powdery snow, cozy onsens, and all the festive feels. You’ll find Christmas markets, mountain cabins, and steaming bowls of ramen just waiting for you after a day of exploring. I loved exploring the German Christmas market in Sapporo, and out of everything we did in Japan, this felt the most “old world Christmassy”.

Is Visiting Japan During Christmas and New Year’s Worth It?

Would we choose this timing again? Honestly, probably not. We prefer having more flexibility when we travel. But if the holidays are your only chance to visit Japan, or if you’re specifically drawn to the unique cultural experience of Japanese New Year traditions, just go for it. Book that Shinkansen seat in advance, pack your patience for the crowds, and maybe have a backup plan if your original itinerary hits a snag when all the cute cafes you wanted to visit are closed for New Year’s.