Christmas in Japan 2026: Attractions and Events to Book Now
Spending Christmas in Japan in 2026? From enormous winter illuminations and festive theme parks to Christmas markets and the wonderfully unusual tradition of eating KFC, Japan offers some brilliant ways to celebrate. We’ve been dreaming of spending Christmas in Japan for years.
But it is important to note that Christmas in Japan is very different from Christmas in the UK. Christmas Day isn’t a national holiday, and it isn’t generally celebrated as a religious or family occasion in the same way. I know it sounds mad, but people go to work then come home and eat KFC: Merry Christmas! From a practical perspective, it’s nice to know that shops, attractions and public transport are all open and operating like they would on any normal day.
But that doesn’t mean Japan ignores Christmas. Far from it! Tokyo, Osaka and other major cities are filled with elaborate illuminations, limited-edition food, festive merchandise and seasonal events. In typical Japanese style, the decorations are often spectacular. If you’re lucky enough to be spending Christmas in Japan, you’re in for something truly magical. I’ve been dreaming of spending Christmas in Japan for years: it has such a wonderful and unique charm, and I would love to see my favourite country in the world all lit up for Christmas.
But here’s the thing: Japan in December is busy! And many of those most memorable and iconic Japanese Christmas experiences that you’ll find all over your Instagram feed book up fast. Even non-Christmassy activities (like visiting teamLab Planets) will sell out weeks in advance during December.
So that’s why I’m sharing this post so early in the year! Because if you want to visit Japan at Christmas then you need to plan your Japan Christmas itinerary ahead! Visiting Japan at Christmas and ready to book Christmas attractions in Japan? Then you’ve come to the right place! Here are the best of the best attractions you need to book in advance:
Event information checked on 22 September 2026. Several organisers have not yet announced their 2026 Christmas programmes yet, so these are clearly marked as awaiting confirmation, and i’ll keep updating as I get news in!
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
Christmas in Japan 2026: Quick Booking Guide
| ATTRACTION OR EVENT | CHRISTMAS 2026 START DATE | WHEN SHOULD YOU BOOK? |
| Tokyo Disney Resort | 11 November–25 December 2026 | Tickets open two months before your visit date at 2pm Japan time |
| Yomiyuriland Jewellumination | 29 October 2026 | Tickets until the end of November are already available to book now |
| Tokyo Christmas Market | Confirmed at two Tokyo venues | Book when advance tickets are released, especially for evenings and weekends |
| Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo | December admission tickets available; Christmas event not yet confirmed | Book now if you want to visit regardless of the seasonal overlay |
| Universal Studios Japan | November 13th 2026 – January 17th 2027 | Choose your date now and monitor ticket and Express Pass release |
| Christmas KFC | Reservations open on November 1st 2026 | |
| Sanrio Puroland | 2026 Dates not confirmed (2025 days were 7th November – 25th December) | November and December tickets are available to book now |
| Tokyo Mega Illuminations | Early November 2026 – Mid January 2027 | Tickets are not yet available |
Tokyo Disneyland at Christmas
The ultimate Japan Christmas itinerary wouldn’t be complete without Disney. Every year, both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea host an annual Disney Christmas event that is incredibly popular.
Tokyo Disney Resort has confirmed that Disney Christmas will run from 11 November until 25 December 2026 at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.
This is one of the biggest Christmas events in Japan, with festive entertainment, decorations, merchandise and seasonal food across both parks. The exact 2026 programme may vary between Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, but you will find Christmas attractions and overlays in both parks.
We’ve visited both parks with our boys, and choosing between them isn’t easy. Tokyo Disneyland offers the classic castle-park experience, while DisneySea is completely unique to Japan and has some spectacular themed areas.
Check out this post to help you make your decision:
🎠 Wondering if you should visit Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea? Read my opinion here!
When Do Tokyo Disney Tickets Go on Sale?
Fixed-date Tokyo Disney tickets go on sale at 2pm Japan time exactly two months before the admission date. This means tickets for:
● 11 November 2026 go on sale on 11 September 2026
● 1 December 2026 go on sale on 1 October 2026
● Christmas Day go on sale on 25 October 2026
👉Click here to check availability and book your Tokyo Disney tickets as soon as possible
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK for an additional reader-exclusive discount
Christmas Lights in Yomiyuriland
Yomiyuriland has attracted a lot of attention since news broke that it will be the site of the new PokePark Kanto theme park, which is opening next year.
But actually, the most iconic time of year to visit Yomiyuriland is at Christmas. This is when the park hosts their Jewellumination event. The most dazzling display of Chistmas lights you’re going to see in your time in Japan! We actually visited Yomiyuriland for Jewellumination earlier this year, and it was genuinely magical. The scale of the light displays were bigger than I was expecting, based on the photos online.
Yomiyuriland has confirmed that its 2026–27 Jewellumination season will begin on 29 October 2026. The complete end date and operating calendar had not been released when this guide was updated, but the event generally runs all the way until April.
What we loved most about Jewellumination is because it’s based in an amusement park rather than a stand-alone light trail, you can combine the illuminations with rides and entertainment. We even checked out the lights from the rides! It was such a cool experience.
And, if you come to the Jewellumination, you can’t miss the fountain show. 188 fountains shooting up, water screens and laser lights all come together to create Japan’s finest fountain show! The combination of light and fountains is simply breathtaking! Some of the rides at the park are open too, but in reality it’s the spectacular light displays that make this worth visiting, meaning this is consistently listed as one of the best things to do in Tokyo at Christmas.
👉Book your Yomiyuriland Tickets Here
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK for an extra reader-exclusive discount
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Planning a Family Trip to Japan?
Make it stress-free, affordable, and unforgettable with my 40-page Japan Family Travel eBook.
Includes sample itineraries, budgeting tips, kid-friendly activities, and packing checklists.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – Hogwarts in the Snow
I cannot emphasise enough just how much our youngest, Harry Potter made son, loved the Warner Bros Studios Tour Tokyo. If you’ve already been to the one in London then this is still worth visiting in its own right – this is bigger and better.
🚂 You can read our full review of the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studios Tour here.
During November and December each year, Warner Bros hosts a seasonal event that transforms the Studios Tour Tokyo into a Hogwarts themed winter wonderland. You’ll see all the same sets and attractions that we saw and loved during our visit, but this time with snow-topped Christmas trees and glittering festive banquets. Love Harry Potter and love Christmas? Then you’ll love this!
👉This limited time experience required advance ticket purchases. Book now to avoid disappointment.
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off your ticket prices
Christmas at Universal Studios Japan
There’s never a bad time of year to visit Universal Studios Japan – I think if they could live there, my boys would quite happily set up a tent! But the Universal Studios Japan theme park really seems to go all out at Christmas. Universal Studios Japan’s Christmas event, “NO LIMIT! Christmas,” will run from November 13th 2026 – January 17th 2027 this year.
🎢 You can read my full Guide to visiting Universal Studios Japan with kids here.
USJ normally runs seasonal Christmas entertainment, food and merchandise during November and December. However, the main Christmas 2026 programme and dates had not been officially announced as of 22 September 2026.
If USJ is one of your non-negotiable Osaka attractions, you can still choose your preferred park date and begin planning. Admission tickets and Express Passes are separate products, and the most useful Express Pass combinations can sell out quickly once released.
👉Click here to check availability and book your USJ tickets as soon as possible
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off your ticket prices
Book Your Christmas Day KFC
Did you know that in Japan, you won’t find a turkey dinner with all the trimmings on Christmas Day? Instead, thanks to a clever marketing campaign in the 1980s, the traditional Japanese Christmas dinner is….a huge bucket of KFC chicken. No, this isn’t a joke!
Because it’s so popular, pre-ordering KFC for Christmas is highly recommended, and this year pre-orders start on 1st November 2026. If you want the best dishes, book early to secure your order and preferred pickup time. Disclaimer: We’ve never tried this ourselves. So if you’re going to be in Japan on Christmas day and want to be about of this fun, albeit unusual tradition, then you can check for pre-order availability on the KFC Japan website or through the KFC Japan app as soon as possible.
🍗 Here’s the link to the KFC Japan website to make prebooking easy
Sanrio Puroland – Sanrio Christmas Illumination
My love of Sanrio Puroland is well documented – as a lifelong Hello Kitty fan, I think it’s one of the most kawaii, beautiful, albeit slightly insane, theme parks in all of Japan. And during Christmas the park takes things a step further by hosting a Sanrio Chistmas Illumination event.
🎀 Read my complete guide to visiting Sanrio Puroland here.
Previous Christmas programmes have included festive costumes, decorations and seasonal entertainment. But Sanrio Puroland has not yet confirmed a dedicated Christmas 2026 even yet, but I’ll update this post as soon as they do! I’ll be very surprised if there isn’t one, as this annual event is so popular with Sanrio fans like myself.
You can still visit Puroland during December and enjoy its regular rides, character greetings and shows. Admission is date-specific, and busy dates can become unavailable, so book once your itinerary is fixed.
👉Check availability and book your tickets here NOW
🎁Use my discount code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get an extra discount on these ticket prices.
Tokyo Mega Illumination (Shinagawa)
Held at the Oi Racecourse, this is a huge landscape themed illumination, and completely unique to Japan. You can visit this illuminated wonderland between November and January, and tickets are date-specific, so if you have a date in mind then it’s well worth buying your tickets as far in advance as possible due to high demand.
Worth noting that because it needs to be dark to really appreciate the illuminations, this event is only held in the evenings. This is the biggest illumination event in Tokyo and this year it’s themed around “the past, present, and future.”
⭐You can find out more about this illumination event here.
Other Events Worth Knowing About
These are the biggest Japan at Christmas events that you can start booking now. But there are plenty of other events well worth knowing about! It would be impossible for me to list them all, but some of the other events well worth knowing about and researching if you’re spending Christmas in Tokyo include;
- Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka Illuminations and Christmas market (A lit-up tree lined avenue, accompanied by a German-style Christmas market)
- Shibuya Sky “Sparkling View” Event. Enjoy the spectacular city views from the Shibuya Sky while surrounded by fun, festive decorations.
- Futako Tamagawa Rise “Blooming Lights”. This is an illuminated floral wonderland with light installations installed by local artists. If you’re travelling with kids, this event also has an ice rink which is a great way for them to let out their energy.
- Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market. Another European-style Christmas market with festive stalls and a fun atmosphere.
- Tokyo Christmas Market in Shinjuku. Right in the heart of the city, this event has food stalls and live music.
What Should You Book First for Christmas in Japan?
If you are planning a December 2026 family trip (and lucky you!) but you’re not sure what to book first, I would prioritise your bookings in this order:
1. First thing’s first, book in your flights and accommodation, particularly for the Christmas weekend and Japanese New Year period. The sooner you do this the better, because this is a really busy travel period, and prices spike.
2. Book your Tokyo Disney tickets as soon as your date opens two months in advance.
3. It’s a more niche attraction, but next book the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, especially if you want a particular timed entry.
4. Finally look to book your Universal Studios Japan admission and Express Passes once the products for your date become available.
5. Less urgently, book your date-specific illumination and Christmas market tickets once their calendars are confirmed.
6. Any free illuminations can usually remain flexible and fill gaps around your fixed reservations.
Final Thoughts and Further Reading
Christmas in Japan combines familiar festive decorations with traditions and experiences that feel completely different from Christmas at home. It’s like Christmas…..but in a very surface-level way! You can enjoy Disney’s seasonal entertainment, walk through millions of jewel-coloured lights, explore a Tokyo Christmas market and collect a KFC Party Barrel—all during the same trip.
Because it’s such a busy time of year to be in Japan, my top tip is to book the date-specific attractions that matter most to your family for your visit, then leave enough flexibility to add the remaining illuminations and seasonal events as they are announced.
Still planning the perfect Japan trip? Check out some of our other tips and guides:
👉 Japan Family Travel Guide
👉 Why Visit Japan? 8 Reasons To Visit Japan With Kids
👉 8 Japan Travel Apps You Need Before You Visit Japan in 2026
👉 The Ultimate Guide To Japan With Kids (2026 Japan Travel Guide)
👉 When Is the Best Time to Book Japan for 2027? (Flights, Hotels & Prices Explained)
WANT MORE POSTS LIKE THIS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX? HIT SUBSCRIBE BELOW
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
5 Comments