Christmas and New Years went by in a blur here, with New Years being the much more significant holiday in Japan. However, in recent years Christmas has been becoming more and more popular here and there are a lot of interesting differences to discuss between the holiday here and that of the United States's Christmas so I will be starting here. Besides, being stuck a half day ahead of most people I know, it's only fair that I can be behind sometimes.
While I'll deal with what Christmas in Japan is all about in another post, there's a lot of Christmas happening in the months leading up to the holiday itself, months being the key word there. I started seeing Christmas decorations being up before Halloween was even here. Considering the almost reverent nature that each season is treated in Japan it was a surprise that all holidays are rushed in and out throughout the year. My guess is that the seasons fall into traditions and a lot of the holidays, especially imported ones, fall into the commercial side of things. Besides their rushing, the Christmas decorations, or known here only as Illuminations are the best part about Christmas in Japan. They are really nice to see even if they are so early. These displays are light on the traditional, heavy on classing it up. They're large light displays placed around shopping areas and businesses, basically as a holiday advertisement for the area. Enough with me talking though, take a look at some of the ones I've found for yourself.
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| Akasaka (赤坂, あかさか), Tokyo: Where I stayed as a study abroad student. This is right next to the TBS building. Yes, the same TBS. They have a TV station here too. |
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| Shinjuku (新宿, しんじゅく), Tokyo: Tucked away right behind Shinjuku station, the busiest train station on the earth. Various shops and restaurants along this walkway. |
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| Across the street from the last photo, in front of JR (Japan Railways) headquarters. The penguins are the company's logo. |
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| In the same area as the last photo. This Christmas light tree lights up in different colors to tell the fortune of the people that stand inside of it. |
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| Interesting display of Illuminations using plastic bottles. Located around Takashimaya Times Square, a huge shopping center also next to Shinjuku station. |
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| Yokohama (横浜, よこはま), Japan: Red Brick Warehouse (横浜赤レンガ倉庫, よこはまあかれんがそうこ, Yokohama Akarenga Sōko) Custom house buildings that were renovated into shopping centers. During the Christmas season a market and skating rink are set up here. |
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| Illuminations under Tokyo Tower. The famous Eifel Tower look-a-like in Tokyo. |
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| Tokyo Midtown (東京ミッドタウン): This display has different light sequences to go along with the standard lights. | |
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| Inside a shopping mall in Tokyo Midtown. |
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| The most elaborate Illumination I've ever seen. Can be seen in Tokyo Midtown; this is a long light show (about 20 minutes) with atmospheric music showing the creation of a galaxy. |
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| Tokyo Midtown |
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| Omotesandō (表参道, おもてさんどう), Tokyo: One of the most famous shopping districts in Tokyo. | | |
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| Tokyo International Forum (東京国際フォーラム, Tōkyō Kokusai Fōramu): A recreation of the Christmas market found in Strasbourg France. |
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| Ginza (銀座, ぎんざ), Tokyo: High end shopping district in Tokyo. |
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| One final one outside of urban Japan, Kitamoto (北本, きたもと), Japan: Right in front of the train station. |
As Christmas becomes more popular in Japan more of these are bound to pop up all over the country. Maybe because of their classiness in presentation it's one of the few Christmas things in Japan that doesn't feel completely over commercialized and are nice to see; although starting after Halloween might be nice.
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