#1362

Are there any special events for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas in Japan?

Yes and No. Halloween, for commercial reasons, has become "popular" among Japnese people, but they don't really know what to do or even when it is! Even at supermarkets or 100-yen stores, you can find many kinds of Halloween ornaments, but unless you go to Roppongi or some place where many foreigners (mainly Americans) gather, you don't find Halloween costume parades or parties (for adults).

Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Japan. There is a national holiday called "Thanksgiving Day" (Kinro Kansha no Hi), but it literally means "Thanksgiving for workers" or I'd say, "Thanks goodness I have a job." (in this economy!)

Christmas lights and ornaments are big here, but people just exchange gifts and have "gatherings" (they call them parties...) at home, restaurants and Izakaya, etc. Many Japanese families don't even "celebrate" Christmas. It's a day of eating Kentucky Fried Chicken or pizza and strawberry shortcake. No turkeys (you can find a bunch of them on the streets! Oops... different turkeys...), no stuffing, UNLESS you have a big enough oven to roast one at home. Some hotels and restaurants in Tokyo and Osaka offer turkey dinners, so check them out on the Internet.

Stores are open on Christmas Day (as usual) and there are a lot of places with pretty Christmas lights. I recommend walking around Shiodome (near Shinbashi) or Omote Sando, if you're in Tokyo, or the main street in Kobe.

TinaT image

TinaT

You might also like

Turkey Day Tokyo Style! images

Turkey Day Tokyo Style!

Many restaurants do Thanksgiving specials now- a big change from just 10 years ago! I must admit that I am biased. I own a small restaurant called "Kimono wine and grill" which is a euro american bis…

LShannon image

LShannon

Thanksgiving meals in Yokohama images

Thanksgiving meals in Yokohama

This is not in Tokyo but rather in Yokohama. There is a country club called Yokohama Country and Athletics club which has Thanksgiving dinner every year. There are many foreigners who come and enjoy…

Jules image

Jules

What the Dickens? in Ebisu images

What the Dickens? in Ebisu

One of the best loved and most frequented British Pubs in the heart of Tokyo (Ebisu st.) hosts an annual week long Turkey day feast for around 2,000yen per plate.They also have free entrance and …

Career Coach Brent image

Career Coach Brent

Place you can eat a Thanksgiving meal in Tokyo images

Place you can eat a Thanksgiving meal in Tokyo

You can have a Thanksgiving meal which is Turkey at Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo at Roppongi and Hard Rock Cafe Ueno-eki at JR Ueno station. They will probably serve the meal from Nov 15th to 30th.

shinR image

shinR

Where to eat Thanksgiving dinner in Tokyo images

Where to eat Thanksgiving dinner in Tokyo

Looking for a place to eat Thanksgiving dinner in Tokyo? You can find it at Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo (Roppongi). They have Rosat turkey and turkey plate. Both are available from Nov 16th. For Roast turke…

shinR image

shinR

Traditional American Thanksgiving images

Traditional American Thanksgiving

As a native Californian living in Japan there are some food holidays and flavors I really miss from home! Food is an amazing part of our socialization and culture. The food in Japan is amazing but we…

Traci Pink Cow image

Traci Pink Cow