Winter in Japan 2022-2023: Christmas Lights, Ice Skating, and More

Winter Holidays in Japan with Lights and Ice Skating

In Europe and America, Christmas and winter holidays often hold religious significance and are a time to be enjoyed with one's family and relatives. In Japan, however, Christmas is considered a romantic holiday for couples to spend time together. For example, on a typical Christmas date, couples go to an upscale restaurant and exchange presents.

With friends, Christmas celebrants prepare fried chicken and chocolate cake, enjoy drinks, exchange presents, and have a pleasant time.

For those traveling in Japan, in addition to food and presents, special winter events, like light-up displays and ice skating, are another part of the fun. This article introduces suggested ways to take in the season.

Some of the events might be canceled in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please check the official website of the event you plan to visit for the latest information.

1. Enjoy the Winter Illuminations

In the winter, many places in Japan are lit up with special illuminations. Below are three popular spots with colorful and whimsical scenery where you can enjoy being transported to a magical, wintery dimension.

1. Tokyo German Village in Chiba

At the popular Tokyo German Village, you can enjoy the scenery of a German country town along with delicious food; it is also well-known for its two million glimmering LED lights. Every year the illumination undergoes drastic changes, and you can even enjoy fireworks at the same time, depending on the season. We recommend the view from the Ferris Wheel.

Winter Illuminations: October 28, 2022 - March 19, 2023

Tokyo German Village

419 Nagayoshi, Sodegaura City, Chiba Prefecture 299-0204

2. Marunouchi in Tokyo

About a million LED bulbs are set up along the length of the 1.2 km Tokyo Marunouchi Naka-dori, enveloping the street in champagne gold light.
Light Up: November 10, 2022 - February 19, 2023

Japan

3. Kobe Luminarie in Hyogo

Photo by Pixta
Luminarie is perhaps the most popular light display in the country. Set against the night view of famous Kobe City, the gorgeous lights are sure to make you sigh in amazement.

Winter Illuminations: December 9 - 18, 2022

2. Spend the Day Gift Shopping

Around this time, department stores and fashion outlets hold limited-time sales offering year-end bargains. It is a great time to purchase holiday presents.

Purchase Limited-Edition Items

Every year, various fashion brands put together Christmas-only cosmetics sets, which feature special designs and come with limited-edition pouches for you to enjoy. These cosmetics can be procured at department stores. Since they’re so popular, they sell out fast, so do some research about the specific items you want beforehand.

Also, many sweets shops prepare chocolates, traditional sweets, and special assortments specifically for Christmastime. Enjoy the atmosphere in the stores, which feels totally different from the normal shopping vibe.

Find Bargains

The year-end sale is one of the allures of Christmas, as many departments and shopping outlets will run blowout sales to sell through their inventory. The bargains aren’t limited to fashion goods, as you can also find cheap home appliances and items for your home interior. Some sales start even before Christmas, so do some investigating and head out early to do some shopping.

3. Enjoy Ice Skating

There are a great number of ice skating rinks in Tokyo which are specially installed in winter. Skating around in the wondrous atmosphere produced by the lights is a special pleasure that can only be had during the holiday season. We’ll introduce you to a few of the rinks you can skate on.

Tokyo Midtown

The MIDTOWN ICE RINK is one of the best places to enjoy casual ice skating in Tokyo. Located within the commercial district of Tokyo Midtown, offers a wide space to skate at leisure. What's best, you'll be skating on real ice!

MIDTOWN CHRISTMAS 2022, a Christmas fair with many visual and culinary highlights is also being held at Tokyo Midtown.

Tokyo Midtown

9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052

Futako Tamagawa Rise in Tokyo

Accessible from Shibuya in about ten minutes, Futako Tamagawa has an exceptional location. Made from natural ice, the 390 square meter skating rink at Futako Tamagawa Rise is enjoyed by people of all ages.

Ice Skating Season: November 26, 2022 - March 5, 2023

Futako Tamagawa RISE Skate Garden

1-14-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-0094

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse in Yokohama

The Red Brick Warehouse, a popular shopping and sightseeing destination in Yokohama, also opens a skating rink in winter. Usually themed around art and ice, the Red Brick Warehouse skating rink cooperates with a diverse array of artists every year.

Ice Skating Season: December 3, 2022 - February 19, 2023

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

231-0001 1-1 Shinminato, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture

It is one of the national warehouses that was used from the end of the Meiji period to the Taisho period, and is a building with quite a his...

Enjoy the Winter Holidays in Japan!

There are many events that can be enjoyed in Japan during the holiday season. How about spending a wonderful Christmas in a uniquely Japanese atmosphere?