Things To Do In Japan In December 2026: Illuminations, Snow and New Year Closures

Most lists of things to do in Japan in December treat the month as one season. It isn't. From December 1 to about December 27, you get winter illuminations, Christmas markets, short lines at the big temples and cold, mostly sunny days. Then the country goes on its New Year break: government offices shut on December 29, banks close from December 31, and every Nozomi bullet train is reserved-seat only from December 25 to January 5.

Both halves are good times to go, but they need different plans. In the first three weeks, the question is which light-ups and markets are worth an evening. Over New Year, it's which sights are open and how to get a train seat. Many popular December lists also still recommend events that have ended or moved, so a few "classics" you'll see elsewhere aren't on this year's calendar.

The 22 entries below come with the 2026 dates and prices from each organizer's own site. If something hasn't been announced yet, we say so and give last year's dates instead of guessing.

How to use this list: start with the at-a-glance table to see which part of December you're traveling in, then pick from the six sections that follow. Each entry ends with dates, hours, cost and how to get there. After the list come a table of New Year closures, December weather and what to book before you fly. If this is your first trip, read our Japan travel tips for first-timers for the basics on cash, Suica cards and eSIMs.

Japan In December At A Glance

If you can choose your dates, we'd go between December 1 and 20. That's when the illuminations and markets are running, domestic travel is light and nothing is closed for the holidays. Here's how the month breaks down.

Winter Illuminations

Illuminations are the main thing to do on a December evening, and they're easy to fit in: the sun sets around 4:30 p.m. in Tokyo all month, so most shows are lit by 5 p.m. City-center light-ups are free. The big paid ones are in parks and gardens outside the cities, and one of them is worth a trip.

1. Roppongi Hills And Central Tokyo

For a free evening walk, start at Roppongi Hills, where the trees along Keyakizaka Street are lit with Tokyo Tower at the bottom of the hill. The illumination runs November 5 to December 25, 2026, and the Roppongi Hills Christmas Market opens in the plaza under the big roof from November 21. Walk it after 8 p.m. on a weekday, when the crowds thin out.

Marunouchi's Naka-dori Avenue, near Tokyo Station, is the other classic, but it hadn't announced its 2026 dates when we checked; last year it ran November 13 to February 15. The same goes for the giant Baccarat crystal chandelier that Yebisu Garden Place usually puts up for free.

Dates and hours: Keyakizaka, November 5–December 25, 5–10 p.m.; Christmas Market, November 21–December 25, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Free. Getting there: Roppongi Station (Hibiya and Oedo lines).

2. Yomiuriland Jewellumination

If you want one big light show inside Tokyo, especially with kids, go to Yomiuriland. The amusement park in Inagi, western Tokyo, lights up its rides, fountains and gardens every evening, and the 2026–27 season starts on October 29. The lights come with regular park admission, and you can add an evening ride pass.

The season runs into spring, with no lights on weekdays in early March. Buy online, where tickets are cheaper than at the gate.

Dates and hours: From October 29, 2026, generally 4–8:30 p.m. (times vary by date). Cost: Admission ¥1,800 (about $12), ¥1,600 online; after-3-p.m. ride pass ¥3,100 (¥2,800 online). Getting there: Keio-Yomiuri-Land Station on the Keio Sagamihara Line.

3. Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park, in Tochigi Prefecture, has the most elaborate illumination near Tokyo. More than 5 million bulbs recreate the park's famous wisteria and other flowers in light, and for its 25th season the 2026–27 show adds a 21 m (69 ft) Christmas tree.

It's a long but easy day trip. Arrive in the afternoon, walk the gardens in daylight and stay for the lights. Admission is set each morning according to what's in bloom, so the gate price varies by day.

Dates: October 17, 2026–February 14, 2027. Hours: 3:30–8:30 p.m., to 9 p.m. on weekends and holidays. From November 7 to January 3, open until 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Getting there: Ashikaga Flower Park Station on the JR Ryomo Line, about 1.5–2 hours from Tokyo via Oyama.

4. Nabana No Sato

Nabana no Sato, near Nagoya, is the best illumination day trip if you're traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto. Its long light tunnel and its huge landscape show, which changes theme every year, draw visitors from all over Japan. The ticket includes ¥1,000 in vouchers to spend on food or souvenirs inside, so the real entry price is lower than it looks.

December 23 to 25 works differently. The park opens only from 3 p.m. and admits holders of date-specific tickets, bought in advance at FamilyMart or 7-Eleven. The 2026 price for those nights hadn't been set when we checked, and any tickets left at the gate cost ¥5,500 (about $36).

Dates: October 17, 2026–May 31, 2027 (closed January 6–7). Cost: November 21–December 22 and December 26–February 28, ¥3,000 (about $20) at convenience stores or ¥3,200 at the gate, including the ¥1,000 voucher; free for preschoolers. Getting there: Kintetsu train from Nagoya to Kintetsu-Nagashima Station, then the direct bus; about 35 minutes at best.

5. Osaka Festival Of Lights

Osaka's Festival of Lights is the best free illumination in western Japan, and mid-December is when to see it. Midosuji, the city's main avenue, is lit for 4 km (2.5 mi) from November 3 to December 31. From December 11 to 25, the OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance adds light shows around City Hall and Nakanoshima.

The highlight is the projection mapping on the 1918 Osaka City Central Public Hall, a brick building by the river. Shows of about 10 minutes start every 12 minutes, so you won't wait long. Walk from Midosuji to Nakanoshima to see both in one evening.

Dates and hours: Midosuji Illumination, November 3–December 31, about 5 p.m.–1 a.m. Hikari-Renaissance, December 11–25; projection mapping 5:30–9:30 p.m. (last show 9:20 p.m.). Free. Getting there: Yodoyabashi Station (Midosuji Line or Keihan Line).

6. Kyoto's Last Autumn Light-Ups

Kyoto's autumn leaves are running late in 2026, so early December still has color. Most temple light-ups end on December 6, but two run until December 13: Kodai-ji, whose pond reflects the lit maples, and To-ji, near Kyoto Station, with its five-story pagoda lit every evening. We'd give the first week of December to Kyoto and use the evenings for these two. For peak dates and the other temples, see our Kyoto autumn leaves 2026 guide.

Dates and hours: Kodai-ji, until December 13, lit from 5 p.m., last entry 9:30 p.m., ¥800 (about $5). To-ji, until December 13, 6–9:30 p.m., last entry 9 p.m., ¥1,000 (about $6.50).

Christmas In Japan

Christmas in Japan is a seasonal event, not a family holiday. December 25 is a normal working day, and Christmas Eve is a night out for couples. For visitors, that means German-style markets, theme park parades and lights in every shopping district, while everything else stays open as usual.

7. Tokyo Christmas Market

Tokyo's largest Christmas market has moved. For 2026, it's at two venues, neither of them Meiji Jingu Gaien, where it ran in recent years. One is by the water at Shin-Toyosu, opening November 20. The other is in Shiba Park below Tokyo Tower, opening December 4.

Both have a Christmas pyramid about 14 m (46 ft) tall, mulled wine in mugs designed for each venue and German food stalls. Entry is ticketed. Advance tickets went on sale on October 1, and the organizers recommend them because walk-in entry is limited at busy times.

Dates and hours: Shin-Toyosu, November 20–December 25, 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m., last entry 8:30 p.m. Shiba Park, December 4–25, 11 a.m.–10 p.m., last entry 9 p.m. Both open at 4 p.m. on their first day. Cost: Adults ¥1,000 (about $6.50) on weekdays, ¥1,500 on weekends and holidays, ¥2,000 on December 24–25. Elementary school children ¥500 (¥1,000 on December 24–25); preschoolers free. Getting there: Shin-Toyosu Station on the Yurikamome Line, a 2-minute walk; Onarimon Station Exit A6 on the Toei Mita Line, a 1-minute walk.

TIP: Go on a weekday before December 23. Entry costs half what it does on December 24 and 25, when the lines are also longest.

8. Yokohama, Roppongi And Osaka Markets

If you only go to one market outside central Tokyo, make it Yokohama's Red Brick Warehouse. The market has run since 2010, and the lit brick warehouses by the harbor, with a live tree about 11 m (36 ft) tall, give it the best setting of the bunch. Roppongi Hills' market (entry 1) is smaller and free.

In Osaka, the Umeda Sky Building runs its own Christmas event from November 13 to December 25, with market stalls around a tree in the plaza at its base. Pair it with the observatory at sunset.

Dates and hours: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, November 20–December 25; 11 a.m.–9 p.m. until December 4, then 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Cost: Entry from ¥500 (about $3), varying by date; priority-entry tickets sold online. Getting there: Bashamichi or Nihon-odori Station (Minatomirai Line), about 6 minutes on foot.

9. Tokyo Disney And Universal Studios Japan

Both big theme parks go all out for Christmas. Tokyo Disney Resort's Disney Christmas runs from November 11 to December 25, 2026, with a Christmas parade at Tokyo Disneyland and Santa arriving by boat at DisneySea's Mediterranean Harbor. In Osaka, Universal Studios Japan marks its 25th year with Universal Holiday Wonders, from November 13 to January 17, 2027, with a night show from November 25.

Both parks price tickets by date, and weekends near Christmas are the busiest, so buy online for a weekday as soon as your dates are set. On New Year's Eve, USJ holds its No Limit! Countdown 2027 party from 7 p.m. on December 31 to 9 p.m. on January 1, which needs a separate party pass.

10. Christmas Eve, Japanese Style

Japan's best-known Christmas tradition is a bucket of KFC, and many families order theirs weeks ahead. KFC Japan opens Christmas pre-orders in early November (last year on November 4). You don't need a reservation to buy fried chicken on the 24th, but expect long lines at every branch.

The other tradition is strawberry shortcake, sold by every bakery, department store and convenience store. If you want a nice dinner on December 24, book it in November, because restaurants with a view fill with couples and switch to pricier set menus. Otherwise, eat somewhere casual or pick up dinner at a department store food hall.

December Festivals And Markets

December is a quiet month for big festivals, so the few that run are worth building a day around. All four below are held on the same dates every year.

11. Chichibu Night Festival

The Chichibu Night Festival (Chichibu Yomatsuri) is the biggest December festival near Tokyo and one of Japan's best-known float festivals. On the night of December 3, six towering wooden floats, hung with lanterns, are hauled through Chichibu, northwest of Tokyo, while winter fireworks go off overhead. The floats are part of a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage listing.

The main day is December 3, a Thursday in 2026, with an eve on December 2. Trains back to Tokyo are packed late at night. If you can't stay over in Chichibu, book a seat on the reserved limited express ahead, or leave before the fireworks end.

Dates: December 2–3 (main day December 3). The 2026 paid viewing seats hadn't been announced when we checked. Getting there: Seibu Limited Express Laview from Ikebukuro to Seibu-Chichibu, about 1 hour 20 minutes.

12. Hagoita-Ichi At Senso-ji

For three days each December, the grounds of Senso-ji in Asakusa fill with stalls selling hagoita, decorated wooden paddles from a traditional New Year game. The showiest are padded with fabric portraits of kabuki actors and the year's celebrities. People buy them as good-luck charms, and when a sale is made, the vendors clap out a rhythm to seal it.

You don't have to buy anything. Walking the lit stalls in the evening is one of Tokyo's best free December outings, and Senso-ji itself is right there.

Dates: December 17–19. Free. Getting there: Asakusa Station (Ginza, Asakusa and Tobu lines).

13. Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri

Nara's On-Matsuri is the most traditional festival you can see in December. It has been held at Kasuga Taisha's Wakamiya shrine every year since 1136, over four days from December 15 to 18. The part to see is the costumed procession on December 17, with performers dressed as court officials, warriors and dancers from several historical periods walking through central Nara to the shrine.

The procession starts at noon on December 17, a Thursday in 2026. Combine it with Todai-ji and the deer park on the same day.

Dates: December 15–18; procession December 17 from noon. Free to watch.

14. Setagaya Boro-Ichi

Setagaya Boro-ichi is a flea market that has been held in the same street for more than 400 years. On December 15 and 16, about 700 stalls line Boro-ichi-dori in residential Setagaya, selling antiques, old kimono, tools, plants and street food. The local specialty is daikan mochi, rice cakes made at the market.

In 2026 it falls on a Tuesday and Wednesday, so go in the morning, before it fills up. A second Boro-ichi runs on January 15 and 16.

Dates and hours: December 15–16, 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Free. Getting there: Kamimachi or Setagaya Station on the Tokyu Setagaya Line.

Snow, Onsen And Mt. Fuji

Don't count on snow in Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka in December. In an average December, Tokyo gets no snowfall at all and Kyoto about 2 cm (0.8 in). For snow, head into the mountains or north: Nagano city averages 30 cm (12 in) of snowfall in December and Sapporo 113 cm (44 in).

15. Snow Monkeys At Jigokudani

Watching wild Japanese macaques soak in a hot spring at Jigokudani Yaen-koen, in the mountains of Nagano, is the top winter day trip from Tokyo, and December is when the season begins. The monkeys bathe most in the coldest months, and the valley is usually under snow by late December. Early in the month, you may find the pool without snow or with fewer monkeys in it.

From December to April, visitors with online tickets get priority entry, so buy before you go. The last stretch is a 1.6 km (1 mi) forest path that's icy in winter. Wear boots with grip, and reach the park at least 30 minutes before closing.

Hours: November–March, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; open daily. Cost: Adults ¥800 (about $5), children ¥400, but the park has announced a price change. Check the official site before you go. Getting there: Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano, about 1.5 hours, then the Nagaden train to Yudanaka and a bus.

16. A Snowy Onsen Town

A night in an onsen town is the best way to spend a cold December day. Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata is the most photographed, with wooden inns along a river lit by gas lamps in the snow, and so crowded that day visitors face winter limits. In recent winters, evening entry needed a ticket and was capped by the hour, and late at night only permit holders could go in. The 2026–27 rules hadn't been announced when we checked, so stay overnight if you want the evening view.

Kinosaki Onsen, about 2.5 hours from Kyoto, is easier, and snow crab season on the Sea of Japan coast opens on November 6, so inns serve crab dinners all winter. You walk between its seven public baths in a yukata.

Kusatsu Onsen, about 3 hours from Tokyo by train and bus, is built around a steaming field of hot spring water in the middle of town. Ryokan in all three book up early for weekends, Christmas and New Year, so book as soon as your dates are set.

17. Mt. Fuji From Kawaguchiko

December is one of the best months to see Mt. Fuji, because the winter air is dry and clear. At Lake Kawaguchiko, December is the driest month of the year, with about 50 mm (2 in) of rain, and gets about 200 hours of sunshine, roughly 60% more than June. The summit has fresh snow, and mornings are often cloudless.

The catch is the cold. Average lows at the lake are −2.9°C (27°F), and highs only 8.5°C (47°F). Go early: the mountain is usually clearest in the first hours after sunrise.

Getting there: Highway bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal to Kawaguchiko Station, about 2 hours, or the Fuji Excursion limited express from Shinjuku.

18. Skiing From Tokyo

You can ski on a day trip from Tokyo in December without flying to Hokkaido. GALA Yuzawa in Niigata has its own Shinkansen station at the base of the gondola, about 1.5 hours from Tokyo, and rents skis, boards and clothing. Its 2026–27 opening date hadn't been announced when we checked, but the resort usually opens in mid- to late December, depending on snow.

The new season's adult one-day lift ticket has been reported at ¥8,000 (about $52), and only the central and north areas will run this season. For a ski trip of several days, Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen in Nagano are the main options on Honshu.

19. Hokkaido In December

Hokkaido is where you'll find snow in December, and Sapporo is the easiest base. The Sapporo White Illumination lights up Odori Park from November 20 to December 25, 2026, and continues on Ekimae-dori until February 11. Average December highs in Sapporo are 2°C (36°F).

Note that the Sapporo Snow Festival, the event most visitors picture, is in February, not December. We'll cover Hokkaido in its own guides.

New Year's Eve And New Year

New Year (shogatsu) is the most important holiday in Japan, and it's a family time, closer to Christmas in the West than to a party night. December 31 is about temple bells, a bowl of soba and the first shrine visit after midnight. Visitors are welcome at all of it, as long as you plan around the closures in the table below.

20. Joya No Kane At Chion-in

At midnight on December 31, temples across Japan ring their bells 108 times, once for each of the worldly desires in Buddhist teaching. The best known is at Chion-in in Kyoto. Its 70-ton bell, cast in 1636, takes 17 monks to ring: one leans back on the main rope while the others haul and chant.

You can watch, but not ring it, and places are limited and paid. Last year, Chion-in took online applications from December 1 at 2 p.m. for four groups of 500 people and sold 400 more tickets at the temple from December 8 to 24, at ¥3,000 (about $20) each. The 2026 details hadn't been posted when we checked. Last year it also held a free public test ringing on December 27 at 2 p.m., with no reservation needed.

To ring a bell yourself, try a smaller temple, where turns are usually first come, first served. For where to stay in Kyoto and how to get around, see our Kyoto travel guide.

21. Hatsumode

Hatsumode is the year's first visit to a shrine or temple. Join it in the first three days of January, and you'll see Japan at its most traditional: families in their best clothes, food stalls and long lines to make a wish and buy a new charm. Meiji Jingu in Tokyo, Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka draw the biggest crowds.

Meiji Jingu has stayed open through the night on December 31 in recent years, and the lines at midnight can take hours. For a calmer visit, go early in the morning on January 2 or 3, or choose a neighborhood shrine. In Kyoto, Yasaka Shrine's Okera Mairi on New Year's Eve lets you carry home sacred fire on a rope, a custom found only there.

22. Countdowns, Soba And New Year Sales

Japan has fewer big countdown parties than you might expect. Shibuya Crossing hasn't held an official countdown in recent years, and since October 2024, street drinking around Shibuya Station has been banned every night from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. For a party, the USJ countdown (entry 9) or a hotel event is a better bet.

On December 31, do what most Japanese families do and eat toshikoshi soba, long buckwheat noodles for a long life. Department stores sell osechi, the boxed New Year food, and many hotels serve it on January 1. From January 1 to 3, stores sell fukubukuro, sealed lucky bags of discounted goods. Not every store opens on the 1st: Takashimaya has closed on January 1 and 2 since 2025 and starts its sales on January 3.

If you shop, remember that tax-free shopping changed on November 1, 2026: you pay full price and claim the tax back at the airport. Our tax-free shopping refund guide explains how.

New Year Closures 2026–27

From December 29 to January 3, plan each day around what's open. Government offices close for those six days, banks from December 31 to January 3, and many museums, gardens and small family restaurants shut for part of that week. Temples, shrines, theme parks, convenience stores, chain restaurants, hotels and trains keep running.

In cities, 7-Eleven and Lawson ATMs work as usual, but bank ATMs can run shorter holiday hours, so take out cash before December 29 if you'll be in small towns. Food is the bigger problem. Many small restaurants close from about December 31 to January 3, so plan those meals at hotels, chains, department store food halls or convenience stores.

Trains And Hotels Over New Year

Every Nozomi on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen (Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka–Hiroshima–Hakata) is reserved-seat only from December 25, 2026 to January 5, 2027. An unreserved ticket still gets you on a Nozomi in that period, but only to stand in the deck or aisle. Hikari and Kodama trains keep their unreserved cars.

Trains out of the big cities are fullest just before New Year, and trains back on January 2 to 4. Seats go on sale one month ahead at 10 a.m. Japan time, and on smartEX, JR Central's booking site, you can send a pre-application from 5:30 a.m. seven days before that. For a December 30 trip, that means applying on November 23 for seats released on November 30.

Hotels and ryokan for December 28 to January 3 cost the most of the year, so book them first.

December Weather And What To Wear

December in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka is cold, dry and mostly sunny, with days around 12°C (54°F) and nights a few degrees above freezing. These are the 30-year averages from the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The short days matter more than the cold. Tokyo's sunset is at 4:28 p.m. on December 1 and only reaches 4:38 p.m. by December 31, with sunrise around 6:30 to 6:50 a.m. Start sightseeing early and save the evenings for illuminations.

Pack layers rather than one heavy coat, because trains, stores and restaurants are well heated. For Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka, a warm coat, a sweater, a scarf and gloves are enough. For Nagano, Tohoku or Hokkaido, add thermal underwear, a hat and waterproof boots with grip. Temple halls are unheated and you take your shoes off inside, so bring warm socks.

What To Book And When

Most of December needs little advance booking. The exceptions are anything on December 23 to 25 and anything from December 28 to January 3.

Honorable Mentions

• Kyoto's year-end markets. To-ji's last monthly flea market of the year, Shimai-Kobo, is on December 21, and Kitano Tenmangu's Shimai-Tenjin is on December 25. Both are big, crowded and full of New Year goods.
• Kaomise kabuki in Kyoto. Minamiza theater's December all-star kabuki program is the most prestigious of the year. Last year it ran December 1 to 25; the 2026 schedule hadn't been posted when we checked.
• Sagano Romantic Train. Arashiyama's scenic train runs until December 29, then stops until March.
• Winter solstice yuzu bath. On December 22, 2026, many public baths and onsen float yuzu citrus in the water, an old custom for good health in winter.
• Okinawa. Highs average 21.5°C (71°F) in December, and humpback whale-watching tours around the Kerama Islands usually start in late December.
• Shirakawa-go light-up. The lit village in the snow happens on a few evenings in January and early February, not December, and entry is by advance reservation only.
• Ako Gishi-sai. On December 14, Sengaku-ji in Tokyo marks the anniversary of the 47 ronin's revenge with a festival at their graves.

FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Japan?

Yes, especially from December 1 to 20. You get illuminations, Christmas markets, clear winter skies and fewer crowds than in November. From December 28 to January 3, crowds and hotel prices peak and many sights close, though the New Year customs are worth seeing if you plan around them.

Does it snow in Tokyo in December?

Almost never. Tokyo's 30-year average snowfall for December is zero, and Kyoto's is about 2 cm (0.8 in). For snow, go to Nagano, Niigata, Tohoku or Hokkaido.

Is Japan crowded in December?

Not in the first three weeks, apart from Kyoto's leaf spots in early December and the illuminations on weekends. The crowds come from about December 28 to January 4, when Japan travels for New Year. That week, trains, shrines and shopping districts are packed, and you'll need a reserved seat on the Nozomi.

What's closed in Japan over New Year?

Government offices close from December 29 to January 3 and banks from December 31 to January 3. Many museums, castles, gardens and small restaurants close for part of that week. Temples, shrines, theme parks, hotels, trains, convenience stores and chain restaurants stay open. Check each sight in the closures table above.

Is Christmas a holiday in Japan?

No. December 25 is a normal working day, and there are no public holidays in December, since the Emperor's Birthday moved to February 23 in 2020. Christmas is celebrated with lights, markets, KFC and cake, and Christmas Eve is a date night.

What should I wear in Japan in December?

In Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, wear layers under a warm coat, plus a scarf and gloves for the evenings. For the mountains or Hokkaido, add thermals, a hat and waterproof boots with grip.

Before You Go

If we had one December trip to plan, we'd fly in around December 3 to catch the end of Kyoto's leaves and the Chichibu Night Festival. We'd spend the middle of the month on Tokyo's markets and Osaka's lights, add a night in a snowy onsen town, and be settled in one city by December 28.

If New Year is the only time you can travel, go anyway. Book the trains and hotels first, check each sight against the closures table, and keep one quiet day for the temple bells and the first shrine visit.