Christmas looks completely different in Japan and America. While Americans gather with family around the tree for a big turkey dinner, Japanese couples go on romantic dates and eat KFC. Let's explore these fascinating differences.
1, Religious Holiday vs Fun Celebration
In America: Christmas is a religious holiday for many people. Families go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Nativity scenes appear in homes and yards. For Christians, it's about celebrating the birth of Jesus.
In Japan: Christmas has no religious meaning. Less than 2% of Japanese people are Christian. Instead, Christmas is a fun, secular holiday—more like Valentine's Day. It's about lights, romance, and enjoying the festive atmosphere.
2, Family Time vs Date Night
In America: Christmas is all about family. Everyone travels home to be together. Kids wake up early to open presents with their parents and siblings. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins join in. It's the biggest family reunion of the year.
In Japan: Christmas is for couples! December 24th is the most romantic night of the year. Young couples dress up and go to fancy restaurants (booked months ahead). They exchange gifts and walk through beautiful light displays. Think of it as Japan's most important date night, not a family holiday.
3, Turkey Dinner vs KFC
In America: Families spend days cooking an enormous meal. The menu usually includes roasted turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and lots of side dishes. Everyone sits around the table for hours. Desserts include pumpkin pie, Christmas cookies, and more.
In Japan: Here's the surprising part—people eat Kentucky Fried Chicken! This started with a 1974 marketing campaign and became a real tradition. Families order their KFC weeks in advance. On Christmas Day, lines wrap around KFC stores. After dinner, they eat Christmas cake—a light sponge cake with whipped cream and strawberries.
4, Mountains of Gifts vs Simple Exchanges
In America: Get ready for lots of presents! Kids receive gifts from parents, grandparents, and other relatives. The tree is surrounded by wrapped boxes. Adults do office gift exchanges and Secret Santa. Shopping season starts with Black Friday in November and dominates December.
In Japan: Gift-giving is much simpler. Couples exchange one or two nice gifts. Parents might give presents to young children, but you won't see huge piles of gifts. The focus is on experiences—enjoying the lights, having a nice meal, spending time together—rather than buying tons of stuff.
5, Cozy Home Decor vs City Lights
In America: Families decorate their homes inside and out. There's a Christmas tree with ornaments collected over the years, outdoor light displays, wreaths on doors, stockings by the fireplace, and nativity scenes. Some neighborhoods go all-out with elaborate decorations. It's about making your home feel festive and cozy.
In Japan: The magic happens outside! Cities create spectacular illumination displays with millions of LED lights. Shopping districts install huge light tunnels and artistic installations. Couples and friends visit these illuminations as a main Christmas activity. While some stores have small trees, the public light displays are what Christmas looks like in Japan.
6, Day Off vs Regular Workday
In America: December 25th is a national holiday. Almost everything closes—offices, schools, most stores. Many people get several days off between Christmas and New Year's. The whole country basically shuts down. Families have lots of time to celebrate together.
In Japan: December 25th is a normal working day! People go to work and school as usual. The celebration happens on Christmas Eve (December 24th). After work, people head out for their Christmas plans. Everything wraps up in one evening instead of lasting several days.
7, Month-Long Season vs One-Night Event
In America: The Christmas season lasts for weeks. Decorations go up after Thanksgiving. Holiday music plays everywhere from November through December. Shopping, parties, and events fill the entire month. It's a major part of American culture and economy.
In Japan: Christmas is shorter and sweeter. Decorations appear in mid-November. The celebration peaks on Christmas Eve, then it's over. By December 26th, everything shifts to New Year's preparations—which is actually the bigger holiday in Japan. Christmas is trendy and fun, but brief.
What This All Means
These differences show how holidays change when they move to different cultures. American Christmas kept its Christian roots and family focus. Japanese Christmas became something completely new—a romantic, commercial celebration that fits Japanese culture.
Neither way is "right" or "wrong." They're just different!
Visiting During Christmas 2025?
Going to Japan?
- Book restaurants for December 24th way in advance
- Don't expect anything to close on the 25th
- Visit the illuminations—they're spectacular
- Order KFC early if you want to try the tradition
Going to America?
- Expect most things to be closed on December 25th
- Christmas is family-focused and can feel private
- You might be invited to church services
- Prepare for cold weather and cozy indoor celebrations
Both countries offer unique Christmas experiences. Whether you're eating KFC under Tokyo's lights or opening presents by an American fireplace, the holiday is about connection and joy—just expressed in wonderfully different ways!
