Christmas in Japan is widely enjoyed as a festive, largely secular season. In cities, winter illuminations transform streets and parks into glittering night walks. Shops and cafés offer seasonal decorations, desserts and limited-time menus.
Christmas Eve is often treated as a special evening for couples. Some arrange a date, exchange a gift or visit an illumination display together. Friends and families celebrate too, of course, and each household chooses its own traditions.
Christmas cakes, often light sponge cakes with strawberries and cream, are a familiar seasonal sight. Fried chicken has also become a well-known Christmas meal for some families, although many people choose other foods.
Christmas Day is usually a regular workday rather than a national holiday. The season quickly gives way to New Year preparations, which hold a different and especially important place in Japanese family life.
