The 6 Best Christmas Markets in Tokyo (and Nearby)🎄✨ 2024 Update

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If you're planning a trip to Japan for the end of the year, don’t miss out on Tokyo's must-visit Christmas markets! We've gathered six of the most festive Christmas celebrations in Tokyo (and the surrounding area) so you can make the most out of your holiday season trip to Japan.

Jingu Gaien Tokyo Christmas Market (Tokyo)

Image Source: Tokyochristmas.net

This is the largest Christmas market in Japan, and it’s the perfect place for a taste of the holiday season, lined with countless food stalls offering mulled wine, German-style sausages, churros, and more. At the heart of the market you’ll want to take plenty of pictures with the stunning 14-meter Christmas tree, decorated with Nutcracker ornaments from top to bottom. The event also features shops with fun holiday gift options, and even workshops where you can create keepsakes like snow globes and scented candles. This market even continues the classic German Christmas market tradition with special limited-edition mugs, which you can use for drinks on-site and then take home as a memento!

Tokyo Christmas Market (東京クリスマスマーケット)
Meiji Jingu Gaien, 2-3 Kasumigaokamachi, Shinjuku City, Tokyo
Directions: under 10 min from Gaienmae Station or Aoyama-Itchome Station, 15 min from Shinanomachi Station
2024 Dates: November 19 ~ December 25, 2024 Hours: 11:00 – 21:30 (final entrance 20:30)
Admission: adults 1,000 yen (original mug included) | children 500 yen
*Advance tickets recommended.
Official Website (jp)

Roppongi Hills Christmas Market (Tokyo)

Image Source: Christmas Hills 

Celebrating its 18th year, the Roppongi Hills Christmas Market is small but festive, with about a dozen stalls offering authentic German Christmas treats, from warm mulled wine to sausages. Conveniently close to Roppongi’s popular holiday lights, the market is the perfect place to warm up and enjoy a little festive cheer on a chilly winter night – just make sure you take a number early, as it can take a while before it’s your turn to enter!

Roppongi Hills Christmas Market (六本木ヒルズ クリスマスマーケット)
O-Yane Plaza, 6-10 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo
Directions: 10 min from Roppongi Station
2024 Dates: 23 November ~ 25 December, 2024
Hours: 11:00 – 21:00
Admission: free
Official Website (en)

Azabudai Hills Christmas Market (Tokyo)

Image Source: Christmas Hills 

Azabudai Hills, a relatively new Tokyo landmark that opened in 2023, is hosting its second Christmas market this year. Enter through a twinkling archway and you’ll find 17 carefully selected stalls offering food, drinks, and Christmas decorations from Japan and abroad. The path between Kamiyacho Station Square and Tower Plaza will also be temporarily transformed into a “Christmas Street” with glamorous decorations and places to take photos, perfect for a leisurely stroll during the holiday season.

Azabudai Hills Christmas Market (麻布台ヒルズ クリスマスマーケット)
Azabudai Hills, 1 Azabudai, Minato City, Tokyo
Directions: 5 min from Kamiyacho Station
2024 Dates: 23 November ~ 25 December, 2024
Hours: 11:00 – 21:00
Admission: free
Official Website (en)

Tokyo Skytree Dream Christmas Market (Tokyo)

Image Source: Activity Japan

Tokyo Skytree, one of Tokyo’s most iconic attractions, has made use of the plaza at the tower’s base in recent years to host to a small but lively Christmas market. Of course, the “tree” is what really makes this market unique, since while guests enjoy the festive cheer, they can also enjoy the most impressive Christmas tree in all of Tokyo. During the holiday season Tokyo Skytree plays dress-up with its glittering lights, and among the Christmas-themed lighting patterns, one involves a green Christmas tree dotted with colorful ornaments. The market itself offers food, drinks, sweets treats, and a variety of holiday-themed goods. After exploring the market, you can shop at the many shops within Solamachi, and head up Tokyo Skytree itself for panoramic views of Tokyo from the observation deck.

Tokyo Solamachi Dream Christmas (東京ソラマチドリームクリスマス)
Tokyo Skytree Town, 1-1 Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo
Directions: at Tokyo Skytree Station, 5 min from Oshiage (Skytree-mae) Station
2024 Dates: November 7 ~ December 25, 2024
Hours: 11:00 – 22:00
Admission: free
Official Website (jp)

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market (Yokohama)

Image Source: yokohama-akarenga.jp

This popular Christmas event in Yokohama is focused on the food, featuring more than 15 food stalls offering warm and cozy eats. The holiday delights include hot stew served in bread bowls, sausages, crispy fried treats, and hot cocoa topped with adorable snowman marshmallows. The event’s centerpiece is a magnificent 10-meter Christmas tree adorned with warm yellow lights, and light shows every 30 minutes. The charming red brick warehouse that acts as a backdrop to the event adds a European flair to the festivities, like you’re really visiting a German Christmas market!

Christmas Market in The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (横浜赤レンガ倉庫)
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, 1-1 Shinko, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa
Directions: 15 min from Sakuragicho Station
2024 Dates: November 25 ~ December 25, 2024
Hours: 11:00 – 22:00
Admission: adults 500 yen (300 yen for members of the Yokohama Redbrick Warehouse app)
*Advance tickets recommended.
Official Website (jp)

Yebisu Garden Place Christmas Market (Tokyo)

Image Source: Japan Wireless

A Tokyo favorite pre-pandemic, the Christmas market at Yebisu Garden Place is back with a bang for 2024! Highlights of one of Tokyo’s most extravagant Christmas markets include the dazzling 10-meter Christmas tree, a giant crystal chandelier, and countless decorative lights that become a part of a light show every 30 minutes. Before you leave, don’t forget to indulge in mulled wine, hot chocolate, plenty of food, and unique holiday souvenirs.

Yebisu Garden Place Christmas Market/Marche (恵比寿ガーデンプレイスクリスマスマルシェ)
Yebisu Garden Place, 4-20 Ebisu, Shibuya, Tokyo
Directions: 7 min from Ebisu Station
2024 Dates: November 9th ~ December 25th, 2024
Hours: 11:00 – 23:00
Admission: free
Official Website (jp)

Celebrate the Festive Season in Tokyo!

It’s been a long year, but it’s finally time to celebrate! This year, make the most of Christmas in Tokyo, and enjoy the magic of the city’s twinkling lights, Christmas trees, and hot cocoa warming your cold fingers at these fun Japanese Christmas markets. 💖

I've loved Japan ever since I was a little kid, and now I'm finally here!

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    • HOKKAIDO

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      Hokkaido (北海道) is the northernmost of the four main islands that make up Japan. The area is famous for Sapporo Beer, plus brewing and distilling in general, along with fantastic snow festivals and breathtaking national parks. Foodies should look for Hokkaido's famous potatoes, cantaloupe, dairy products, soup curry, and miso ramen!

    • Niki, in south-west Hokkaido, is about 30 minutes from Otaru. The small town is rich with natural resources, fresh water, and clean air, making it a thriving center for fruit farms. Cherries, tomatoes, and grapes are all cultivated in the area, and thanks to a growing local wine industry, it's quickly becoming a food and wine hotspot. Together with the neighboring town of Yoichi, it's a noted area for wine tourism.

    • Niseko is about two hours from New Chitose Airport, in the western part of Hokkaido. It's one of Japan's most noted winter resort areas, and a frequent destination for international visitors. That's all because of the super high-quality powder snow, which wins the hearts of beginners and experts alike, bringing them back for repeat visits. That's not all, though, it's also a great place to enjoy Hokkaido's culinary scene and some beautiful onsen (hot springs).

    • Otaru is in western Hokkaido, about 30 minutes from Sapporo Station. The city thrived around its busy harbor in the 19th and 20th centuries thanks to active trade and fishing, and the buildings remaining from that period are still popular attractions, centered around Otaru Canal. With its history as a center of fishing, it's no surprise that the area's fresh sushi is a must-try. Otaru has over 100 sushi shops, quite a few of which are lined up on Sushiya Dori (Sushi Street).

    • SAPPORO

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      Sapporo, in the south-western part of Hokkaido, is the prefecture's political and economic capital. The local New Chitose Airport see arrivals from major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, alongside international flights. Every February, the Sapporo Snow Festival is held in Odori Park―one of the biggest events in Hokkaido. It's also a hotspot for great food, known as a culinary treasure chest, and Sapporo is a destination for ramen, grilled mutton, soup curry, and of course Hokkaido's beloved seafood.

    • Consisting of six prefectures, the Tohoku Region (東北地方) is up in the northeastern part of Japan's main island. It's the source of plenty of the nation's agriculture (which means great food), and packed with beautiful scenery. Explore the region's stunning mountains, lakes, and hot springs!

    • Akita Prefecture is on the Sea of Japan, in the northern reaches of Japan's northern Tohoku region. Akita has more officially registered important intangible culture assets than anywhere else in Japan, and to this day visitors can experience traditional culture throughout the prefecture, from the Oga Peninsula's Namahage (registered with UNESCO as a part of Japan's intangible cultural heritage), to the Tohoku top 3 Kanto Festival. Mysterious little spots like the Oyu Stone Circle Site and Ryu no Atama (Dragon's Head) are also worth a visit!

    • FUKUSHIMA

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      Fukushima Prefecture sits at the southern tip of Japan's northern Tohoku region, and is divided into three parts with their own different charms: the Coastal Area (Hama-dori), the Central Area (Naka-dori), and the Aizu Area. There's Aizu-Wakamatsu with its Edo-era history and medieval castles, Oze National Park, Kitakata ramen, and Bandai Ski Resort (with its famous powder snow). Fukushima is a beautiful place to enjoy the vivid colors and sightseeing of Japan's beloved four seasons.

    • YAMAGATA

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      Yamagata Prefecture is up against the Sea of Japan, in the southern part of the Tohoku region, and it's especially popular in winter, when travelers soak in the onsen (hot springs) and ski down snowy slopes. International skiiers are especially fond of Zao Onsen Ski Resort and Gassan Ski Resort, and in recent years visitors have been drawn to the area to see the mystical sight of local frost-covered trees. Some destinations are popular regardless of the season, like Risshakuji Temple, AKA Yamadera, Ginzan Onsen's nostalgic old-fashioned streets, and Zao's Okama Lake, all great for taking pictures. Yamagata is also the place to try Yonezawa beef, one of the top 3 varieties of wagyu beef.

    • Japan's most densely populated area, the Kanto Region (関東地方) includes 7 prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa, which means it also contains the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. In modern-day Japan, Kanto is the cultural, political, and economic heartland of the country, and each prefecture offers something a little different from its neighbors.

    • Gunma Prefecture is easily accessible from Tokyo, and in addition to the area's popular natural attractions like Oze Marshland and Fukiware Falls, Gunma also has a number of popular hot springs (Kusatsu, Ikaho, Minakami, Shima)―it's even called an Onsen Kingdom. The prefecture is popular with history buffs and train lovers, thanks to spots like world heritage site Tomioka Silk Mill, the historic Megane-bashi Bridge, and the Watarase Keikoku Sightseeing Railway.

    • TOCHIGI

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      Tochigi Prefecture's capital is Utsunomiya, known for famous gyoza, and just an hour from Tokyo. The prefecture is full of nature-related sightseeing opportunities year-round, from the blooming of spring flowers to color fall foliage. Tochigi also has plenty of extremely well-known sightseeing destinations, like World Heritage Site Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Lake Chuzenji, and Ashikaga Flower Park―famous for expansive wisteria trellises. In recent years the mountain resort town of Nasu has also become a popular excursion, thanks in part to the local imperial villa. Tochigi is a beautiful place to enjoy the world around you.

    • Tokyo (東京) is Japan's busy capital, and the most populous metropolitan area in the world. While the city as a whole is quite modern, crowded with skyscrapers and bustling crowds, Tokyo also holds onto its traditional side in places like the Imperial Palace and Asakusa neighborhood. It's one of the world's top cities when it comes to culture, the arts, fashion, games, high-tech industries, transportation, and more.

    • The Chubu Region (中部地方) is located right in the center of Japan's main island, and consists of 9 prefectures: Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, and Yamanashi. It's primarily famous for its mountains, as the region contains both Mt. Fuji and the Japanese Alps. The ski resorts in Niigata and Nagano also draw visitors from around the world, making it a popular winter destination.

    • Nagano Prefecture's popularity starts with a wealth of historic treasures, like Matsumoto Castle, Zenkoji Temple, and Togakushi Shrine, but the highlight might just be the prefecture's natural vistas surrounded by the "Japanese Alps." Nagano's fruit is famous, and there are plenty of places to pick it fresh, and the area is full of hot springs, including Jigokudani Monkey Park―where monkeys take baths as well! Thanks to the construction of the Hokuriku shinkansen line, Nagano is easily reachable from the Tokyo area, adding it to plenty of travel itineraries. And after the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, ski resorts like Hakuba and Shiga Kogen are known around the world.

    • Aichi Prefecture sits in the center of the Japanese islands, and its capital city, Nagoya, is a center of politics, commerce, and culture. While Aichi is home to major industry, and is even the birthplace of Toyota cars, it's proximity to the sea and the mountains means it's also a place with beautiful natural scenery, like Saku Island, Koijigahama Beach, Mt. Horaiji. Often used a stage for major battles in Japanese history, Sengoku era commanders like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu left their own footprints on Aichi, and historic buildings like Nagoya Castle, Inuyama Castle, and those in Meiji Mura are still around to tell the tale.

    • NIIGATA

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      Niigata is a prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu, situated right on the coast of the Sea of Japan, and abundant with the gifts of nature. It's known for popular ski resorts such as Echigo-Yuzawa, Japanese national parks, and natural hot spring baths, plus local products like fresh seafood, rice, and sake. Visitors often spend time in the prefectural capital, Niigata City, or venture across the water to Sado Island.

    • SHIZUOKA

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      Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.

    • Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.

    • Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.

    • Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.

    • Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.

    • CHUGOKU

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      The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.

    • HIROSHIMA

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      Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.

    • SHIKOKU

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      On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).

    • Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.

    • Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!

    • FUKUOKA

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      Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.

    • KAGOSHIMA

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      Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.

    • OKINAWA

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      The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.

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