The Best Tokyo Christmas Markets to Visit This Winter

It’s that time of year again, when the word “illumination” becomes a regular part of the Japanese vocabulary, reminding us how quickly time flies. December is a great opportunity to see Tokyo’s stunning light shows and bustling Christmas markets. They’ll make you feel like you’ve stepped into a charming Christmas scene from a Hallmark movie. Here’s our list of must-do Christmas market events in Tokyo, as well as things to do in Yokohama.

Azabutaiyama Christmas Market

November 23, 2024 – December 25, 2024

If you haven’t experienced the newly built Azabudai Hills yet, it’s well worth a visit on your next trip to Tokyo. With the Christmas markets just around the corner, you have the perfect excuse to visit. Located in the vast central square, the market is open daily from 11am to 9pm and has 17 shops, including 5 retail outlets and 12 food and beverage outlets. Get ready for holiday treats like handcrafted treats chocolate and Donutwhile also browsing Christmas-themed stores, such as Käthe Wohlfahrt, a German specialty decoration store.

For those less interested in shopping and more focused on soaking up the holiday spirit, a giant Christmas tree brought from Tsumagai Village in Gunma Prefecture will be on display, decorated with unique ornaments and five types of lights . You might even get a chance to meet Santa Claus himself. He will appear on a specific date. Be sure to check out the Azabudai Hills Events page for details before you go.

Ebisu Garden Plaza Light Show and Christmas Parade

November 9, 2024 – January 13, 2025

Held in Ebisu, Ebisu Garden Plaza Light Show and Christmas Parade It’s perfect for those who want a more intimate, relaxed Christmas market experience with fewer crowds. The attraction is free to enter and is filled with small food trucks and shops selling winter and Christmas-themed merchandise.

This winter’s 30th anniversary theme is “gift of light,” showcases the world’s largest Baccarat chandelier made by the French crystal manufacturer baccarat. This stunning chandelier is made up of 250 light bulbs and 8,500 crystals.

In addition to the chandeliers, a 10-meter-tall Christmas tree adorned with more than 300 ornaments stands tall among food trucks and market stalls. The Christmas Market also offers limited-edition holiday gifts, including festive decorations, apparel and accessories to get you into the holiday spirit.

Marunouchi Street Park Winter 2024

November 14, 2024 – December 25, 2024

This year marks the organization’s 23rd anniversary Marunouchi lanterns,and Marunouchi Street Park Celebrating its sixth anniversary. Marunouchi Chudori will be decorated with approximately 820,000 sparkling champagne gold LED bulbs. In addition to being environmentally friendly, the lights also create a magical atmosphere along the 1.2 kilometers of road.

Get ready to indulge in the charming Christmas Market, where food trucks offer limited-edition menus including farm-to-table soups, gourmet hot chocolate and authentic Apfelkuchen (German apple cake) and other delicacies. While specific products remain under wraps, past markets have showcased collaborations with local businesses and hotels, including a variety of souvenirs, antique trinkets and holiday decorations.

For families and couples looking for winter fun, an ice skating rink will be set up in front of Tokyo Station from November 28, 2024 to December 25, 2024.

Tokyo Solamachi Christmas Market

November 7, 2024 – December 25, 2024

You won’t want to miss it Tokyo Skytree City This winter it is decorated with approximately 500,000 sparkling lights. It also features an 8-meter-tall Christmas tree, graphic illuminated staircase, twinkling statues, giant Stollen cake, gingerbread house, Pegasus carriage and more.

Admission is free, and there is a Christmas market on the fourth floor of the Skytree. A traditional German “hütte” (wooden house) imported from Germany, decorated with Santa Claus and reindeer decorations, gives visitors an authentic European Christmas experience.

In winter, Tokyo Solamachi will host two free live Christmas music performances, “Christmas Violin Live 2024” and “Christmas Jazz Live 2024.” The former will be held on consecutive days during November. Two violinist sisters, flower duetare singing popular numbers for visitors, including classic renditions of traditional Christmas songs. The latter will last until December, during which time Marsh String OrchestraThe four-piece jazz band, made up of string instruments, plays not only jazz standards but also Ghibli-style music.

Meiji Jingu Gaien 2024 Tokyo Christmas Market

November 19, 2024 – December 25, 2024

Tokyo Christmas MarketLocated in Meiji Jingu Gaien (a 10-minute walk from Gaienmae Station), it is one of the most popular and lively markets in Japan. For the past nine years, its iconic centerpiece has been the “Christmas Pyramid” – a 14-metre-tall, six-storey building built in Seiffen, Germany, a town famous for its traditional Christmas decorations and nutcrackers Famous for dolls. This year, the Christmas Pyramid got a makeover, with the theme ” Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

Visitors can enjoy classic German cuisine, desserts and beer while listening to live performances by a variety of artists, including a gospel choir. Feel the warmth and charm of a traditional German Christmas market as you wander through stalls filled with authentic wooden toys and beautiful holiday decorations.

Regular tickets are available at the door, 1,000 yen on weekdays, 1,500 yen on weekends and holidays, and a discounted price of 500 yen for elementary school students.

Christmas market in Yokohama red brick warehouse

November 22, 2024 – December 25, 2024

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the annual Christmas market in Yokohama red brick warehouse It will be held from November 22nd. 58 shops sell a variety of Christmas-themed dishes, drinks and trinkets to get you into the festive spirit. Similar to the market in Solamachi, traditional German huts have been imported from Germany to create an authentic festival atmosphere. Get ready to stand in awe in front of the 10-meter-tall Christmas tree, decorated with more than 20,000 LED lights. You can stroll through the free-entry illuminated gardens, which feature a variety of sculptures and magical lights.

While admission to the Illumination Garden is free, standard admission to the market is 500 yen per person. Elementary school students and younger are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a guardian. High school students can enter for free through December 6. The other two types of limited admission tickets come with limited edition mugs. In collaboration with tableware brand Noritake, this white porcelain mug depicts the unique design of the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market.

You can buy tickets in advance at the box office or on-site on the day. Priority tickets are available for pre-sale at ticketing agencies only.

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