Tokyo Skytree Town® will host the Dream Christmas 2024 event from November 1 to December 25, 2024.

At Tokyo Skytree Town's "Soramizaka" and "Hanamizaka" staircases, the new Staircase Graphical Lighting will debut on November 7, 2024, featuring vibrant LED displays. The illuminations will also kick off that day, including an 8-meter-tall Christmas tree, a popular photo spot, and a Pegasus Carriage installation created in collaboration with Nakayama Racecourse.

The ever-popular Christmas Market will also return, featuring European-style huts adorned with Santa and reindeer decorations imported from Germany, enhancing the festive atmosphere.

Visitors can enjoy warm gourmet dishes, drinks, and authentic German Christmas goods, making it a perfect holiday outing for couples, friends, and families alike at Tokyo Skytree Town.

Kick off 2025 with an unforgettable experience at Tokyo Skytree®! On January 1, a special New Year's Sunrise Event will give 800 lucky attendees the chance to watch the first sunrise of the year from the observation deck during exclusive early hours. If the weather cooperates, you might even catch the magical sight of the sunrise breaking through a sea of clouds.

Your ticket includes access to the Tembo Deck and Tembo Galleria, plus a 1,000-yen voucher for the SKYTREE SHOP. This year, tickets are reservation-only and sold on a first-come, first-served basis online.

After enjoying the sunrise, stick around to take in Tokyo’s stunning New Year’s Day views and, if it’s clear, Mt. Fuji in the distance. On January 1, the Skytree will open earlier than usual, starting at 8 AM.

Moominvalley Park in Hanno, Saitama, a theme park inspired by the world of the Moomin stories, will host the "Winter Wonderland in Moominvalley Park 2024."

As evening falls, the park transforms with magical illuminations, projection mapping, and even the occasional aurora appearing overhead. Twice nightly (5:30 PM and 7 PM), the "Moominvalley Illumination Parade" takes place, depicting Moomin reaching out and connecting with a mysterious new character, the Groke, in the enchanted night.

On weekends and holidays between November 2, 2024, and January 13, 2025, visitors can enjoy a special "Moominvalley Lake Fireworks – Winter Edition" display at 6:30 PM, lasting about five minutes.

Adjacent to the park, the Nordic-themed Metsä Village will host "Nordic Christmas 2024 at Metsä" from November 1 to December 25. Highlights include projection mapping featuring Icelandic folklore’s 13 mischievous Santa figures, special greetings from Santa Claus himself flown in from Finland, and the "Himmeli Sky Road," a stunning 100-meter-long decoration inspired by Finnish traditional crafts. On weekends, events in collaboration with Nordic embassies will add even more charm to this festive celebration.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter brings fans behind the scenes of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. To celebrate the "Hogwarts in the Snow" event, the studio is serving up special festive food to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

At the Backlot Café, try the "Christmas Afternoon Tea" (7,200 yen), featuring sweets like sweater-shaped icing cookies inspired by Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, a festive Bûche de Noël, and a seasonal apple chiboust, all served on a stand designed to look like a Christmas tree.

Over at the Food Hall, you’ll find a gooey "S'mores Dessert Pizza" (1,600 yen) topped with toasted marshmallows, while the Frog Café near the entrance is packed with fun and creative Christmas treats.

Get ready for the magic of the season as Tokyo Disney Resort® hosts its annual "Disney Christmas" event!

At Tokyo Disneyland®, enjoy the heartwarming Disney Christmas Stories: Fond Farewell parade (once daily, about 45 minutes), featuring Disney and Pixar characters sharing stories of Christmas spent with loved ones. A towering 15-meter Christmas tree in the World Bazaar adds to the festive atmosphere. The beloved Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade: Dreamlights also transforms with a Christmas twist, complete with seasonal music and Mickey Mouse in his holiday costume.

Tokyo DisneySea® offers its own seasonal delights, including the Disney Christmas Greeting (1–2 times daily, about 15 minutes), where Mickey Mouse, Duffy, and even Santa Claus sail through Mediterranean Harbor on ornament-decorated boats, spreading holiday cheer. In the evening, enjoy the stunning Starbright Christmas fireworks show set to Christmas music.

Both parks will also feature special Christmas-themed merchandise, like wreath-inspired headbands, and festive menu items to celebrate the season.

Toshi no Ichi, meaning "year-end market," has been held at Asakusa Temple for around 400 years since the Edo period. Originally a market for New Year’s goods and lucky charms, it became known as the Hagoita Market in the 1950s, with dozens of stalls now selling decorative hagoita (battledores) in the temple grounds.

Hagoita are considered lucky charms. The feathered shuttlecock used in the traditional game of hanetsuki is said to resemble a dragonfly, which "eats bad bugs" (symbolizing disease), while the feather tip resembles a "bean," symbolizing a "diligent life."

The hagoita sold here are far more ornate than those used in the game. They feature kabuki designs, themes reflecting the year’s events, and stunning decorations, making them eye-catching and festive. Look out for sesou hagoita, decorated with figures of prominent athletes, politicians, and celebrities from the year, making it fun to browse even if you don’t buy one.

If you purchase a hagoita, the seller will perform a celebratory three-clap ritual to wish you happiness. While most vendors don’t speak English, gestures are usually enough to communicate.

The Chichibu Night Festival, the grand annual festival of Chichibu Shrine in Saitama’s Chichibu City, is a spectacular event with over 300 years of history. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, it is considered one of Japan's three major float festivals, alongside Kyoto’s Gion Festival and Takayama’s Hida Festival.

The two-day event begins with the Yoi-miya on December 2, serving as a prelude to the Hon-miya on December 3. On the main day, magnificent floats and two lavishly decorated kasaboko, often called "moving Yomeimon" (after the famous gate at Nikko Toshogu), are paraded through the town to the sounds of traditional music.

The highlight comes at night when the floats are illuminated and paraded from Chichibu Shrine to the Otabisho, accompanied by lively chants from the musicians atop the floats. A must-see moment is the Dango-zaka Pull, where teams work together to haul the 20-ton floats up the steep Dango Hill.

Both nights conclude with a fireworks display, featuring continuous fireworks and grand starmine bursts. The breathtaking combination of fireworks and illuminated floats is an unforgettable sight.

Comic Market, or Comiket, is a paradise for manga and anime enthusiasts and one of the world's largest events of its kind, drawing tens of thousands of visitors daily. This massive gathering celebrates the world of self-published works, known as doujinshi, where creators come together to showcase and sell their own magazines, art, and merchandise.

Held annually at Tokyo Big Sight during the year-end, the event is also a hotspot for cosplayers dressed as popular manga, anime, and game characters. In addition to independent creators, major publishers and game companies join in with their own booths, adding to the excitement.

Doujinshi isn't limited to books—many groups also create original items like cosplay photo books, character-inspired accessories, posters, badges, and more. International visitors can also participate by purchasing tickets online.

Amid Tokyo's wintry chill, Tokyo Art Tank vol 12 invites you to explore a vibrant world of artistic expression. Featuring 30 talented artists, including special guest NICO from Berlin, Germany, this carefully curated exhibition showcases diverse styles and mediums, from abstract to realist, impressionist to contemporary, and graffiti to popsick.

The exhibition runs from December 2 to December 8, with the main event happening on December 7 and 8. Arrive early on Saturday—the first 10 visitors will receive free signed prints, stickers, t-shirts, and more!

Tokyo Art Tank is a free event, perfect for enjoying with friends and family. All artworks and merchandise are available for purchase, so don’t miss the chance to take home something unique.

Several additional free events are held throughout the week, including yoga and painting classes, the Tokyo Film Fest, acoustic music concerts, and a meet-and-greet cocktail party. Some events require reservations; see the official event page on Facebook for details.

The Belgian Beer Weekend, a popular festival held annually in Brussels during the first weekend of September, has become a hit in Japan, drawing over 1.7 million attendees across 15 years in major cities.

While admission is free, enjoying the beer requires purchasing a starter set that includes a reusable glass and 10 drink/food coins. To skip long lines at the ticket counter, it’s best to buy your starter set online in advance. The 10 coins can typically get you 2–3 beers and 1–2 food items. The glass, designed for optimal beer tasting, is made of durable glass—not plastic—and can be taken home as a souvenir.

This year’s festival will feature 72 types of Belgian beer, including unique brews like banana beer and world-renowned fruit beer. Limited-edition "Boutique Beers" will appear randomly throughout the event. Pair your beer with delicious food options such as fries, fried shrimp with basil sauce, grilled xiaolongbao, and miso katsu skewers.

The Stationery Girls Expo is Japan’s largest stationery festival, with over 500,000 attendees to date. This year, the event is expanding to a venue 1.5 times larger than last year and will take place at Pacifico Yokohama under the exciting theme of "Thrilling! Neo Stationery City."

With over 170 exhibitors, the Stationery Girls Expo 2024 will be the largest yet, offering more than 70,000 items for purchase. From major brands to independent creators, exhibitors are grouped into themed areas like "Stamp Town" and "Paper Town" (tentative).

Special activities include the "Masking Tape Lottery & Buffet" (300 yen per play) and "Chalkboard Eraser Bowling" (free to join). Don’t miss out on exclusive products available only at the expo!

Now in its 9th year, Castle Expo 2024 is Japan’s largest event celebrating castles, bringing together castle enthusiasts, experts, and fans from across the country.

The event features a "Castle Tourism Information Zone," where castles from all over Japan share the latest updates, as well as themed exhibits, performances by local mascots and samurai troupes, and a "Saturday Night Program" that includes lectures, talk shows, and a special concert by castle specialists.

The Broadway Christmas Wonderland, inspired by the iconic Christmas show at New York's Radio City Music Hall, has become a winter tradition in Shibuya since its debut in 2016.

This festive production features a wide range of music, from gospel to pop, with timeless holiday favorites like "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and "Joyful Joyful" that will have you humming along.

This year’s show is directed by Kahori Kanaya, known for her work on theme park revues and ice shows, with a completely revamped stage design. Expect dazzling performances, including elegant line dancing, energetic tap routines, and even an onstage ice skating show, all creating a breathtaking holiday spectacle.

The Tokyo Bay Christmas Dinner Cruise offers a magical evening of dining and sightseeing. Departing at 7 PM from Tennoz Yamatsupia in Shinagawa, the cruise takes you past iconic landmarks like Odaiba and the Rainbow Bridge while you enjoy a gourmet dinner.

The meal is crafted by Captain's Wharf, a popular Mediterranean restaurant, and includes a specially prepared course featuring Mediterranean-style clam chowder, pistachio pasta, Wagyu beef cheek braised in red wine, and a festive Bûche de Noël. Even onboard, chefs finish and serve the dishes fresh in front of guests.

The ambiance is elevated with live music—a romantic trio of saxophone, bass, and guitar playing classic Christmas tunes.

While December nights in Tokyo can be chilly, the open-air sky deck is equipped with large jet heaters, making it the perfect spot to enjoy the stunning night views after your meal.

From theme parks and theaters to cruises and city streets, the Tokyo area transforms into a festive wonderland during December. Alongside the Christmas cheer, you can also experience traditional Japanese events, such as dazzling firework displays paired with grand floats or the resonating sound of temple bells at midnight.

Enjoy the holiday season to its fullest with these exciting events and traditions in and around Tokyo this December!

(Note: Information in this article is current as of November 2024. Please check official websites for the latest updates.)