There is Christmas, and then there is Christmas in Japan.

Christmas in Japan is actually really all about Christmas Eve. And forget churches and family time. It’s more of a date night than anything, and the “traditional food” is KFC chicken and strawberry shortcake. And if you’re not confused enough already, a trip to Shibuya, as Kai-You showed us, will throw you into a cosplay bonanza that has very little to do with anything that happened in Bethlehem two thousand years ago.

And as we saw with the Halloween celebrations in Shibuya, young Japanese Tokyoites will jump at any chance to dress up in costumes and have fun.

Here was Gravure model Misaki Shimoda leading the festivities.

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya misaki shimoda

And the line for KFC…

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya kfc chicken queues lines

Santa(s) arriving by motorbike.

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay motorbike

Among the crowds in Shibuya were many Christmas-themed cosplayers (Santa, reindeers, etc), though not all the costumes seemed to be right season.

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

christmas eve japan tokyo shibuya santa cosplay

All images via Kai-You.

japan trend shop

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3 Comments

  • MAuro December 28, 2014

    WOnderfull …. a Christmas in cosplay like that only in Japan coudl happen.. i really wanted be there becouse ir really cool..
    Compliment for the pictures, are great…

    http://www.yourjapannow.net

  • Kerry January 6, 2015

    I want to visit Japan, it seems like it would be a guaranteed good time. That’d be money well spent to create memories of a lifetime. Going off what I’ve read and seen the Japanese culture seems fun and friendly.

  • Seiko November 22, 2016

    I have visited Japan in December and you do see this. It all depend on the city your in and you need to spend a lot of time outside. please spend more than 1 week, 2 week better to see and experience the fun side of Japan. I am planning on returning and visiting Japan in 2017.