The Beautiful
Lights are the beautiful. Caretta Shiodome Shopping Center (shown above) near Shinbashi is a magnificent winter wonderland of 270,000 ice blue lights. The beautifully restored 100 year old Tokyo Station is illuminated by sections with different colors accentuating the storybook charm of each section. The KITTE Shopping Center across from the station has a gigantic white Christmas tree with a light show every half hour that simulates falling snow. And the amusement park, Yomiuriland, sparkles with 5 million jewel bulbs arranged in patterns that look like something out of Alice in Wonderland.
These and a hundred other places make Japan a fantasy Christmasland that delights all who behold the seasonal light extravaganzas. But there are several rather quirky customs that accompany the (un)holiday in Japan (Christmas Day is an ordinary workday).
The Bizarre
1. Through decades of clever advertising which likens Colonel Sanders to Santa Claus and asserts “On Christmas – it’s Kentucky!” a fancy bucket of Christmas Kentucky Fried Chicken is considered the must-have Christmas meal. And in Japan, when everyone has to have it, that means EVERYONE. So many avoid the two-hour long lines by ordering months in advance. Who knew? Christmas is Kentucky.
2. Christmas in Japan is for couples, and Christmas Eve is considered the most romantic day of the year. A fancy dinner together, booked months in advance, and a night in a nice hotel, booked the year before, of course, are ideal. Everyone’s idea of the Christmas spirit, right? No partner you say? Join the scramble weeks before Christmas Eve to find a girlfriend or boyfriend. Otherwise, it’s like being alone on prom night.
3. Although neither Christmas nor cake is traditionally Japanese, Christmas cake is! It’s a yummy sponge cake, frosted with snowy white whipped cream and filled with a layer of strawberries and cream. You can get them on virtually every street corner and if you want to see a picture, just check out the emoji on your phone.
Or even better, learn how to make one by watching this video! It just may become YOUR new Christmas tradition…
