Christmas in Japan? Get Ready for Running Trees, Dazzling Lights, and Fried Chicken · Global Voices
Nevin Thompson

The Running Christmas Tree in Tokyo. Screencap from Joseph Tame official YouTube channel.
One of the hottest Japan memes over the past month has been photos and videos of Joseph Tame running around Tokyo in his “Wearable Christmas Tree.”
While Tame may not be originally from Japan, his whimsical exploits resonate with a country that has embraced Christmas in its own unique way.
Preparing the Wearable Christmas Tree for another day of Christmas wonder in Tokyo https://t.co/uwv044X9q3 pic.twitter.com/0056ffUTyD
— Joseph Tame (@tamegoeswild) December 19, 2015
For many Japanese people, the month of December marks the start of “illumination“, where public places all over Japan are lit up. Christmas trees often take center stage.
This display in Tokyo's Shiodome is a perfect example.
今年のイルミネーション♡ ・ ・ 音楽に合わせて光ったり、きれいだった！最前列で見れてラッキー(*´ ˘ `*) ・ ・ #カレッタ汐留 #イルミネーション #クリスマスイヴ #汐留 #東京
A photo posted by Asaka Fukuda (@asa0807ka) on
This year's illumination… The lights are synced with music and it's really beautiful! We were so lucky to be a the front of the line to watch the entire show.
The city of Kobe in western Japan is also famous for its December illumination, called the Kobe Luminarie. The tradition began eleven months after the Hanshin Earthquake in 1995 raise raise spirits after Kobe was virtually destroyed.
2015/12/25 * merry xmas to ALL :)  #happyholiday#merrychristmas#1225#神戸#ルミナリエ#2015#カコピク#今日はお家でまったり
A photo posted by Naoe S∞ (@klavier322) on
December 25, 2015: Merry Christmas to all! #kobeluminarie
Elsewhere in Japan's Hanshin region, someone who couldn't make it to Kobe found a magical Christmas experience of their own:
ルミナリエ行けんかった代わりに行ってもらったユニバのツリー！ 乗り物ほとんど乗ってないけどめっちゃ楽しかった(⌒▽⌒) ブッシュドノエル？っていうやつを作ってみたけど、美味しすぎてまた作りたい！ １日お疲れさん笑 pic.twitter.com/nYwrmQPlBU
— たくま（みやしー） (@IHSAYIMnukkat) December 24, 2015
I couldn't get to Kobe to see the lights, so instead I saw the Christmas tree at Universal Studios Japan [in Osaka, which neighbours Kobe]. I didn't go on any rides but it was fun! (⌒▽⌒) I tried making a yule log… and it tasted delicious! I'll try making one again. And that's how I spent my Christmas Eve (lol).
Of course, Christmastime in Japan is about more than just stupendous light displays. Christmas Eve is a popular date night for couples, and baked chicken and a desert of Christmas cake requisite parts of the meal.
今年のイヴは汐留にて♡ビーチェ東京のコース料理最高です✧スカイツリーを見ながらディナーを堪能できました✩ 夜景を見ながらディナーを楽しめるのは最高ですね♥ニョッキと真鯛が絶品でした✧ よかったらデートにご利用ください♡ #汐留#BiCE TOKYO#クリスマス#イヴ#コース#ニョッキ#LOUIS VUITTON
A photo posted by mai (@pokesakana) on
This year I'm spending Christmas Eve in Shiodome, at BiCE Tokyo. The food is really good, and we can look at the Tokyo Sky Tree while eating dinner… it's the best!
Almost every corner of Tokyo is lit up in some way. Here is the view from Roppongi, in “mid-town”, or central Tokyo.
#roppongimidtown #luminarie #ミッドタウン #ルミナリエ #夜景
A photo posted by KyungHun Lee (@leekh929) on
#roppongimidtown #luminarie #midtown #nightscene
Cake plays a key role in how Japan celebrates Christmas. Here are some delicious cakes from the Pierre Hermes shop in Matsuya Ginza, one of Japan's top department stores.
#pierreherme #tokyo #matsuyaginza #ginza #shibatachie #merrychristmaseve #シバタチエ #銀座 #松屋銀座
A photo posted by shibatachie (@mrs.diamond_chie) on
And of course, no Christmas in Japan would be complete without Kentucky Fried Chicken:
地元でXmasパーティ♡ 二子玉のケンタッキー、 サンタさんが2人いたw #ピザハット #友達が店長のお店だった #忙しい日にごめんw pic.twitter.com/pdEIiRX7pR
— 阿川麻美 (@asamiagawa922) December 24, 2015
Merry Christmas from the suburbs! Out here in Futako there are two Santas in front of the Kentuck Fried Chicken outlet!