Best Events Japan December 2025

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Welcome to the latest installment of Voyapon’s series, where we share some of the best under-the-radar events happening throughout Japan. Every month, we give our readers the best events from Hokkaido to Okinawa and everywhere else in between. Find our list, below, of some amazing activities happening in December 2025.

Tokyo

2025 will come to a close in Tokyo with numerous cultural events and culinary highlights.

Grand Hyatt Tokyo: Festive Brunch, New Year’s Eve Countdown Party, and Original Holiday Cocktails (December)

Grand Hyatt Tokyo celebrates the 2025 holiday season with The Oak Door’s Festive Brunch and Maduro’s New Year’s Eve Countdown Party. The Oak Door’s brunch, offered on weekends in December, Christmas Eve and Day, and through early January, recreates the warmth of a family Christmas meal. Guests can select from festive appetizers such as smoked salmon bagel wreaths and a butcher’s board, followed by indulgent mains like a mustard and tarragon-crusted pork chop, 12-hour roast beef, or festive chowder, and desserts including flourless chocolate tart and a strawberry festive roll. Prices start at ¥8,800 (¥15,700 with Champagne).

The bar at the hotel’s The Oak Door is also offering three original Christmas-season cocktails under the “Starlight of Love” theme. From December 1–25 (11:30am–11:30pm and until 12:30am on Friday/Saturday), guests can enjoy:

Festive 75: Champagne, Kyoto dry gin, yuzu, honey and elderflower — finished with gold-dust sparkle.

Starry Night Negroni: A pomegranate–bitter orange twist on a classic Negroni, topped with shimmering gold flakes.

Café Navidad: Espresso, vodka and house-made eggnog — a cozy, holiday-ready cocktail.

Each drink is priced at 2,200 yen (tax included, service charge excluded).

Meanwhile, Maduro’s Countdown Party on December 31 features a six-piece live band, canapés, free-flow drinks, and dancing under the lounge’s gas lanterns. Guests can upgrade to free-flow Dom Pérignon (Vintage 2015 or Brut Luminous). The elegant, music-filled evening (¥22,000–¥130,000) promises a sparkling start to 2026 in true Grand Hyatt Tokyo style.

When	December
Where	Grand Hyatt Tokyo 6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo 106-0032
Admission Fee	Starting from 8,800 yen
Official Website	https://www.tokyo.grand.hyatt.co.jp/en/restaurants/recommended/christmas/

New National Theatre Tokyo: Natasha (From December 12)

The New National Theatre Tokyo (NNTT) is streaming Natasha, a compelling new opera by composer Toshio Hosokawa, conducted by Kazushi Ono and directed by Christian Räth. Premiered to critical acclaim in August 2025, the production was selected as a finalist in the World Premiere category of the 2025 International Opera Awards. From 12 December to 12 June 2026, audiences worldwide can watch the opera for free on OperaVision and NNTT Stream. With a multilingual libretto by novelist Yoko Tawada, Natasha explores themes of exile, memory, and humanity’s delicate bond with nature. The story follows Natasha, a wandering refugee, and Arato, who together confront a Mephistophelean guide through visions of suffering, destruction, and the possibility of renewal, underscored by Hosokawa’s meditative, moving score.

When	From December 12
Where	New National Theatre Tokyo 1-1-1 Honmachi, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0071
Admission Fee	Free
Official Website	https://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/stream/

Hotel Toranomon Hills Festive Campaigns (December)

Hotel Toranomon Hills has announced a series of festive seasonal offerings at Le Pristine Tokyo, the casual fine-dining restaurant and café led by Michelin-starred chef Sergio Herman. The limited-time Le Pristine Festive Dinner features refined holiday courses inspired by both the Antwerp flagship and Tokyo’s culinary scene, including dishes such as Botan shrimp with caviar, smoked lobster ravioli, and Japanese Akaushi beef “Rossini,” with celebratory pairings available during Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Guests can also enjoy a Festive Afternoon Tea at Le Pristine Café Tokyo, curated by Pastry Sous Chef Sacha Simon, highlighting seasonal Japanese ingredients in elegant sweets such as chestnut and cassis crostata, mikan shortcake, and a truffle-accented beef cheek croquette. Additionally, the café will offer a limited-edition dark chocolate panettone, enriched with rum-soaked raisins, Amarena cherries, and pistachio topping, presented in a signature gift box for the holiday season.

When	December
Where	Hotel Toranomon Hills 2−6−4 Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo 105-0001
Admission Fee	Festive Dinner starting from 14,300 yen
Official Website	https://lepristinetokyo.com/en/top

Zen Foto Gallery: The Scenery of Time (December 5 to January 24, 2026)

Zen Foto Gallery presents The Scenery of Time, a solo exhibition by Chinese photographer Mo Yi, from December 5 to January 24, 2026. This marks his fifth solo show at the gallery and the first time 25 black-and-white works from the series will be displayed since they were taken in 1995. The photographs were inspired by Mo Yi’s experience moving from Tibet to Tianjin in 1982, where he witnessed the rapid shift from traditional single-storey homes to collective apartment buildings. During this period, severe housing shortages meant families shared cramped spaces, and new apartment complexes, though modest and unheated, represented a major improvement. Mo Yi’s images capture the stark uniformity of these buildings alongside small, personal objects like tricycles and water jars. These items, preserved even after becoming outdated, speak to memory and continuity, revealing how everyday surroundings record the passage of time and changing social life in urban China.

When	From December 5 to January 24, 2026
Where	Zen Foto Gallery 6−6−9 Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo 106-0032
Admission Fee	Free
Official Website	https://zen-foto.jp/en/exhibition/mo-yi-%E2%80%9Cthe-scenery-of-time%E2%80%9D

Shinjuku Neon Walk (Until January 7)

Shinjuku’s winter streets are set to transform into a radiant cultural playground with the arrival of a new 200-meter “Festival of Light” along Chuo-dori. This photogenic installation blends traditional aesthetics rooted in the Edo period with contemporary illumination technology, creating a striking fusion of old and new. Visitors can stroll beneath glowing art displays stretching from the underground passage exit to Tocho-dori, discovering a uniquely modern take on Japan’s heritage.

Adding to the atmosphere, Neo Neon food stalls and kitchen cars bring vibrant color and flavor to the scene, while a digital map and a “Digital Stamp Rally of Light” encourage guests to explore nearby illumination spots. It’s an immersive winter experience that celebrates Shinjuku’s creative energy.

When	Until January 7, 2026
Where	Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Admission Fee	Free
Official Website	https://tokyo-nighttime-project.jp/en/

Dairakudakan’s Multi Layered Body Animal at Kochuten (December 11 to December 14) 

Dairakudakan, founded by choreographer Akaji Maro in 1972, is one of Tokyo’s most influential butoh troupes, known for its raw physicality, surreal stagecraft, and philosophical depth. Their performances merge grotesque beauty with ritualistic movement, often exploring themes of the body’s fragility, mortality, and transformation. The dancers—frequently painted in gold or white—move with extreme precision, shifting between violent spasms and hypnotic slowness. Dairakudakan’s works are also visually striking, incorporating elaborate costumes, sculptural props, and dramatic lighting that create dreamlike, sometimes nightmarish atmospheres. Rooted in the avant-garde spirit of postwar Japan, the troupe continues to redefine butoh in contemporary Tokyo with Multi Layered Body Animal promising to be the latest performance by the award-winning collective that expands the possibilities of theater and modern dance. 

When	From December 11 to December 14
Where	Dairakudakan Kochuten 2-1-18 Kichijoji Kitamachi, Musashino, Tokyo 180-0001
Admission Fee	Starting from 3,500 yen
Official Website	http://www.dairakudakan.com/rakudakan/2025/Multi_Layered_Body_Animal_e.html

Infinite City by Duncan Swann at UltraSuperNew Kura (December 6 to December 19)

Infinite City by Duncan Swann is a love letter to Tokyo, capturing its people, stories, and fleeting moments in a timeless pictorial space. Drawing from contemporary life, historical photographs, and museum collections, each figure becomes a symbolic placeholder representing the city’s countless inhabitants. Swann observes human nature within the endless streets, trains, and neon-lit spaces, showing how individual lives are shaped by chance, connection, and the rhythms of the city. This recent series marks a return to the human figure after years of abstraction, blending poured paint, lines, and abstract marks to reflect subtle influences, luck, and the unexpected moments that shape our lives.

Exhibition Dates: December 6–19 (closed Sunday & Monday / by appointment only)
Opening Party: December 5, 6pm–9pm (Please book your spot here.)

When	From December 6 to December 19
Where	2-6-18, Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Admission Fee	Free *There may be a charge for certain events.
Official Website	https://kura.ultrasupernew.com/pages/exhibition/infinite-city-by-duncan-swann

Haus Von Schwarz Presents: Fresh Meat #12 (December 14)

For those who love drag, performance art, counter-culture, and gothic spectacle, Fresh Meat will be returning to the stage December 14. Started in 2022, Fresh Meat is Tokyo’s first ever fundraising drag show, aimed at giving a platform to alternative and dark art, helping new performers take the spotlight, and contributing to the growing queer community. At Fresh Meat, one can sit, drink, and even order food while enjoying a mixture of drag, burlesque, and live musical performances.

All donations raised by the show will be donated to the Gaza Soup Kitchen.

When	December 14
Where	Silkroad Cafe 3-2-8 Taihei, Sumida, Tokyo 130-0012
Admission Fee	2,500 yen Online tickets only
Official Website	https://hausvonschwarz.com/

Ashiato: Traces of Life (December 12)

Some of Japan’s biggest actors come together for a one-off live streaming production called Ashiato: Traces of Life. On December 12 from 7pm (Japan time) Nobukiho Okamoto (Demon Slayer), Yuki Kaji (Attack on Titan), Daisuke Namikawa (Lupin the Third), and Masakazu Morita (Final Fantasy X) do a VFX staged reading of a play written by Anraku. The production (with English subtitles available) allows viewers to choose between five perspectives in real time with the performance transforming storytelling into a shared experience.

When	December 12
Where	Online
Admission Fee	Streaming Ticket: 5,000 yen *Plus 440 yen system fee
Official Website	https://ashiato-stagedreading.com/

Kanagawa

If you’re looking for a Christmas extravaganza then look no further than Yokohama in December.

Yokohama Kannai Christmas Market 2025/ Ballpark Xmas 2025 (Until December 25)

The outside concourse of Yokohama Stadium, home of the DENA Baystars, is now a festive spot for Christmastime drinks, snacks, goods, and performances. This is Ballpark Xmas! 

Located a few steps from the south exit of JR Kannai Station on the Keihin-Tohoku Line, the exterior park of Yokohama Stadium has been transformed into a winter wonderland, with a litany of food-and-drink stalls that sell some festive favorites, including hot cocoa, warm pretzels, mulled wine, and sugar churros. 

There will be a series of music performances taking place during the event’s duration, with public seating available for guests to eat, drink, and be merry. Ballpark Xmas will also promote several goods collaborations, with brands including Moomin, LEGO, and even the Minatomirai Line. With a number of photo spots dotted around the park, including the centerpiece Christmas tree, a large Baystars X, and many Christmas-themed decorations, there will be plenty of opportunities to take a seasonal snapshot. 

Entry to the event is free. Refer to the event website for scheduling details.

When	Until December 25
Where	Yokohama-koen
Admission Fee	Free
Official Website	https://ballparkfantasia.com/

Kobe

The new year will be ushered in, in Kobe, with a unique drone show.

Kobe Countdown Drone Show (December 31)

On December 31, Kobe will host the REDCLIFF COUNTDOWN DRONE SHOW 2025, in collaboration with the Kobe Illuminage festival. At around 9pm, 2,025 drones will take to the sky above Kobe Fruit & Flower Park, making it Japan’s largest-ever drone performance. Titled “Wings for the Future,” the show is directed by Kenji Kobashi and themed around hope and the promise of the new year. In addition to the drone display, the event includes fireworks, live music, and food stalls, making it a major New Year’s celebration.

When	December 31
Where	Kobe Fruit Flower Park 2150 Osawacho, Kita-ku, Kobe
Admission Fee	Adults: 8,000 yen Children: 4,000 yen Tickets can be booked here.
Official Website	https://illuminagegroup.com/%e3%82%ab%e3%82%a6%e3%83%b3%e3%83%88%e3%83%80%e3%82%a6%e3%83%b3/

Shizuoka

Although there are no fireworks in Shizuoka on New Year’s Eve, you have the opportunity to see them on other days.

Atami Marine Sea Fireworks Festival 2025 (December 7 and December 19)

The Atami Marine Sea Fireworks Festival in December 2025 takes place over two nights — December 7 and December 19, between 8:20pm and 8:40pm. Held in Atami Bay, the show benefits from the bay’s bowl-like geography, which amplifies the sound of each firework so they echo like in a stadium. The grand finale features the dazzling “Great Sky Niagara”, where silver fireworks spread across the sky for a dramatic finish. The festival is free to attend, and from July to December, food and drink stalls are set up in the Waterfront Park Event Square from 15:00 to 21:00. Viewing spots include Atami Sun Beach and the coastline near Atami Port.

When	December 7 and December 19
Where	Atami Sun Beach Atami Port Area Omiya Memorial Park Nishikigaura Area
Admission Fee	Free
Official Website	https://visitatami.com/en/events/fireworks-festival

With cultural and culinary highlights, the year in Japan is coming to an end. Don’t miss your chance to capture the most memorable moments of your trip one last time in December.

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