The Christmas season has arrived in Japan! While Japan isn’t traditionally a Christian country, the festive spirit has become an essential part of winter. From early November, right after Halloween, cities across Japan sparkle with Christmas lights, trees, and festive displays. But one of the most delightful parts of the season isn’t just the decorations — it’s the food. Japanese bakeries and cafés go all out for the holidays, offering beautifully crafted Christmas cakes, pastries, and seasonal sweets that are as delicious as they are photogenic.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best places in Tokyo and nearby areas to enjoy these special Christmas desserts.
Christmas in Japan is Different
Before we start with the sweet side of Christmas, let’s take a look at the difference between Christmas in Japan and in Western countries. In Germany, where I am from, Christmas is celebrated from the evening of December 24 to December 26 with two public holidays and all the shops being closed. But in Japan, Christmas is not a public holiday at all. If Christmas Eve happens to fall on a weekday, it’s treated as a normal working day, and many people continue working until the evening.
Furthermore, Christmas is not a “big family festival” as I know it from my home country. In Japan, families meet for New Year (just one week later) and Christmas is rather a day you celebrate with your partner — similar to Valentine’s Day — or in the small circle of your family if you have children.
Outside the family, however, Christmas is a big business, with decorations, Christmas presents, and a whole spectrum of food. All the amusement parks, like Tokyo Disney Resort or Universal Studios Japan, have Christmas events, and you can see Christmas trees and decorations at every corner.
Christmas Afternoon Teas and Dessert Buffets
December is the perfect time to meet up with your friends one more time and look back on the year, so many people combine this with a Christmas-themed afternoon tea at a restaurant, café, or luxury hotel. Many places offer these from December 1 to December 25. Note that some require prior reservations, and prices may rise on the dates closer to Christmas Day.
One of the best places to enjoy Christmas in Tokyo is at Grand Hyatt Tokyo. This year, its theme is “Starlight of Love,” which celebrates the love that fills the universe like the infinite, twinkling stars of the night sky. You can try the holiday brunch and buffet at The Oak Door / The French Kitchen, and you can even celebrate Christmas with its Christmas Dinner. If you prefer an afternoon tea, try the Starlight Noël Afternoon Tea at the French Kitchen. And for those who may not have much time, but want Christmas cakes, Christmas bread, and cookies look no further than the hotel’s Fiorentina Pastry Boutique.
Grand Hyatt Tokyo
lodging- 6 Chome-10-3 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
- ★★★★☆
Other places offering a Christmas sweets buffet in Tokyo are the Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku, the Sunshine City Prince Hotel in Ikebukuro, and the Hotel InterContinental Tokyo Bay.
Aside from the buffet-style all-you-can-eat spots, there are also numerous afternoon teas with an exquisite selection of small savory and sweet dishes. We visited the Christmas Afternoon Tea at Café Accueil in Ebisu, which had sweets with cute designs like a snowman macaron and a pistachio cream Christmas tree and cute drinks.
- Cafe Accueil Ebisu
bakery, bar, cafe - Japan, 〒150-0021 Tokyo, Shibuya, Ebisunishi, 2-chōme−10−１０ エレガンテヴィータ 1F
- ★★★☆☆
If you look for a nice Christmas Afternoon Tea around Tokyo, check the websites of the following places:
- ANA InterContinental Hotel Tokyo
- Royal Park Hotel Tokyo
- Tokyo Marriott Hotel
- Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo
- Cafe & Dining ZelkovA
- Ginger Garden Aoyama
- The Peninsula Tokyo
- Hotel Century Southern Tower
- Pepper Parlor
- Ristorante Mangiare
Christmas Menus at Cafés and Restaurants
You don’t need to opt for a whole afternoon tea set or a buffet (especially if you have to take care of your budget), however, because several cafés and restaurants offer a special sweet Christmas menu.
One of the cutest places in Tokyo for this is Q-Pot Café in Omotesando, where you can order Christmas plates with snowman or Santa bear cakes and a cute reindeer tea latte.
- Q-pot cafe
cafe, establishment, food - 3-chōme-4-8 Jingūmae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
- ★★★☆☆
If you want to try one of the artistic parfaits, you can opt for Triangle Cafe in Futakotamagawa, CAFE&BAR RIGID in Asagaya, or Ristorante Mangiare, which all have lovely designs. Also, Parfaiteria Momobukuro, specializing in night-time parfaits, has a selection of parfaits for the Christmas season.
- TRIANGLE CAFE
cafe, establishment, food - 3-chōme-17-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya City, Tokyo 158-0094, Japan
- ★★★★☆
- Momobukuro
cafe, establishment, food - Japan, 〒171-0021 Tokyo, Toshima City, Nishiikebukuro, 1-chōme−40−５ 名取ビル B1F
- ★★★★☆
The Strings Omotesando has an afternoon tea option, but also appeals with a cute Christmas teddy bear parfait and snowman pancakes. Or treat yourself to pancakes with a pistachio cream Christmas tree mountain at Eggs’n’Things.
- The Strings Omotesando
establishment, food, point_of_interest - Japan, 〒107-0061 Tokyo, Minato City, Kitaaoyama, 3-chōme−6−８ ザストリングス表参道 内
- ★★★★☆
Even in winter, many people with a sweet tooth crave kakigori (shaved ice). Some cafés offer these all year round and have a time-limited design for Christmas, such as Cafe Lumiere in Kichijoji and CUPS in Machida. At the latter, you can purchase kakigori shaped as a Christmas tree or Santa Claus.
- Lumiere
cafe, establishment, food - ４F, 1-chōme-2-2 Kichijōji Minamichō, Musashino, Tokyo 180-0003, Japan
- ★★★★☆
- Muffin & Bowls cafe CUPS
cafe, establishment, food - Japan, 〒194-0013 Tokyo, Machida, Haramachida, 3-chōme−1−４ 町田ターミナルプラザ2F
- ★★★★☆
Christmas Cakes and Christmas Sweets for Take-out
In the weeks before Christmas, all supermarkets, convenience stores, and bakeries are papered with advertisements for their Christmas cakes, which you often have to pre-order if you want to have one for Christmas Eve. Many people in Japan opt for a special Christmas bucket from KFC and a strawberry shortcake for their Christmas dinner. However, the Christmas cake selection has become huge over the years, and nowadays it is hard to choose. Do you want to go for the regular strawberry shortcake, or do you prefer a chocolate cake, matcha, or something with cute characters?
While the Christmas cake is mainly for Christmas Day itself, you can buy other sweets for take-out during December at many shops around Japan. Many coffee shops like Starbucks and Tully’s have special drinks for Christmas. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts sells cute doughnuts looking like Santa Claus, a snowman, a reindeer, or a Christmas tree. Or you purchase a cute, fruity reindeer crêpe at Crêperie Tirol in Tokyo.
Christmas time is filled with many sweet treats, either at cafés, restaurants, for take-out or at one of Japan’s many Christmas markets. And as it is the end of the year, let’s forget about counting calories and just enjoy the joyful time. We can start again with diets and good resolutions in the new year. Merry Christmas everyone!
Original article written in December 2024
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