December 2025 events in Tokyo

Fireworks may be a summer tradition in Japan, but you can still find them occasionally towards the end of the year, such as this special event in Odaiba that promises a series of mini fireworks throughout December.

The five-minute pyrotechnic display can be viewed from anywhere in the Marine Park area, as the fireworks will be launched off the coast of the Statue of Liberty, between Odaiba and the Rainbow Bridge.

The fireworks take place every Saturday in December at 7pm (December 6, 13, 20 and 27). This year, a special show will also be held on Christmas Eve (Wednesday, December 24) for a total of five shows.

Around 700 stalls line the street during the annual Setagaya Boroichi, a venerable flea market that's been going on for more than 430 years now. Held twice a year – on December 15-16 and again on January 15-16 – the event attracts tens of thousands of visitors, making it one of the highlights on Setagaya's yearly calendar.

The main area of the market is along Boroichi-dori, a street which centres around the Setagaya Daikan Yashiki, the old, thatched-roof local magistrate’s residence. We’d recommend hopping off the train at Setagaya Station on the Setagaya Line, walking along Boroichi-dori, and then leaving from Kamimachi Station. And if you don't mind the long lines, it's worth sampling one of the market's popular daikan mochi rice cakes – Boroichi's de facto official snack.

The Setagaya Line is a light railway, and tickets are available as you get on the train or at the platform. You’ll have a smoother trip if you have the fare ready beforehand (¥160 for adults, ¥80 for children). 

The annual Tokyo Art Book Fair (TABF) at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo in Kiyosumi returns this December at a larger scale than ever before, taking place over two weekends for the first time: December 11 to 14 and December 19 to 21. In this fifteenth instalment, expect a total of 560-odd publishers, galleries and artists from Japan and abroad taking part, with each weekend featuring a different line-up of exhibitors.

At TABF, you’ll be able to flip through zines, chat with artists and browse quirky goods made for bibliophiles with an eye for design. The Guest Country programme, which has become a regular element of the book fair, is putting the spotlight on Italian publishers this year, with three exhibitions: YES YES YES: Revolutionary Press in Italy 1966-1977, showcasing underground newspapers and magazines, and Out of the Grid: Italian Zines 1978-2006, highlighting the evolution of zine culture. The programme also includes Marchette, exploring ties between corporations and publishing in Italian design, along with a showcase by Corraini, the publisher behind picture books by Bruno Munari, Enzo Mari and Ettore Sottsass.

Aside from the pop-up booths where publishers, galleries and independent creatives will be showcasing their latest projects, the programme also includes a series of workshops and open-panel discussions to look forward to. General admission is ¥1,200 per person and advance tickets (¥1,000 plus a ¥165 booking fee) will be available online from November 20. Be sure to secure your ticket early, as only a limited number of same-day tickets will be sold at the venue.

Dubbed Ao no Dokutsu, meaning blue cavern, this breathtaking illumination was a huge hit when it made its debut along the Meguro River back in 2014. The now annual event made a comeback in Shibuya in 2016, where it will again bathe the tree-lined walkway leading to Yoyogi Park in a fantastical blue glow this holiday season until Christmas Day.

Stretched out for 900 metres along Koen-dori and Yoyogi Park Events Square, the fantastical display is made up of around 500,000 blue LEDs. The lights are also reflected off the ground to create an immersive experience. At the end of the tunnel, you’ll find a gigantic inflatable snowman illuminated with festive projection mapping this year, inspired by ‘Christmas and Shibuya’.

The illuminations take place daily between 5pm and 10pm.

The 400m-long Keyakizaka Street next to the Roppongi Hills shopping centre is lighting up with 930,000 sparkling white and blue LEDs until Christmas Day. From the pedestrian bridge near the Roppongi Hills Arena, you'll get a stunning view of the trees covered in shimmering lights, with Tokyo Tower in the background, from 5pm to 11pm daily. 

Marunouchi Street Park, which comprises the areas along Marunouchi Naka-dori and Gyoko-dori streets, is illuminated with festive lights in the evening. Coinciding with the illuminations, there will be a Christmas market serving baked goods and hot beverages on both streets until December 25, as well as stalls offering Western antiques. In front of the Marunouchi Nichome Building, you’ll find plenty of benches to rest on while enjoying live music (times are yet to be announced).

Also, don’t miss the brilliantly lit Christmas trees along Gyoko-dori – making their debut in 2025. This picturesque street offers a stunning view of the iconic Tokyo Station building, plus ten festive food stalls dishing out hearty winter favourites like homemade pizza, hot dogs and stew.

The illuminations take place daily from 11am to 10pm. Gyoko-dori markets begin on November 28.

Until January 31, the district surrounding Tokyo Skytree Town and Asakusa is lighting up with ornate takeakari bamboo lanterns created by Chikaken, a company specialising in these unique traditional lanterns. Many of their takeakari bamboo light creations have been featured at some of Japan’s popular illuminations including Hana Akari at Yomiuri Land and even at selected Tokyo’s hotels.

The Sumida River Walk bridge connecting Tokyo Mizumachi and Sumida Park is especially pretty, as it features a special installation with Tokyo SkyTree in the background. There’s another installation at the Kitajukken riverside terrace running alongside Tokyo Mizumachi, where you'll find beautifully handcrafted takemari bamboo ornaments lining the 400-metre walkway from Makura Bridge to Koume Bridge.

Ushijima Shrine in Sumida Park is also lit up daily from 5pm to 10pm with bamboo lights as well as colourful takemari that are beautifully hung in the air.

The massive Unicorn Gundam statue in front of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba is getting lit up with special winter lights. Until March 6, you can see the robot illuminated in pale green, inspired by the upcoming Gundam Hathaway trilogy release 'Mobile Suit Gundam: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe', which is premiering on January 30. While you can see this exclusive light-up from 5pm to 11pm daily, we recommend visiting between 7pm and 9.30pm to also see a special nighttime show featuring a short screening of the animation, held every 30 minutes.

If you're visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter this holiday season, you’re in for a treat. Tokyo’s hottest Harry Potter attraction has gone all out for its third Christmas celebration with a stunning six-metre-tall Christmas tree, a 1:24 scaled reproduction of Hogwarts Castle covered in snow, plenty of sparkling illuminations and a special food menu, all inspired by the first Christmas scene from ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. 

Themed 'Hogwarts in the Snow', the Warner Bros. Studio Tour's holiday extravaganza has painstakingly recreated the Hogwarts Christmas scene from the first film with a breathtaking festive makeover of its Great Hall. New for 2025, the studio’s Christmas tree–decked Great Hall will feature a dazzling display of 400 floating candles – just like in the film – casting a warm, magical glow. You'll also find a stunning Christmas tree in the lobby while illuminations are spread out across the premises including around the entrance lobby. The light-ups come on in the evening until 30 minutes after closing time.

As for the holiday menu, each of the Studio Tour's three food outlets is serving Christmas specials. For instance, you'll find a Christmas afternoon tea set and a buche de Noël Christmas cake at Backlot Cafe, a s'more dessert pizza at the Food Hall, and Christmas tree ice cream cones at the Frog Cafe.

In Germany and many other parts of Europe, Christmas markets transform central city squares into charming, romantic destinations with decorations, festive lights, hot spiced wine, sweets and stalls selling local crafts.

The Tokyo Christmas Market brings this same spirit to Japan, with a festive selection of food, drinks and European-style ornaments. There’s even a 14-metre-high Christmas pyramid installation brought over from a German village (the Christmas pyramid may be unfamiliar, but it actually has a history as old as the Christmas tree). Returning for the 10th time this holiday season, the Tokyo Christmas Market has become a familiar highlight of the city’s festive season calendar.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online, which comes with a free mug. (Adult tickets only)

Now in its 19th year, Roppongi Hills’s popular German-style Christmas market is modelled after the market in the German city of Stuttgart. At O-yane Plaza, you’ll find handmade ornaments and nutcracker decorations from Käthe Wohlfahrt, plus classic carols and plenty of festive décor. When you get hungry and thirsty, there are Christmas market staples such as sausages and beer to enjoy. Don’t miss the nearby illuminations at Roppongi’s Keyakizaka Street, which add to the festive atmosphere.

German-inspired Christmas markets are taking Tokyo by storm, and this one is no exception. Tokyo Solamachi Christmas Market offers all the usual attractions like wooden stalls with various holiday accessories, beer, warm glühwein, hot chocolate and traditional confectionery such as stollen cake and waffles. The lighting in the market area combines nicely with the golden winter illuminations at Tokyo Skytree and the four-metre-tall Christmas tree, creating a homely atmosphere at Solamachi’s Sky Arena.

The Christmas market is open daily until 10pm.

One of Tokyo’s newest Christmas markets, located in the Azabudai Hills complex, is returning this holiday season with more than 15 stalls set up in the Central Green. This event's centrepiece is a giant Christmas fir tree decorated with five different types of lights that gently illuminate the market in champagne gold. Treats include everything from sausages and vegetables topped with melted raclette cheese and hot chocolate served by Hills House Dining 33, to mulled wine, goulash, pretzels and bratwursts from German Christmas Stand. Even vegans, who are often overlooked at these annual food markets, have something to keep their spirits high, with plant-based foods like gluten-free stollen from Eightablish.

Knick-knacks on offer include Christmas ornaments, elaborate Christmas cards and festive mugs, but we’ve got our eyes on Balcony by 6th’s popular Basque cheesecakes and juicy fried chicken — a true Japanese Christmas staple.

Head to Omotesando’s Spiral building for this special Christmas Market with the theme of ‘Space Christmas’. Browse a large selection of crafts, designs and artworks by over 50 artists. Between December 5-9 and December 12-16, you can shop for crafts, jewellery and fashion, which all make for great Christmas gifts. 

Meanwhile from December 19 until Christmas Day, you’ll find works that can be used in everyday life, from up-and-coming artists selected by Spiral staff and other contemporary art galleries. The prominent Christmas tree installation at the venue’s atrium is adorned with decorations by Japanese artist Aoyama Yume.

Check the event website for the full schedule.