December 2018 events in Tokyo
Plan your December in Tokyo with our events calendar of the best things to do, including illuminations, Christmas markets, concerts and art exhibits
December is when Tokyo turns all sparkly – thanks to the illumination shows, of course – while Christmas markets, ice skating rinks and other seasonal favourites also open up across the city. And the holiday cheer only gets louder as we get closer to New Year's, with a mouth-watering menu of parties, markets and other events taking place over those well-earned vacation days.
Our December highlights
Tokyo illuminations 2018-19
Discover the beauty of the wintertime city – it's your guide to the top Tokyo light-ups
Christmas markets in Tokyo
Get your gifts and ornaments here – and reward yourself with a pint while you're at it
New Year's Eve events and parties in Tokyo
Where to welcome the new year with a bang – Tokyo's best countdown parties, gigs and shows. We've got December 31 2018 sorted
Best art exhibitions in Tokyo this autumn
Check out an exhibition on anime, explore art in Asian societies and contemplate art as a form of empowerment
What's the deal with... KFC and Christmas in Japan?
It’s that time of the year again: the illuminations have gone up and the first Christmas bucket orders are being placed at KFC. Wait, what? Yes, you read that correctly: Christmas and KFC are completely intertwined in Japan. Learn why here.