In Japan, as the Christmas season gets closer, you start seeing ads for Christmas cake reservations and Christmas markets. But if this is your first Christmas in Japan, you might be wondering: “Isn’t December 25 a day off?” “Where do I buy a cake?” “Is there Mass in English?”
Christmas in Japan is different from Christmas in many other countries. In this guide, we cover what people living in Japan need to know: days off, how to order cake and chicken, English Mass, and sending gifts home, all based on official information.
This article is based on information as of October 23, 2026. Order periods and church schedules may change or be announced later. Always check the official websites.
1. Christmas in Japan: The Quick Answer
Here are the key points in one table.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is December 25 a day off? | It’s not a public holiday. Japan has no public holidays in December |
| When does the year-end break start? | National government offices close from December 29 to January 3. For city offices, companies and schools, it depends on their own rules |
| What about cake? | You can order one at convenience stores and cake shops. For 2026, convenience stores started taking orders in September |
| What about chicken and other food? | You can order from convenience stores, KFC (Kentucky) and others. As of October 23, KFC had not yet announced its 2026 order details |
| Is there English Mass? | Some churches hold English Masses every week (for example, St. Ignatius Church in Tokyo). You can find churches in your area through the diocese list of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan. Check the church website for Christmas times |
| When should I send gifts home? | Japan Post says early December is the guide for airmail |
You’ll find the source for each row at the end of each section.
(Sources: Cabinet Office "National Holidays" / e-Gov "Act on Holidays of Administrative Organs" / e-Gov "Local Autonomy Act" (Article 4-2) (Japanese))
2. Is Christmas a Holiday in Japan? Work and Days Off
Christmas is not a public holiday
Japan’s public holidays are set by law. According to the Cabinet Office’s list of national holidays, the last holiday of 2026 is Labor Thanksgiving Day on November 23, and there are no holidays in December. December 24 and 25 are not public holidays.
The Emperor’s Birthday is now February 23, so December 23 is not a public holiday either.
Work and school
Because it’s not a public holiday, whether you have December 25 off depends on your company’s or school’s rules. In 2026, December 25 is a Friday. If you want to take the day off, check your workplace’s leave rules early.
The year-end and New Year break
By law, national government offices (administrative organs) are closed from December 29 to January 3 of the following year. Each city or ward sets its own office closing days. If you need to do paperwork, check your city or ward website for its year-end closing days and finish early. Year-end closing days for companies and shops also vary.
For how people spend the year-end and New Year, see our guide to Japan’s seasonal traditions.
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(Sources: Cabinet Office "National Holidays" / e-Gov "Act on Holidays of Administrative Organs" / e-Gov "Local Autonomy Act" (Article 4-2) (Japanese))
3. Christmas Cake: Order Ahead
In Japan, many people get their Christmas cake by ordering it in advance and picking it up on a set day. For 2026, convenience stores started taking orders in September. 7-Eleven and Lawson close orders around mid-December, and at FamilyMart it depends on the product and region.
For how to order, deadlines, early discounts and how to buy without a reservation, see our guide on how to order Christmas cake in Japan.
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(Sources: 7-Eleven "Christmas cake" / FamilyMart news release / Lawson news release (Japanese))
4. What to Eat at Christmas: Ordering Chicken and Party Food
In Japan, some families eat chicken and party food at Christmas, as well as cake. “Chicken” can mean roast chicken, bone-in chicken and more, and KFC isn’t the only place to get it.
Ordering at a convenience store (example: 7-Eleven)
7-Eleven sells Christmas chicken and party food for 2026 by advance order.
| Type | Examples | How to order |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | Charcoal-grilled roast chicken leg, bone-in chicken (Special Nanachiki) and more | In store only (not in the 7NOW app). Until December 23 (generally up to 2 days before pickup) |
| Party food | Roast chicken, roast beef and salmon rolls, salads, pizza and more | Until December 21 in store, or 10:29 a.m. on December 22 in the 7NOW app (deadlines vary by item) |
Pickup for both runs from December 19 to 25 (December 23 to 25 for the hors d’oeuvre platters sold only in Hokkaido and Okinawa).
Supermarkets and cake shops may also take orders for Christmas chicken and other dishes. Check the flyers or websites of stores near you.
(Sources: 7-Eleven "Christmas Chicken" / 7-Eleven "Party Menu" (Japanese))
Ordering from KFC
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) also takes orders for its Christmas menu.
As of October 23, KFC had not yet announced its 2026 Christmas order details.
For reference, orders opened on November 1 in 2024 and November 4 in 2025. In 2025, there was an “Xmas early discount” (for Party Barrel sets) until December 12, and pickup ran from December 19 to 25.
Check the KFC official website for 2026 details.
(Sources: KFC news release (2025) / KFC news release (2024) (Japanese))
5. English Christmas Mass and Services
If you’d like to go to church at Christmas, here’s how to find English Mass where you live, plus an example of a church that holds English Mass every week.
Finding English Mass in your area
The Catholic Church in Japan is divided into 15 dioceses (regional groups). The diocese list on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan website shows which diocese your prefecture belongs to.
Some dioceses publish schedules of Masses in English and other languages. For example, the Archdiocese of Osaka-Takamatsu publishes a list of English Masses at churches in Hyogo, Osaka and other areas (list dated August 2, 2024). Start by checking the website of the diocese where you live.
Example: St. Ignatius Church, Tokyo
| Church | Location | Regular English Mass or service |
|---|---|---|
| St. Ignatius Church (Catholic) | Yotsuya, Tokyo | Sundays at 12:00 noon, Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. |
Check the church website for Christmas times
As of October 23, St. Ignatius Church had not yet posted its 2026 Christmas schedule. Christmas Masses and services may be at different times from usual, so check the church website as December gets closer.
(Sources: Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan "Dioceses in Japan" (Japanese) / Archdiocese of Osaka-Takamatsu "English Mass" / St. Ignatius Church "Mass Schedule")
6. Sending Gifts Home
If you’re sending Christmas gifts to family or friends, prepare early.
Japan Post gives these guidelines for when to send mail so it arrives overseas by Christmas (the page doesn’t state a year):
| Method | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Airmail | Around early December |
| Surface mail (by sea) | Around late October |
However, Japan Post notes that deliveries may be delayed because of the year-end rush, so send as early as you can. The late-October guideline for surface mail has already passed, so if you’re sending now, use airmail. It also says that to send goods, you need to use its “International Mail My Page Service.”
(Sources: Japan Post "Deadlines for Christmas mail overseas" (Japanese))
7. Christmas Markets and Events
Christmas markets are held in many parts of Japan. Here are examples in Tokyo and Yokohama with officially announced 2026 dates (as of October 23).
| Event | Place | Dates (2026) | Entry fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market | Yokohama, Kanagawa (Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse) | November 20 to December 25 | From 500 yen (varies by day; free for elementary school children and younger with a guardian) |
| Tokyo Christmas Market (Shin-Toyosu venue) | Koto-ku, Tokyo | November 20 to December 25 | Adults 1,000 yen on weekdays, 1,500 yen on weekends and holidays (2,000 yen on December 24 and 25). Elementary school children 500 yen (1,000 yen on December 24 and 25). Free for children not yet in elementary school |
| Tokyo Christmas Market (Shiba Park venue) | Minato-ku, Tokyo | December 4 to December 25 | Adults 1,000 yen on weekdays, 1,500 yen on weekends (2,000 yen on December 24 and 25). Elementary school children 500 yen (1,000 yen on December 24 and 25). Free for children not yet in elementary school |
Check the official websites for ticket sale dates and prices by time slot.
For Christmas markets and events in other areas, check the website of your city or ward, or your local tourism association.
(Sources: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse "Christmas Market" / Tokyo Christmas Market 2026 / Tokyo Christmas Market, Shin-Toyosu venue / Tokyo Christmas Market, Shiba Park venue (Japanese))
8. FAQ
Q. Can I take Christmas off work in Japan?
December 25 isn’t a public holiday, so it depends on your company’s or school’s rules. If you want the day off, check with your workplace early.
Q. When do government offices close for the year-end break?
National government offices close from December 29 to January 3. Check your city or ward website for its closing days, and take care of paperwork such as getting a residence certificate early.
Q. When should I order a Christmas cake?
It depends on the store and pickup date. For 2026, 7-Eleven and Lawson close orders around mid-December. At FamilyMart, it depends on the product and region. Some stores offer discounts for early orders. For details, see our guide on how to order Christmas cake in Japan.
Q. Is there Mass in English?
St. Ignatius Church in Tokyo holds English Mass on Sundays at noon and at other times. For other areas, see how to find English Mass in Section 5. Check the church website for Christmas times as December gets closer (see Section 5).
Q. When should I send gifts home?
Japan Post says early December is the guide for airmail. Deliveries can be delayed at year-end, so send early.
(Sources: Cabinet Office "National Holidays" / e-Gov "Act on Holidays of Administrative Organs" / Japan Post "Deadlines for Christmas mail overseas" / FamilyMart news release (Japanese))
Summary
- Christmas (December 24 and 25) isn’t a public holiday in Japan. Whether you get the day off depends on your company or school
- National government offices close from December 29 to January 3
- You can order Christmas cake at convenience stores from September. 7-Eleven and Lawson close orders around mid-December; at FamilyMart it depends on the product and region
- You can order Christmas chicken and party food at convenience stores and other places. KFC’s orders opened in early November in 2024 and 2025. Check the official website for 2026
- Some churches hold English Masses or services. Check the church website for Christmas times
- For gifts home, early December is the guide for airmail
Christmas in Japan may be different from what you’re used to, but there are things to enjoy, like Christmas cake and Christmas markets. Prepare early and enjoy Christmas in Japan.
