How to Order Christmas Cake in Japan: 2026 Deadlines

In autumn, Christmas cake catalogs start showing up next to the register at Japanese convenience stores. If you saw one in October and thought, “Already?”, you’re not alone.

In Japan, many people get a Christmas cake by making a reservation in advance and pick it up on a set day. Deadlines depend on the store and the pickup date, and ordering early can save you money. In this guide, we cover when to order, where and how to order, and what to do if you missed the deadline, all based on the stores’ official information.

This article is based on information as of October 23, 2026. Order periods and discounts may change. Always check each store’s official website before you order.

1. Christmas Cake Reservation in Japan: The Quick Answer

Here are the answers to the questions people ask most.

Question	Answer (for 2026)
When do orders open?	Convenience stores started in mid-September (7-Eleven on September 14, Lawson on September 15, FamilyMart on September 16)
When is the deadline?	Mid-December at 7-Eleven and Lawson. At FamilyMart, it varies by cake and area. At every store, it depends on the pickup date and the cake
Any early discounts?	Some cakes are cheaper if you order early (hayawari). Deadlines run from November 30 to December 1, depending on the store and how you order
Where can I order?	Convenience store counters and apps, department stores, cake shops and more
When do I pay?	It depends on the store and how you order (for example, 7-Eleven in-store orders are paid at pickup)
What if I didn’t order?	Whether a store sells cakes without an order depends on the store

Details and sources are in each section.

2. Before You Order: Size, Allergies and Alcohol

In the catalog, you’ll see numbers like “4-go” (4号) and “5-go” (5号). These are a rough guide to the size of a whole cake. 7-Eleven’s website lists them like this:

Label	Example size	Number of people
4-go	About 12 cm across	2 to 4
5-go	About 15 cm across (14.5 to 16 cm, depending on the cake)	4 to 6

Even cakes labeled “5-go” vary a little in size, so check the diameter on the product page if it matters to you. If it’s just one or two of you, you can also choose a set of small cakes.

Checking allergies and alcohol

7-Eleven’s Variety Cakes page has a table showing whether each cake contains major allergens such as egg, milk and wheat. Cakes made with Western liquor are marked “contains alcohol” (酒使用, sake shiyo), which makes it easier to choose if you avoid alcohol.

The Consumer Affairs Agency requires packaged processed foods to show certain allergens. Some ingredients, such as gelatin, are only recommended for labeling, not required, so they may not be listed. 7-Eleven does list gelatin on some of its cakes. If there’s no table in the catalog or you’re worried about a specific ingredient, ask the store before you order.

(Source: 7-Eleven "Christmas Variety Cakes" / Consumer Affairs Agency "Food Allergy Labeling")

3. Ordering Christmas Cake at a Convenience Store

The easiest option is a convenience store (konbini). You can order at the counter or in an app, and pick it up at a store near you.

Order periods and deadlines at the big three (2026, as of October 23)

Store	Orders open	Order deadline	Pickup
7-Eleven	September 14	In store: December 16 for pickup on December 19 to 23, December 19 for pickup on the 24th or 25th. 7NOW app: 10:29 a.m. on December 17 for pickup on December 19 to 23, 10:29 a.m. on December 20 for pickup on the 24th or 25th	December 19 to 25
Lawson	September 15	6:00 p.m. on December 18 (December 13 for app orders)	December 19 to 25
FamilyMart	September 16 (October 1 in Okinawa)	Varies by cake and area (check the catalog)	December 20 to 25

At 7-Eleven, deadlines differ by cake. For example, the Fujiya Petit Assort closes on December 14, and the Yamazaki Christmas fresh cakes close on December 17. The Yamazaki Christmas fresh cakes, the stollen and the Fujiya Petit Assort can’t be ordered in the 7NOW app; you can only order them in store.

7-Eleven and Lawson both say they may stop taking orders before the deadline if a cake sells its planned number or orders are heavy.

Order early to save (hayawari)

Store	Discount	Deadline
7-Eleven	10% off eligible cakes when you order in the 7NOW app (in-store orders don’t qualify)	11:59 p.m. on November 30
Lawson	A coupon for ¥200 off each eligible cake with an early in-store order (show your Ponta or d POINT card)	6:00 p.m. on December 1
Lawson	¥300 off each eligible cake with an early order in the Lawson app	December 1
FamilyMart	Discounted price on eligible cakes with an early order	9:00 a.m. on December 1

Only “eligible” cakes get the discount. Look for the mark in the catalog or on the product page.

When you pay

7-Eleven: If you order in store, you pay at the store when you pick up the cake. If you order in the 7NOW app, you pay in the app when you order (credit card or code payments such as PayPay), and you just pick it up at the store
Lawson: The coupon from an early in-store order is used when you pick up and pay
FamilyMart: You can order in store or on FamiMa Online. Check how to pay when you order

If you wait until the end of November to think “time to order,” the 7-Eleven app discount may already be over. If you want the lower price, ordering in November is the safe choice.

For other seasonal items and everyday picks, see our konbini food guide.

Food & Dining Your First Stop in Japan: The Complete Japanese Convenience Store (Konbini) Guide for Food, Shopping & Everyday Life Japan's konbini are world-class — this guide covers the Big Three chains' best foods, register phrases, daily necessitie… Read related article

(Source: 7-Eleven "Christmas" / 7-Eleven "7NOW Early Discount" / Lawson news release / Lawson "Christmas Benefits" / FamilyMart news release)

4. Ordering at a Department Store or Cake Shop

If you want a cake from a famous patisserie or hotel, you can also order at a department store. Some rules are different from convenience stores, so check them first.

Here’s one example: the 2026 rules at Daimaru Umeda (Osaka).

Item	Daimaru Umeda example
Online order period	10:00 a.m. on October 1 to 10:00 a.m. on December 18 (10:00 a.m. on December 14 for frozen cakes)
When you pay	When you order
Changes and cancellations	Not possible
In-store pickup	December 23 to 25, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (the pickup spot changes on the 24th and 25th)
Frozen delivery	Choose a day from December 19 to 25 (no time slots)

Unlike convenience stores, some department stores take payment when you order and don’t allow cancellations. Order once your plans are set. Frozen cakes need to be thawed in the fridge before eating.

For tips on department store food halls (depachika), see our depachika guide.

Food & Dining How to Enjoy Depachika: Best Stores in Tokyo & Osaka, Tasting Etiquette & Gift Tips Not sure where to go or what to buy at depachika? From Isetan and Hankyu Umeda to tasting etiquette, bento, wagashi, and… Read related article

Ordering at a cake shop (example: Chateraise)

Cake shop chains also take Christmas cake reservations. For example, Chateraise lists these details for Christmas 2026:

Reservation deadline: December 15 in store, or 9:00 p.m. on December 14 for online reservations
Bonus points for early orders: If you reserve and pay by October 31, you get 8 times the points, by November 30, 5 times, and by December 15, 3 times (points for Chateraise members)
Christmas items on sale: December 1 to 25 (with some exceptions)

Other cake shops have their own deadlines and pickup rules, so check the shop’s website or the flyers in store.

(Sources: Daimaru Umeda "Christmas Cake 2026" / Chateraise "Christmas 2026" (Japanese))

5. From Ordering to Pickup

Even if it’s your first time, there are just four steps.

Choose a cake in the catalog or on the product page: Check the size, price, allergens and available pickup days
Place your order: In store, tell the staff at the register. In an app or online, choose the pickup store and date on screen
Keep your receipt: If you get a slip when you order in store, keep it safe until pickup day. Taking a photo of it with your phone is a good idea
Pick it up on your day: You can only pick it up while the store is open. Lawson notes that at stores with closing days or shorter hours, pickup is only possible during opening hours

Japanese you can use at the counter

When you order at the register, these phrases will do.

What you want to say	Japanese
I’d like to order	クリスマスケーキの予約をしたいです (Kurisumasu keki no yoyaku wo shitai desu)
Pickup date	12月24日に受け取りたいです (Juni-gatsu nijuyokka ni uketoritai desu)
About the discount	早割の対象ですか？ (Hayawari no taisho desu ka?)
About allergies	卵（乳）が入っていないケーキはありますか？ (Tamago (nyu) ga haitte inai keki wa arimasu ka?)
About alcohol	お酒を使っていないケーキはどれですか？ (Osake wo tsukatte inai keki wa dore desu ka?)

Cake boxes are big, so keep your hands free on pickup day. Put the cake in the fridge as soon as you get home.

(Source: Lawson "Christmas Benefits")

6. Didn’t Order? What to Do Without a Reservation

It happens: you look up and the deadline has passed. Whether you can buy a cake on the day without an order depends on the store.

If you’re looking for a cake without an order, try this order:

Check whether the deadline has really passed: Deadlines differ by pickup date, so you may still make it. For example, for pickup on the 24th or 25th, 7-Eleven takes orders until December 19 in store and until 10:29 a.m. on December 20 in the 7NOW app
Call the store before you go: Ask, “Can I buy a Christmas cake without a reservation?” (クリスマスケーキは予約なしで買えますか？, Kurisumasu keki wa yoyaku nashi de kaemasu ka?). They may be able to tell you whether you can buy one that day
Don’t insist on a whole cake: A set of small cakes or the store’s everyday cakes are also an option

(Source: 7-Eleven "Christmas")

7. FAQ

Q. When should I order a Christmas cake?

At 7-Eleven and Lawson, the deadline is around mid-December (for 2026). At FamilyMart, it varies by cake and area. At every store, deadlines differ by pickup date and cake, and orders may close early once a cake sells its planned number. If you want a lower price, order in November while early discounts are available.

Q. Can I cancel my cake order?

It depends on the store. Some department stores take payment when you order and don’t allow changes or cancellations (as at Daimaru Umeda). Check the cancellation rules before you order.

Q. My Japanese isn’t great yet. Can I order in an app?

You can order in the 7NOW app (7-Eleven), the Lawson app, or on FamiMa Online (FamilyMart). But some cakes can’t be ordered in an app (such as 7-Eleven’s Yamazaki Christmas fresh cakes), and some Lawson stores don’t take app orders. If you order in store, it’s fine to show the staff the phrases in section 5.

Q. Are there cakes made without alcohol?

7-Eleven’s Variety Cakes page shows “contains alcohol” (酒使用) or “no alcohol” (酒不使用). At other stores, ask the staff before you order.

(Source: 7-Eleven "Christmas" / 7-Eleven "Christmas Variety Cakes" / Lawson news release / FamilyMart news release / Daimaru Umeda "Christmas Cake 2026")

Summary

✅ In Japan, many people order a Christmas cake and pick it up on a set day. Convenience stores started taking orders in mid-September
✅ Deadlines at 7-Eleven and Lawson are around mid-December. They differ by pickup date and cake, and may close early
✅ Early discounts end between November 30 and December 1, depending on the store. Order in November to save
✅ Some department stores take payment when you order and don’t allow cancellations
✅ If you didn’t order, call the store before you go

For days off, ordering chicken, English Mass and more, see our guide to Christmas in Japan. Right after Christmas, Japan moves straight into New Year preparations. For the full year of events, see our guide to Japan’s seasonal traditions. This year, take a look at the catalogs early.