Written by Hanana, with photo notes from Hanakiki
Hi, I’m Hanana! Kyoto is the city of temples, gardens, and tea. Christmas here is quieter than in Tokyo or Osaka, and that’s what makes it special. You can spend the morning at a temple, the afternoon at a tea house with seasonal sweets, and the evening under the lights of Kyoto Station. Let’s enjoy a calm, Japanese-style Christmas.
At a glance
- Where: Kyoto Station, Higashiyama, and Uji (Kyoto Prefecture)
- When: December is a calm month between the autumn leaf season and New Year’s
- Access: About 2 hours 15 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen to Kyoto Station
What to eat & try
Wagashi (Japanese sweets)
Wagashi are traditional Japanese sweets, often made from sweet bean paste, rice flour, and sugar. In Kyoto, many confectioners make namagashi, small, delicate sweets shaped and colored to show the season. In December, you might see sweets shaped like snow-covered camellias, winter plum blossoms, or pine.
- Pair it with matcha: Wagashi are made to be enjoyed with matcha green tea. Eat the sweet first, then sip the tea.
- Try a tea ceremony experience: Several places in Kyoto offer short tea ceremony classes for beginners, in English. You’ll learn how to hold the bowl, how to bow, and how to enjoy the sweets.
- Make your own wagashi: Some shops run hands-on classes where you shape your own seasonal sweet with simple tools. A wonderful souvenir activity.
Matcha sweets in Uji
Uji, about 20–30 minutes from Kyoto by train, has been famous for green tea for centuries. Along the street to Byodoin Temple, you’ll find matcha soft-serve, matcha parfaits, and tea shops where you can watch tea being ground.
Christmas, Kyoto style
Many Kyoto cafés and confectioners sell Christmas sweets with a Japanese twist, like matcha roll cakes, yuzu-flavored treats, or wagashi shaped like Christmas trees and snowmen. Look out for them in December.
What to see
Kyoto Station Building illumination
Kyoto Station’s modern building has a huge Grand Staircase with 171 steps. At night, about 15,000 LEDs on the staircase create colorful designs that change with the season. Around Christmas, the stairs usually show a giant Christmas tree design. You can also walk the Skyway on the 10th floor for a view of Kyoto Tower.
Higashiyama in winter
The stone-paved lanes of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, near Kiyomizu-dera Temple, are calmer in December than in spring or autumn. On a cold, clear morning, the wooden townhouses and temple roofs are beautiful. If you are lucky, you may even see a light dusting of snow.
Hanakiki’s photo spot
Hanakiki’s camera note: At Kyoto Station, climb to the top of the Grand Staircase and look back down. The whole design of lights fits into one frame. Then go up to the Skyway to shoot Kyoto Tower glowing just across the street. In Higashiyama, go early in the morning before the shops open for quiet streets.
Event info
| Event | Dates | Hours | Nearest station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyoto Station Building Graphical Illumination | Year-round (Christmas designs usually in December) | Grand Staircase about 3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; Skyway about 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (varies by season) | Kyoto (directly connected) |
- The Kyoto Station illumination is free to enjoy.
- Please check the official website for this year’s December (Christmas) designs. A “winter season” design is scheduled from December 26 to 31.
Official website: Kyoto Station Building: https://www.kyoto-station-building.co.jp/
Please check the official website for the latest information before you go.
Travel tips
- A calm season: Early to mid-December is one of the quieter times to visit Kyoto. Temples are less crowded than in autumn.
- Dress in layers: Kyoto is cold in winter, around 35–45°F (2–7°C) in the morning. Temple halls are often unheated, and you take off your shoes inside, so wear warm socks.
- Temple manners: Bow at the gate, keep your voice down, and follow photo rules. Some temple interiors do not allow photos.
- Wagashi tip: Fresh namagashi should be eaten the same day. If you want a souvenir to take home, choose dry sweets or packaged treats.
Book your trip
- Getting there: JR Central (Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka): https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/
- Getting there: JR West (JR Nara Line from Kyoto to Uji): https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/
- Plan your trip: Japan National Tourism Organization: https://www.japan.travel/en/
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