Christmas in Okinawa

Home Away From Home
Spending the holiday season in Okinawa? We’ve got some ideas to make it feel more like Christmas.

Lights, Camera, Action!
Back home you may have spent days if not weeks decorating your house with lights or admiring your neighbour’s handywork. Here in Okinawa you won’t find too many decorated houses, but there’s some great lightshows to entertain the family.
One of the most popular, organised events is the “Christmas Fantasy Show” at Okinawa Zoo Park. This year it’s taking place from Friday 23 December to Wednesday 28 December and includes a laser show, lights everywhere, fireworks and snow. Ticket prices range from 1000-2000 yen. Visit www.xmas-fantasy.com for more information.
If you live further North the Kanucha Resort has a massive display of over 1,000,000 lights from the beginning of November through to February. It’s a great location for a romantic stroll and maybe dinner in one of the restaurants. Call for details as they close to the public over the main christmas holiday.
If you want to combine some shopping with illuminations then check out the Ashibina Outlet Mall near Naha. You can view the lights and get a great deal on your christmas presents at the same time.

Yum…
No christmas celebration would be complete without some festive food. As we discussed last year KFC is often the party food of choice for both Okinawans and Japanese at christmas. If you don’t fancy KFC or have had enough turkey after thanksgiving then the great thing about living in Japan is that because it’s not a national holiday you can dine out on whatever choice of food you prefer. If you love sushi, most of the major supermarkets prepare party platters at this time of year which make a great alternative to the traditional turkey!

End of Year Traditions
The end of the year and the new year that follows are a season for more celebration in Japan than the Western import of Christmas. Traditionally New Year in Japan is the time for family to get together.
If you work for a Japanese company or are out over the festive period, you may be involved in or see “bonenkai” which means “forget the old year parties”. It’s not uncommon during the party season to regularly see groups of totally intoxicated workers out for the night, and in true customary fashion any indiscretions are forgotten at work the next day!

Final Ideas
Why not do something you couldn’t do back home over Christmas? Go diving, walk on the beach or how about reflect on the year at the Peace Memorial Park. Whatever you do have a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Christmas in Okinawa 2010

Jingle bells on the rock! We check out what to eat, see and do in Okinawa this holiday season.

Food

As you might guess for a non-Christian country, Japan isn’t as crazy about Christmas as others but if there’s one thing that says Japanese Xmas food, it’s cake. Other countries have stollen or rich fruit cake, Japan traditionally has a cream sponge with fruit, normally strawberries. It’s normally eaten on Christmas Eve after maybe going out for dinner. You’ll see them especially in convenience stores and pre-ordering for this popular Christmas treat is often necessary.

Need another excuse to eat fried chicken, then Christmas is it! If you fancy some KFC instead of turkey at Christmas then you’d better reserve in advance and yes we’re serious. KFC is synonymous with Christmas dinner in Japan with queues around the block. It’s said to stem from the 1970s when expats in Tokyo mentioned while in a store that fried chicken was the next best thing to turkey which couldn’t be found in Japan. KFC saw an opportunity and marketing took over.

Celebrate

Some countries treat the 25th December as being the day for big celebration and others celebrate on the evening of the 24th. Japanese often see the evening of 24th December as a romantic celebration with dinner out, proposals and of course cake. Many children do get excited at the thought of “St Claus” arriving at their bedside overnight. Once the celebrations are over, it’s a traditional time of year to clean home and business and various items are displayed to hope for good fortune in the New Year, such as bamboo rakes and decorative palm trees at entrances.

Go Out

Don’t want to sit at home – then head on out for Christmas food or fun. Okinawa may not have the wide variety of Christmas events as back home but there are places to go and things to see.
If you are looking to celebrate on Christmas Eve why not check out the Brazilian Christmas party at Bovino’s. They’re doing an all you can eat dinner with a special Brazilian Christmas menu. It also includes all you can drink soft drinks, beer and wine as well as a glass of sparkling wine and children free under 12 years all for just ¥5000!
For a taste of a snowy winter in Okinawa, the closest you are likely to get is the Christmas fantasy at Okinawa Zoo Park.
Taking place from December 23rd to 28th, they’ve got three laser shows every day, a snow show with a Japanese style igloo or “Kamakura” as well as fireworks and much more! Tickets are available in advance with a ¥300 discount off the ¥2000 door price for adults or there’s a ¥200 discount off the door price of ¥1200 for children’s tickets purchased in advance. More information at www.xmas-fantasy.com
New Year is a much more significant time for most Japanese. Even the busiest salary man takes time off to visit Shinto shrines or Buddist temples within the first couple of days of New Year. There is a large temple and shrine just outside Foster’s Legion Gate at the intersection of Highways 330 and 81. The whole area comes alive at the New Year, with various stalls outside selling food lining Highway 330 and many hundreds if not thousands of people visiting the temple there. The road gets very busy so if you want to visit it’s advisable to walk. Enjoy your Okinawan Christmas!