ONLINE Experience: Christmas & New Year in Japan (Oshogatsu)
Take a virtual trip to Japan for the holidays. Meet friends and family online and learn about Christmas and Japanese New Year traditions and food!
Highlights
Discover the secret history of Christmas date nights and why KFC is popular on this day
Learn about Nengajo (Japanese New Year greeting cards) and why are they so special
Find out how to attract great luck in the new year -- the Japanese way!
Learn about holiday spring cleaning in Japan
Plus, let's make some holiday origami while we are together!
10 meals
Experience Details
While many of us are unable to safely travel to spend time with friends and family this holiday season, this virtual holiday in Japan makes a wonderful gift to experience with loved ones.
Meet your guide online for this interactive virtual experience celebrating the winter holidays in Japan. During this experience (1 hour 15 minutes), you’ll learn about the unique traditions and food during Christmas and New Year in Japan with insights from a local living in Japan. Through stories, fun facts, and trivia games, you’ll get a sense of Japan’s history and culture, and get a chance to make a Japanese style origami decoration!
This virtual experience is family-friendly and interactive, great for kids as well as adults to experience together. So get your friends and relatives in on the fun and experience the spirit of the Japanese winter holidays!
How to prepare:
-Let’s get into the HOLIDAY SPIRIT!
-Put on something festive like a Santa hat or Christmas sweater and get cozy
-Prepare a seasonal beverage (eggnog, hot chocolate, and mulled wine are all great)
-Bring Christmas cookies or another seasonal treat
-IMPORTANT: Please cut a square piece of wrapping paper (any size is fine but it shouldn’t be too large) or get origami paper for our activity! One side of the paper should be patterned and the other should be a solid color
-Come with an open mind and heart, and be ready to ask questions about Christmas and New Year in Japan!
The host for this experience is a Japanese food tourism expert who is looking forward to sharing their stories and expertise. To ensure an intimate experience where everyone is able to ask questions and connect to the guide, the groups are kept small. After the online experience, additional info and resources will be provided.
Looking forward to making delicious memories and sharing Christmas and Japanese New Year customs!
Inclusions
Resource guide after the tour, including links and additional information
Insights into Christmas in Japan and Oshogatsu (the Japanese New Year period) and their traditions
Local English speaking expert on Japan
Exclusions
Internet fees
Guide tip/gratuity
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
After your booking is confirmed, we will send the info for our ZOOM meeting
Remarks
Please remember to prepare a square piece of wrapping paper or Origami paper. It should be patterned on one side and plain on the other. Any size is fine, but not too large.
Please don't choose Dec25-26 and Jan1-2, 2022 (we don't have option to block this dates only in this portal) as we don't have available guides for these dates. Thank you for your understanding.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 2 days before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
Over 14 million residents call Tokyo home. Functioning as Japan's economic and cultural center, it's no surprise the metropolis often appears at the top of travelers' bucket lists. Here, you can find everything from traditional tea houses to futuristic skyscrapers.
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