Ueno Christmas Market

Among the less known Christmas markets in Tokyo is the Ueno Christmas Market, located at Ueno Park. How do pandas celebrate Christmas?

This free market is easy to come by purely by accident, as it is on the way to Keisei Ueno Station. That’s also how I found out about it, initially mistaking it for a food festival with some toy sales. Even the official brochure only shows the big tree and the panda figures and not much else.

Atmosphere

The main reason why I didn’t think it was a Christmas market first were the food stalls. They look rather ordinary just like at every other festival in Japan, advertising their food offerings with big photos. Nothing wrong with that, but at the bigger Christmas or Winter markets in Germany and even at the market located at Tokyo Skytree, the stalls share a common look and are decorated.

This common look is essential to make the market not look like some random food festival. It also gives the market an identity.

Food

The lack of a good visual concept is a pitty, as there’s actually some good food variety. One truck specialised in Cuban food, another in meat and another some typical food and drinks from Germany, including German beer. The „German“ stall was also one of the more decorated ones.

There was some good variety and if that’s not enough, another Christmas market is actually within walking distance: Christmas Market at JR Okachimachi Station.

More features

There is a stage with live music, with artists playing from 5pm on weekdays and from 12am to 8pm on weekends.

Last but certainly not least, is the stamp rally. Join the rally, be one of the first 500 to finish it and get some goods.

Future

Twenty years ago, there were hardly any Christmas markets in Japan. Now there are plenty in Tokyo alone. I expect them to evolve over the year. Ueno has some catching up to do in terms of atmosphere, but the food variety is already there.

Ueno Christmas Market runs from December 1 to 25.