139 years of Christmas trees in Japan

On this day, December 7th, in 1885 the first commercial Christmas tree was decorated in Japan. However, there are other reports that Christmas trees were being decorated in Japan prior to this year too. 

That first Christmas tree was reportedly for foreign sailors in Yokohama. The company that decorated that tree then expanded into Ginza, Tokyo, in 1900. Thanks to that  Christmas decorations in Ginza became widespread, and around the same time, production of Christmas goods began in Kobe.

Nowadays, you can see Christmas trees in different shapes and sizes in various locations in Japan. People also put them up in their homes. Although, typically the ones in homes tend to be small. A big difference in Christmas tree culture in Japan is that most people put their Christmas tree away on Christmas night or the 26th of December!