Christmas spending trends for 2025

How are you spending the festive season this year? A recent nationwide survey from Intage Inc. shows that 54% of people in Japan have no plans for Christmas, which is the highest level ever recorded and up slightly from last year. For expats used to Christmas being a big social or family event, I think these figures might feel surprising. Of course, Christmas isn't an official holiday here like it is in many parts of the world, and right now many people are choosing to keep things simple or skip it altogether.

Spending numbers mentioned in the research linked above also reflect that shift. The average Christmas budget sits at around 16,400 yen (which is well below pre 2023 levels), and the overall Christmas market has shrunk to about two thirds of what it was two years ago. Rising living costs, flat wages, and higher energy bills are all pushing people to be more cautious, even around traditionally festive moments.

That said, Christmas in Japan hasn't disappeared entirely but has become smaller and more home-based, and cakes remain the standout tradition. Around 40% of people surveyed still plan to eat cake, most commonly in the 3,000 yen price range, with demand focused tightly on December 24th and 25th (both weekdays this year). The mindset seems to be no big party, no splurge, but a cake still marks the occasion.

I think for many expats, these findings can actually be freeing. There's less pressure to do Christmas "properly" and more room to define it your own way. I've had Christmases here in the past where I've had pizza for dinner and visited the Cup Noodles museum during the day, so as the saying goes, "you do you!"