Nov 7, 2025

Christmas - shopping, meals, etc. - how are we faring?

I saw a press release this morning from FamilyMart, which promoted their festive season eats but also covered a survey about spending. The survey mentioned most people planning to celebrate Christmas at home aim to spend less than 5,000 yen on food. How does your budget look in comparison to that? Do you go all out for Christmas here if it was something you celebrated in your home country, or is it a quieter celebration owing to it not being an official holiday here? How about Christmas shopping? Have you got strict budgets in place, and have you completed your shopping or are you still looking for bits and pieces for people?

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genkidesu

Love to travel, interested in J-beauty products and consider myself a convenience store snack aficionado. Navigating the ever-present challenges of expat life, particularly about my TCK's (third culture kids).

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BigfamJapan

on Nov 7

I spend a lot less money when I am in Japan for Christmas because its just a totally different event than my home country. I've adapted over the years. I was talking to my sister who lives in the UK this morning and she told me she has ALL her Christmas shopping done and has made her Christmas cake too! I buy Christmas cake in Japan. And although she didn't mention it, I bet she has her Christmas cards written! I do New Year cards instead. She's like this every year though, so it doesn't set me in to panic mode when she tells me these things! Me; I'll start to think about Christmas sincerely at the end of November and probably start purchasing early December, maybe even mid December! I don't need to buy as much anyway.

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TonetoEdo

on Nov 7

I usually give oseibo some time between December 21st and 31st. I only buy gifts for a handful of people. The winter solstice falls on a Monday this year, so I'll celebrate by going to see some illuminations.

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helloalissa

on Nov 13

@TonetoEdo Sugoi! I'm impressed that you are participating in Oseibo. I have considered it but don't want to do things the wrong way. It's always overpriced, but I try to eat kabocha on Toji, how about you?

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TonetoEdo

on Nov 13

@helloalissa Kabocha salad is on the Toji menu at my house, too! Oseibo is for my martial arts sempais and senseis. If I can get my hands on treats from my native Canada, such as wine and maple cookies, that is what they get.

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helloalissa

on Nov 13

As an adult I would celebrate something like Christmas with friends in a unique way and here we might eat somewhat traditional foods around the holiday. (I keep getting the encouragement to make mulled wine.) I think we normally stay under 5000 yen for the festive meal and have leftovers. We skip the Christmas cake and have a birthday cake earlier in the month instead, otherwise the 5000 yen budget would be difficult.

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Christmas - shopping, meals, etc. - how are we faring?

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