Best Christmas Markets in Osaka and Kobe

Christmas Markets in Osaka and Kobe: Best Spots to Spend Christmas in Kansai!

Best Christmas Markets in Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto

Feeling a little homesick about spending Christmas away from home? Although Christmas wasn’t a traditional holiday in Japan and has been imported from abroad, it has been introduced very quickly and now there are many activities to enjoy Christmas as if you were at home!

In addition to winter illuminations, going to Christmas markets is one of the best things in winter in Japan. If you are in Kansai area, enjoy the European-inspired Christmas Markets with lots of traditional hot food, drinks, Christmas trees, illuminations and decorations. Check this list of the best Christmas Markets in Osaka and Kobe 2023 and celebrate Christmas in a traditional way!

Christmas Markets in Osaka

Osaka Christmas Market

Osaka Christmas Market 2023
COPYRIGHT©Osaka Christmasmarket.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The Osaka Christmas Market 2023 will be held at Tennoji Park’s Tenshiba for the first time from December 1 to December 25, 2023. The market will be decorated inspired by authentic German christmas markets, creating a lively atmosphere with over 17 stores that will offer German cuisine, directly imported goods, etc. There will be a wide selection of German food, from Glühwein, a spiced hot wine and hot cocoa, perfect for the winter season to German beer, sausages, meat dishes, soups and more.

In addition Christmas goods directly imported from Germany will also be available, as nutcrackers, Christmas ornaments and other handmade items made by craftsmen from Seifen, a toy village in the Erz region. Visitors will also be able to participate in workshops to create original works of art using candles and flowers.

Osaka Christmas Market 2023

Venue: Tennoji Park Tenshiba

Map: https://bit.ly/3SBXKRD

Access: 5 min walk from Tennoji Station

Dates: 1 December to 25 December 2023

More info (Japanese only): https://osaka-christmasmarket.com/

Hanging Garden Xmas 2023 ~White Christmas in Wonderland~

Hanging Garden Xmas 2023
Copyright©Sekisui House Umeda Operation Co.,Ltd.

The Christmas event Hanging Garden Xmas 2023 ~White Christmas in Wonderland~ will be held at one of the major attractions in Osaka, the Hanging Garden at the Umeda Sky Building from November 23 to December 25, 2023. The event will feature a White Forest in the Sky, with trees covered in snow creating a fantastic winter scene. After the snowy forest, visitors can enjoy a giant snow globe-shaped photo spot with white flowers and illuminated lights that resemble snow.

In addition to the special Christmas decorations visitor can enjoy a spectacular view from 173 meters above the ground. And in the Lumi Sky Walk, a promenade on the rooftop corridor of the observatory, they can experience an extraordinary starry sky walk in a 360-degree open-air space.

Hanging Garden Xmas 2023 ~White Christmas in Wonderland~

Venue: Kuchu Teien Observatory

Map: https://bit.ly/46jNLDr

Access: 10 min walk from Osaka Station or 14 min walk from Umeda Station

Dates: 23 November to 25 December 2023

More info (Japanese only): https://www.skybldg.co.jp/event/xmas/02.html

Hanshin Christmas Market 2023

Hanshin Christmas Market 2023
Copyright © HANKYU HANSHIN DEPARTMENT STORES, INC. All Rights Reserved.

Hanshin’s Christmas Market 2023 held at the Hanshin Umeda Main Store will bring together miscellaneous goods and fashion from Scandinavian countries, the home of Christmas. In addition different stores sells items to add color to the Christmas season.

Hanshin Christmas Market 2023

Venue: Hanshin Umeda main store

Map: https://bit.ly/3uN6ffh

Access: 4 min walk from Umeda Station or Osaka Station

Dates: 8 November to 25 December 2023

More info: Hanshin Christmas Market

Christmas Markets in Kobe

Kobe Christmas Market 2023

Kobe Christmas Market 2023
Copyright © Kobe Resort Service Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

The Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden/Ropeway’s annual christmas event,  Christmas in an Old Castle 2023 will be held from November 11 to December 25, 2023 offering authentic German Christmas goods, food and drinks in a space reminiscent of an ancient European city. From German crafts such as nutcracker dolls and cuckoo clocks to Christmas ornaments, advent calendars, and more. Without forgetting classics of the German Christmas markets such as hot wine glühwein and stollen.

The event will be held at the Observation Plaza, a plaza about 400 meters above sea level and under the theme of Botanical Christmas various parts of the park will be transformed into natural, high-quality Christmas spaces decorated with star ornaments and plants in Christmas colors, including a 25-meter tall Christmas tree decorated with a number of bulbs that will illuminate the forest in Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden with gentle Christmas-like light.

Christmas in an Old Castle 2023

Map: https://bit.ly/3HKjN2W

Access: From the Shin-Kobe Station walks 5 minutes and then take the ropeway.

Dates: 11 November to 25 December 2023

Hours: 9:30-16:45 (ropeway up), 17:15 (ropeway down)

*Open until 21:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays from November 11 to December 24 and on December 25 (20:15 last ropeway up).

More info (Japanese only): Christmas in an Old Castle


If you like to enjoy Christmas events  night illumination, here you have more top spots in Tokyo ▶︎Best Winter Illuminations in Western Japan 2023–2024

▽For more Christmas events in Kansai area▽

▶︎Best Winter Illumination Spots in Osaka 2023

▶︎10 Best Things to Do in Osaka in Winter

▶︎Universal Studios Japan Christmas 2023-2024

If you are traveling to Osaka, in addition to the Christmas events, don’t miss the best tourist attractions available all year round with our Best Things to Do in Osaka.


For more interesting things to do during Winter in Kansai area, or information regarding Christmas in Japan, check these articles too!

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Written by

From Barcelona to Tokyo. Coffee & Adventure lover🌏☕️ 

I started to like Japan because of the anime, music and doramas, but after my first trip to the country I found what I love the most: traveling around, the culture and history. I have travelled a lot in Japan, but I still have many places to discover that I want to share with you🙋🏼‍♀️ Let’s discover Japan together!

 

Also, as a foreigner living in Japan for over 6 years I understand what kind of things are difficult when you move here and I want to help other people in the same situation that I have in the past.