Christmas in Japan

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There are a ton of sites to visit in Japan that capture the holiday spirit. While they don't technically celebrate the Lord's Birthday (most Japanese are Shinto), they hang lights, shop, and play Christmas music (especially Wham's "Last Christmas" and it really gets stuck in your head). They actually have some of the coolest lights I've even seen, and they all flock to see them. Instead of Christmas or holiday parties they have Bonekai's which translates to "forget the year" party which we found very fitting for this year. Today we went to a Christmas concert in the park. If you ever wondered what 30 Japanese girls dressed up similar to nuns sound like singing The Beatles, we can tell you. We still aren't sure why during the Holy Night Concert they busted out with Hard Days Night and Let It Be (with dance moves), but we enjoyed it.

Even with the lights and the laughs (from the concert), it doesn't feel like Christmas without our families and friends around. We miss you all. And while we wish we were "home" to celebrate with you all, we're off tomorrow to Hokkaido to ski our Christmas away. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you.

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Photos

Shoppers in Omotosando
It's always like this though. This isn't all Christmas related.

Brilliant Champagne
outside of our apartment

Roppongi Hills
Christmas Trees...kind of

Osaka Ritz
Those are all roses!

Bonekai Party
Stephen, Maureen, Patrick and Campbell

Tokyo Midtown
Entire grass covered with lights

From above
The lights change to show constellations

Holy Night Concert
Free concert with the Japanese girl choir