Japan takes Christmas very seriously, but in a commercial sense rather than a religious sense. Which is perhaps why, each year, we find some very interesting, unorthodox Christmas trees. So each year we make a point of cataloguing our favorite trees. This year we expanded our scope to include not just Tokyo but Osaka as well. From hand-knitted trees and hinoki wooden trees to trees made from 1000 prisms, here are the ones the wowed us the most.
And a reminder that these are all up until December 25, 2025 but after that they’ll be gone.
A Kabuki-Inspired Hinoki Christmas Tree – Kitte Osaka
If it’s a wintry wa-nderland you’re after, look no further than the Kitte shopping center in Osaka, which has installed a 5m (16ft) high tree made from from fragrant Japanese cypress. It’s inspired by the world of kabuki theater, and features red and golden fans that mimic a kabuki stage.
Hand-Knitted Christmas Tree – NU Chayamachi, Osaka
At NU Chayamachi in Osaka’s Umeda district you’ll find a truly one-of-a-kind tree, hand knitted by artist Chihiro Hasunuma. If you want to instill some color into your holidays, this is a 4m (13 ft) handmade masterpiece that puts even Joseph’s coat of many colors to shame.
White Kitte – Kitte Marunouchi
If you’re more of an orthodox Christmas tree-person, KITTE Marunouchi is one of the few with an actual fir tree. This year they’re adding an immersive element by surrounding the tree with a 100m long “silver grasslands” to make you feel completely whisked away. The entire installation is illuminated with 65,000 LED lights.
Prism Tree – Omotesando Hills
Over at Omotesando Hills, Takahiro Matsuo and his art studio LUCENT, who specialize in expertly fusing light, space, interaction, and the human experience, have created a 10m (33 ft) christmas tree. The multifaceted geometric structure is made from 1,000 prism elements that reflect and refract, filling the space with vivid, shifting light.
The ring surrounding the tree features Matsuo’s original spatial art device, Kinetic Light Vision (KLV). 48 spheres move in sync with the music, creating a ring of light. KLV was first unveiled at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, where it won an award for the “entertainment space” category.
Dreamlight Hotel Tree – Tokyo Editions Hotel
Last but certainly not least, head to the lobby of the Tokyo Editions Hotel for art director Yuni Yoshida’s miniature houses stacked to form the shape of a tree. With windows arranged in neat rows so the lights resemble a string of illuminations, there are plenty of little easter eggs to discover. They were created in collaboration with design brand 130, which specializes in circular and renewable 3D printing.
The hotel has 2 locations, Toranomon and Ginza, and both have the same sculpture, albeit slightly different.
