8 Festive Shows You Should See In Tokyo This Holiday Season

The Best Way To Spread Christmas Cheer Is Singing Loud For All To Hear

By Shelley Smith |
December 12, 2018 |
Art & Culture, In Season, Lifestyle

Time to wrap up work and other obligations and embrace the holiday season by giving yourself a very special moment of good music and good vibes!

With Christmas and the New Years’ just around the corner, it’s time to start planning ahead for some special events this year. You’ve worked hard yet another year, you’ve done more than enough at work and at home, and now it’s time to give yourself some love this holiday season — be it just two hours of uplifting music and fun outside your usual routine. Here are eight shows in and around Tokyo that will get in the festive mood in no time.

1. Broadway Christmas Wonderland

The extra talented and lovely cast from Broadway come to Tokyo to remind us that Christmas is indeed the most magical time of the year and they manage to do it impressively well through spectacular music, dancing and even ice skating. Allow yourself this special moment of an uplifting stage filled with festive vibes, great songs to hum along to and a very special chorus line in exquisite sceneries and costume. A truly breathtaking production suitable for the whole family.

When: Sat, Dec. 15-Tue. Dec. 25, 2018
Where: Tokyu Theatre Orb, Shibuya Hikarie 11F, 2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tickets: ¥5,800-¥9,800. Buy at Tokyu Theatre Orb Ticket Counter (Shibuya Hikarie 2F), Bunkamura Ticket Counter (Bunkamura 1F) or book at 03-3477-9999 (Bunkamura Ticket Centre).

2. Roppongi Hills Christmas Concert

The three days leading up to Christmas will be celebrated at the Roppongi Hills Arena with angelic voices harmonizing beautifully alongside the sweet melody of the orchestra. Get into the Christmas spirit with loved ones whilst enjoying a variety of Christmas classics as well as some Christmas pop alternatives. Among the performing artists are Tawoyame Orquesta, an 18-member all-girls classical band, Tokyo Pipe Band, who will be entertaining guests with Scotland’s bagpipe performance, Little Carol, the original NHK Tokyo Broadcasting System Children’s Chorus (now all grown up) and more. A wonderful combination of various artists and genres, this one won’t leave you bored for sure.

When: Sat, Dec. 22-Mon. Dec. 24, 2018
Where: Roppongi Hills Arena, 6-9-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tickets: Free!

3. The Stylistics

Tokyo’s Christmas Billboard Live favorites, The Stylistics, are back for yet another Christmas in Tokyo. Their timeless mellow classics such as You Are Everything and All About Love will quickly heat up the club this festive season, inviting guests for a very special and romantic dinner over sweet tunes. This year also marks the group’s 50th anniversary and to celebrate this event the lead singer of the group, Barrington Bo, will present his soul fans with some exciting news. Can’t wait to hear all about it? Book your tickets now!

When: Tue, Dec 18-Wed, Dec 19 and Mon, Dec 24-Tue, Dec 25, 2018, 1st stage from 6 pm, 2nd stage from 8 pm
Where: Billboard Live Tokyo, Tokyo Midtown 4F, 9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tickets: ¥11,000-¥16,500. Buy tickets online or book at 03-3405-1133.

4. Christmas On Ice 2018

This ultra-popular show is a fantastic opportunity to watch a spectacular Christmas ice performance featuring famous skaters from around the world. Alongside famed Japanese champions, Kanako Murakami, Shizuka Arakawa and Nobunari Oda will be international skaters Stéphane Lambiel from Switzerland, Meryl Elizabeth Davis and Charlie White from the U.S., Canada’s Elladj Baldé and many more! Singers Miho Fukuhara and Keisuke Murakami will also be performing during the show.

When: Fri, Dec. 14-Sun, Dec. 16, 2018
Where: Shin Yokohama Skate Center, 2-11 Shinyokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Tickets: ¥8,000-¥28,000. Buy tickets at Lawson, E-Plus or Ticket Pia

5. White Lantasia Christmas Live

Inspired by Thailand’s famous Loi Krathong lantern festival, this year, Seibu Amusement Park is celebrating the festive season by releasing 200 LED lanterns into the night sky each evening from December 23 until Christmas Day. The event will also be accompanied by live jazz performances and a special gospel live exclusive on Christmas Eve. Enjoy a very special night after strolling along the beautifully lit-up gardens of this popular amusement park.

When: Sat, Dec. 23-Tue, Dec. 25, 2018. Jazz shows from 4:30 pm and 7 pm on each day; Gospel Live from 4:30 pm and 7 pm on the 24th only.
Where: Seibuen Amusement Park, 2964 Yamaguchi, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama Prefecture
Tickets: Seibuen Amusement Park Night Pass, ¥2,200 (Adults), ¥1,600 (Children)

6. Royal Park Hotel Christmas Lobby Concert

This one requires no reservations and no preparation — just drop by if you happen to be in the area and enjoy a completely free mini gospel live concert at your own convenience. It’s a very different way to end your (perhaps) otherwise ordinary December day, to say the least! Gospel singer group, Cocoro, will be presenting a wonderful lineup of Christmas classics in three sessions, each lasting 30 minutes, each day.

When: Sat, Dec. 22-Mon, Dec.24, 2018, From 13 pm, 5 pm and 7 pm.
Where: Royal Park Hotel Lobby 1F, 2-1-1, Nihonbashi, Kinokucho-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Tickets: Free!

7. Ave Maria in Christmas

A special Christmas program led by concertmaster Ilya Ioff with renowned sopranos Marina Tregubovich and Natalia Makarova. Pure soprano singing voices and charming strings will enlighten you this Christmas season will a number of sweet melodies that will fill your heart with Christmas joy! This year will be the 19th consecutive concert performed by the St. Petersburg Chamber orchestra in Japan. Famous pieces will be performed in a comfortable tempo leaving you with precious memories to end the year with.

When: Dec 22 until Dec. 25, 2018. From 11:30 am, 2 pm and 3 pm
Where: Tokyo Opera City, Concert Hall (Dec 22 & 25) and Yokohama Minatomirai Hall (Dec 23)
Tickets: ¥4,500. Book tickets online or at 050-3776-6184.

8. Christmas Evening with Brenna Whitaker

Produced by the legendary David Foster, Brenna Whitaker has as deep of a voice and presence as Amy Winehouse or Adele and she’ll be proving that during a special Christmas dinner show at Blue Note Tokyo this holiday season. Enjoy listening to a great selection of festive songs and a few hits off her debut self-titled album. If you don’t know Whitaker yet, give yourself the gift of listening to her this year — you’ll love every bit of the show!

When: Dec 22 until Dec. 25, 2018. From 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm (From 6:30 pm and 9:30 on Dec 25)
Where: Blue Note Tokyo, 6-3-16 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tickets: ¥8,500 (Music only), ¥21,449 (Music with full Christmas dinner course)