Being an imported holiday, Christmas is not that important in Japan. However, Christmas decorations invade the streets and become ubiquitous well before December starts (actually, they show up more or less as Halloween decorations go away, an another imported holiday that no one celebrates expect by decorating streets and stores with plastic pumpkins).
I love the winter illuminations that go up in November and last until February. Nabana no Sato in Mie is one of the best places in Japan to see them and the light tunnel is amazing.
It’s starting to get underway here too, even in the depths of rural Creuse. The village decorations are up but I don’t think they’ve been switched on at night yet. We’re going to put our own lights up today to brighten up the gloom of the mornings and evenings. Long winter ahead …