How to decorate your Christmas tree with Japanese souvenirs this festive season
The festive season is just around the corner! But this Christmas, don’t miss out on the chance to have your tree shine extra bright by adding your favorite Japanese souvenirs to the mix.
Daruma doll santas.
Japan souvenir stores are filled with cute keychains and hanging decorations featuring many traditional, cultural figures. But there’s only so much room on a single keychain. Instead, try adding a unique twist to your tree this year by hanging these keychains as ornaments instead.
So, grab those Santa sacks and make room on your tree’s branches, here are some ways to add some magic from your Japan trip into your home these holidays.
Japanese golden bookmarks
These intricate golden bookmarks often depict Japanese landscapes and flora such as Mount Fuji and cherry blossom flowers. They often come with ribbon attached, making them an easy hanging ornament. An elegant and beautiful way to remember your trip to Japan this holidays.
A selection of detailed bookmarks to choose from
Ema
If you’ve visited or seen images of Japanese shrines and temples, you may have seen dozens of these wooden prayer boards hung up by visitors over years. Ema have been a large part of Japanese religion and culture throughout history. Visitors and worshippers write their wishes and prayers on the back of ema before hanging them up outside places of shrines. Write your hopes for the year to come and hang your ema up on your Christmas tree to help grant it.
Ema (wooden planks for prayers) designs at a souvenir shop
Omamori
Omamori are protective amulets and good-luck charms sold at many Japanese temples and shrines. Each omamori offers a blessing to its owner, from health of loved ones to good financial or career fortune. Not only are they beautifully designed and an important part of traditional Japanese culture, but they also offer blessings for the year to come.
Each one is a different blessing, choose the one best for your loved ones!
Maneki-neko keychain
The maneki-neko, or beckoning cat, is one of the most famous and recognisable Japanese symbols around the world. With its raised paw and white fur, this cute creature is a great way to not only remember your trip, but also acts as a beacon of good luck and happiness as a new year approaches.
So cute and brings good luck
Hanging paper cranes
Paper cranes are also a symbol of peace and longevity in Japanese culture. Folded with beautifully designed origami paper, they often come attached on threads holding three or more. Many stores sell these chains of hanging cranes that can be easily attached to branches. These are often used as decoration for Girls Day in march in Japan.
Beautiful, colorful, and handcrafted
Felt Japanese animals
Looking for something softer and more kawaii? Try hanging these stuffed, felt characters up for a fun, jolly ornament! Featuring iconic Japanese symbols such as the lovable Shiba Inu dog or the red Oni, these are a cute addition for the little ones to hang on the tree.
Shiba dogs are quite popular to find.
Chochin lanterns
Chochin are red paper lanterns commonly found throughout Japanese festivals, outside restaurants, and lining streets. These lanterns are an important symbol of protection and are a famous emblem of Japan around the word. A perfect fit for the classic red and green Christmas colours as well, it makes a great ornament on any tree.
Classic Japanese symbol that is timeless
Hanging temari (threaded balls)
A fun traditional toy in Japan, temari are embroidered balls originally used to play games such as hack sack and to juggle. Many include small bells inside them as well, replicating a similar sound to the classic jingle bells sound. They make for a cute and fun decoration for every young family. These are originally from the Matsumoto region of Japan.
Formerly a child’s toy, this incredibly intricate ball makes for a beautiful decoration.
Shichifukujin (Seven Lucky Gods)
Wrap up the year and welcome the new one in with good fortune by hanging the Japanese Seven Lucky Gods on your tree this festive season. Featuring seven deities from Chinese, Indian, and indigenous Japanese ideologies. They are symbols of good fortune and each offer different blessings. Found on keyrings and chains, they can easily be hung to your tree branch.
Offering blessings and good fortune for the year to come
Daruma dolls
Daruma dolls are red, wooden good luck charms in Japanese culture. The are a key emblem of perseverance and an iconic figure in Japan. Owners of daruma dolls are to fill in one eye whilst making a wish, and then color the second eye when their wish is achieved. Many stores sell hanging daruma or daruma key chains that can be added as hanging décor to your Christmas tree. A fun activity to set goals for the new year with the whole family. If you don’t find the dolls on a key chain, nestle the dolls into your tree!
Set your goals for the new year
And check out these Santa, snowman, and reindeer daruma! Perfect to add as a table decoration or at the bottom of your Christmas tree.
Santa is on his way!
The possibilities to blend Japanese culture into your holiday season are endless, with a wide array of hanging decorations and keychains at almost every souvenir store.
But Christmas shopping can already be a lot to handle. Slow down and enjoy the festive season by letting TokudAw do all the hard work for you. Let us take care of the trip planning and transport, so you can be free to enjoy your trip merrily.