Last Updated on April 10, 2026 by Vlad
Planning to be in Japan over Easter? Here’s the short version: Japan doesn’t really do Easter. No long weekend, no hot cross buns at every bakery, and you won’t find supermarket shelves stacked with foil eggs. But it’s not a complete chocolate wasteland if you know where to look.
Easter Is Not a Public Holiday in Japan
This is the big one to know. Easter is not on Japan’s calendar of national holidays. There’s no day off, no school closure, nothing. Life carries on as normal.
The vast majority of Japanese people follow Buddhist or Shinto traditions, and only a small Christian community marks the religious side of the day. Unlike Christmas and Halloween, which have been enthusiastically adopted and given their own Japanese spin, Easter hasn’t made the same leap into mainstream culture.
Even Valentine’s Day has been thoroughly reinvented in Japan. But Easter? Still finding its feet. It’s a bit of a mixed bag; some commercial activity, a few themed events, but nowhere near the big deal it is back home.
The upside? Everything stays open. Museums, temples, restaurants, transport…all running as usual. No scrambling for bookings or navigating public holiday chaos.
Easter Is Slowly Creeping In (Commercially, At Least)
While Easter doesn’t have deep roots in Japan, it’s been quietly growing as a commercial event over the past decade or so. Pastel colours, bunny motifs, and egg decorations have a natural fit with Japan’s love of spring aesthetics – and where there’s a cute seasonal hook, Japan’s retailers will find it.
Here’s where you’ll actually spot Easter in Japan:
Department Stores
The big ones lean into it more than anywhere else. Think Isetan Shinjuku, Mitsukoshi, and Takashimaya – these stores often have Easter chocolate displays and seasonal confectionery in spring. It’s not wall-to-wall Easter eggs, but there are usually some imported and boutique options worth seeking out. High-end chocolatiers like Venchi sometimes release limited spring egg collections.
Kaldi Coffee Farm Shops
Kaldi is a solid bet for Easter chocolate. The import-focused grocery chain typically stocks Easter-themed sweets and seasonal treats. A handy stop if you’re after something more recognisable.
100 Yen Stores (Daiso)
Daiso usually comes through with plastic Easter eggs, basic decorations, and small Easter-themed sweets. We grabbed a haul of plastic eggs and decorations from Daiso when we were organising an Easter egg hunt at a friend’s farm in Yamanashi – and it did the job perfectly. Nearly all of the kids there were Japanese locals, and for most of them it was their very first Easter egg hunt. Watching that click for them was genuinely one of those travel moments you don’t plan for.
Limited Edition Spring Chocolates
Some Japanese chocolate brands release spring-themed packaging and limited flavours around this time of year. Keep an eye out in convenience stores and supermarkets. Although it’s not labelled “Easter” as such, but the bunny-and-egg aesthetic is there.
Online Shopping
If you want a wider selection of Easter eggs while you’re in Japan, Japanese Amazon and similar platforms are worth checking. You can often find imported chocolates and Easter candy delivered quickly. I am not gonna lie, we buy some easter chocolates on Amazon.
Our Approach: Bring Eggs From Home
We pack a stash of Easter eggs from Australia. It solves the problem entirely, and the kid get to wake up to a proper Easter morning even while we’re travelling. It’s become part of our trip tradition.
We’ll also pick up whatever we find locally. A Daiso run for plastic eggs, a browse through a department store basement – but having the backup from home takes the pressure off.
Easter at Theme Parks
This is where the holiday gets a proper celebration in Japan.
Universal Studios Japan (Osaka)
USJ goes all out. The Universal Easter Celebration runs from roughly early March through to late June each year – well beyond Easter itself. Expect characters from the Minions, Snoopy, and Sesame Street dressed in Easter costumes, colourful park-wide decorations, parades, and themed food and merchandise. It’s genuinely festive and great fun for families.
Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea
Tokyo Disney Resort ran a dedicated “Disney’s Easter” event for several years, complete with parades and Easter-themed shows. However, this event hasn’t been on the calendar since 2022. As of writing, there’s no Disney Easter event confirmed at either park – so don’t plan your trip around it. Check the official Tokyo Disney Resort website for the latest event schedule before you go.
Tips for Easter in Japan
- Bring chocolate eggs from home if Easter morning matters to your family – supply in Japan is limited and unpredictable
- Hit department store basement food halls (depachika) for the best selection of boutique Easter chocolates
- Check Kaldi Coffee Farm – they usually have something seasonal, and there’ll be a store close to you in Tokyo
- Daiso for decorations and plastic eggs – cheap, cheerful, and widely available
- Don’t expect a public holiday – everything runs as normal, which is actually convenient for sightseeing
- Book USJ well in advance if you’re heading to Osaka – the Easter season runs long and the park gets busy in spring
The Bottom Line
Easter in Japan is low-key, and I personally like that. If you’re expecting the Easter aisle at Coles, you’ll be disappointed. But if you come prepared (a bag of eggs in your luggage), a plan to hit a department store basement or Kaldi, and maybe a day at USJ – you can absolutely make it work. The cherry blossoms are usually still around too, which makes it one of the nicest times of year to be in Japan anyway.