A Special Christmas in Tokyo – ESL Story + Free Listening Worksheet
- Rose Sensei
- Dec 9
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Christmas in Japan is a romantic and festive event, and this easy ESL story follows Akira and Hana as they enjoy Christmas Eve in Tokyo. They visit a Christmas market, admire the city’s illuminations, buy a KFC Party Barrel—a popular Japanese tradition—and share a Christmas cake at home.
This story helps English learners explore Japanese Christmas traditions while practising reading, listening, and vocabulary.
If you love learning English through culture, food, romance, and travel, this festive story is perfect for you. Christmas in Japan is quite different from Western traditions, and today’s reading will take you straight to the glowing streets of Tokyo on Christmas Eve.
Read the story, try the activities, and learn new vocabulary along the way!
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Check out the YouTube video for voice narration and listening practice:
🌟 A Special Christmas in Tokyo (ESL Story)
It was Christmas Eve in Tokyo. Akira and Hana, a young couple, walked through the city streets hand in hand. The air was cold, but the sparkling illuminations warmed their hearts. They had planned a romantic evening together—a popular way to celebrate Christmas Eve in Japan.
Their first stop was a Christmas market in Shibuya. Colourful stalls sold handmade ornaments, sweet treats, and hot drinks. Hana bought a small snow globe with Tokyo Tower inside, while Akira tried a warm cup of mulled wine.
Later in the evening, they picked up their Christmas dinner: a special KFC Party Barrel. Akira had reserved it weeks earlier because the lines at KFC during Christmas are always long in Japan.
Back at home, they set the table with the KFC bucket, a fresh salad, and a beautiful Japanese Christmas cake topped with whipped cream and strawberries. As they enjoyed their dinner, they talked about their favorite memories from the year and exchanged small gifts.
It was a simple but perfect Christmas Eve—filled with love, laughter, and delicious food.
👉ESL Listening & Reading Activities Worksheet🎧
Use these tasks to practise comprehension skills. Great for self-study or classroom use!
1. Pre-Listening Questions
Think about these questions before reading or listening to the story:
What do you know about how Christmas is celebrated in Japan?
What kind of food do you think Akira and Hana will eat?
2. While-Listening / While-Reading Tasks
✔ True or False
Akira and Hana celebrated Christmas Day together. ( )
They bought a snow globe at the market. ( )
Akira made the Christmas cake at home. ( )
✔ Fill in the Blanks
They bought a ______ Party Barrel for dinner.
The cake was covered with whipped cream and ______.
3. Post-Listening Comprehension Questions
Why did Akira reserve the KFC Party Barrel in advance?
What made their Christmas Eve special?
Would you like to try a Japanese Christmas cake? Why or why not?
🎄 Vocabulary Focus (with Examples)
Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
Illuminations | Festive decorative lights | The streets were filled with beautiful illuminations. |
Party Barrel | A special KFC Christmas meal set | Akira reserved a Party Barrel for dinner. |
Mulled Wine | Warm spiced wine, usually served in winter | Akira enjoyed a warm cup of mulled wine. |
Snow Globe | A glass ornament showing a snowy scene inside | Hana bought a snow globe with Tokyo Tower inside. |
📝 Extra Practice (Quick Review)
Fill in the sentences:
On Christmas Eve, Akira and Hana went to a ________.
For dinner, they ate ________ and ________.
🎅 Final Thoughts
Christmas in Tokyo may look different from other parts of the world, but it’s full of warmth, lights, and sweet traditions. This story is a great way to explore Japanese culture while building your English vocabulary and comprehension skills.
If you enjoyed this festive lesson, check out more stories, worksheets, and listening practice on our blog and YouTube channel.
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📚Prefer to Read?
FAQ: Christmas in Japan (For ESL Learners)
1. How do people in Japan celebrate Christmas?
Christmas in Japan is usually celebrated on Christmas Eve with illuminations, a romantic dinner, gift-giving, and special foods like KFC and Christmas cake.
2. Do people in Japan eat KFC for Christmas?
Yes! Many families and couples pre-order KFC Christmas sets because it’s a popular tradition that started in the 1970s.
3. What is a Japanese Christmas cake?
It’s a light sponge cake topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberries—symbolizing sweetness and celebration.
4. Why is Christmas Eve romantic in Japan?
It’s similar to Valentine’s Day—couples go on dates, enjoy city lights, visit Christmas markets, and exchange small gifts.
5. Is Christmas a national holiday in Japan?
No. Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan, but it’s widely enjoyed as a festive, cultural event.
✨ Happy Christmas and happy learning!
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