Winter traditions: the Santa Visit

I've always brought my children to see Santa Claus each year. When my eldest was small, we went to Ireland each Christmas so we would visit him there. But as my family expanded we started to do our Ireland visits in summer, to escape the heat, and spent Christmases in Japan. For many years, it was a real chore to find a place to visit Santa Claus because only a few places offered the service. But between 2014 and 2019 there was a much better choice of places you could get a photo with Santa Claus.

During the pandemic we faced the same challenges again. Between 2020 and 2022 we actually stayed in Santa's House in Nasu, so we were guaranteed a visit, as there were very few public Santa visits during that time. Last year, thankfully Santa Claus visited a local mall. Because I have two children in Junior High now, it is harder for us to find a date that we can all go to visit Santa Claus. So I appreciate that we don't have to travel outside the prefecture anymore, to get our annual Santa photo. 

Yesterday, we did our 2024 Santa Claus visit. Santa Claus travelled all the way from Lapland especially to meet the 150 families who had booked to get a photo with him! I won't share the photo here, but I am really happy with it. We got one with just the kids and one with the whole family. The one with the kids and Santa will make a good 'nengajo' New Year's card photo! Of all of our annual family traditions, the Santa Claus visit is one of the most important to me. So I am very grateful that we can keep up that tradition. Thank you Santa!