Christmas spending trends in 2024

A recent survey by Ikoyo (one of Japan's largest family research platforms) shared some insights on how Japanese families are approaching Christmas this year. There were a few main themes of the survey: festive season outings/activities, celebrations at home, and gift giving (and spending). The data can be read in full via the link above, but I've summarized some of the bits I found interesting!

Festive Activities

Many families were planning to see Christmas illuminations and trees at malls or around their local area, with 28% choosing this activity as their top option. Others picked visits to Christmas markets (19%) or dining out (17%). However, 26% of families plan to stay home to enjoy Christmas, celebrating in a more low-key, relaxed way.

Gift-Giving Habits

The survey found that the average budget for children's Christmas presents ranged from ¥4,000 to ¥6,000, with that amount increasing as children get older. By the time children reach the upper elementary grades, many households allocate more money to presents, reflecting the higher cost of toys, games, and electronics which were the most popular gift categories. Grandparents also play a significant role, purchasing gifts for their grandchildren in about 50% of families surveyed.

When are people shopping?

Over 60% of families surveyed aim to complete their Christmas shopping by mid-December, which is fairly representative of our family. I don't want to leave it all until the last minute!

If you have children or shop for any kids in your life, do you feel that the monetary values line up with what you plan to spend for Christmas? Have you finished all your Christmas shopping?