Christmas Cakes in Japan: Which Ones Are the Cutest?

Christmas cakes are the highlight of the holiday season! Beyond candy canes and snowmen, these Japan-exclusive cakes take Christmas to a new, super cute level!

You’ll love these fantastic Christmas-themed cakes if you love having your favorite characters involved with the holidays. Here are some of the cutest Christmas cakes released in Japan over the years! 

Baskin Robbins

If Baskin Robbins knows one thing, it’s how to make delicious treats. Way more than just ice cream, Baskin Robbins has gone above and beyond to create fantastic Christmastime cakes. Japan loves Snoopy, and Japanese Baskin Robbins did not miss a beat when making some of the cutest Snoopy Christmas cakes in the world. Seeing Snoopy and Woodstock in full Christmas attire is almost too cute to eat. 

And what would Christmas in Japan be without Hello Kitty? Baskin Robbins showcased fan-favorite Sanrio characters such as Kuromi and My Melody with their Christmas-themed cakes. Kawaii and sweet? Of course! If you’re thinking of getting a special cake this year from Baskin Robbins, you’re in luck! Special Doraemon and Disney cakes are available, but you must act fast before they all go!

Bandai Namco

Christmas is the year’s best time for cheer and song! Bandai Namco knew this and decided to release the ultimate holiday Christmas cake: an Idolmaster-themed Christmas cake! Idols are Japan’s foremost pop-culture sensations, and The Idolmaster is Bandai Namco’s premiere idol sim music rhythm franchise. The special cakes that Bandai Namco released featured plenty of fan-favorite characters, all sporting their best Christmas attire. 

And with so many characters and cake variations, there would surely be a cake for every fan! The Idolmaster wasn’t enough; Bandai Namco also released special Christmas cakes featuring Yokai Watch, Kamen Rider Ghost, Go, Princess Pretty Cure, and Shuriken Sentai Ninninger in 2015! Is there ever such a thing as too much fun? Bandai Namco certainly doesn’t think so (and seeing Jibanyan on a Christmas cake is a gift in and of itself.)

Are you looking for some adorable merch for the holiday season! Check out YumeTwins, which sends all kinds of kawaii character goods – from Japanese plushies to stationery – right to your door so that you can enjoy your best kawaii lifestyle on your way!

Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer might be an anime about spooky monster fighting, but not even demons and slayers can resist the allure of a fantastic Christmas cake! Japan’s online cake printing service Priroll offered the deal of a lifetime to Demon Slayer fans back in 2020: it wasn’t just one Demon Slayer cake that fans could order, but thirty-three different Demon Slayer cakes. 

Every character was featured in their Christmas promotion, each dressed in their finest Christmas livery. Who says grizzled demon hunters can’t relax sometimes and enjoy the cuter things in life? While Priroll might not be offering Demon Slayer cakes this year, it’s always worth checking in on them to see what other specials they might have for the season.

Totoro

In 2022, Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory, a Tokyo-based bakery, offered the world’s cutest and most amazing Christmas cakes featuring the famous Studio Ghibli character Totoro from the film My Neighbor Totoro. Were they as unique and adorable as they sound? Of course!

If that doesn’t sound good enough, the cakes were strawberry shortcakes with Totoro-shaped cream puffs. Need some chocolate in your life? Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory also offered chocolate and banana cakes. If you’re ever in Tokyo, you must check in and see what fantastic cake specials are up for the season.

Why are these Christmas cakes so popular?

Christmas means many different things to different people around the world. In the West, it’s a time of year that holds religious significance to many, while others treat it as a fun holiday to give gifts to friends and family. Christmas is a particular time for many people worldwide as it’s one of the few days designed to be as simple and comfortable as possible.

In Japan, Christmas is a time of year to enjoy festive lights, fun decorations, and simple gift-giving. Even if Christmas isn’t celebrated quite the same way in Japan as it is in the West, making Christmas-themed cakes with popular characters is always fun. People love good sweets, so it only makes sense to blend fantastic baked goods with people’s favorite anime characters.

Do you have any favorite Christmas cakes that you’ve enjoyed in Japan? If so, what were they, and where did you get them? Please tell us in the comments below! We would love to hear from you!