Kentucky Christmas from KFC in Japan

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I receive commissions for purchases made through those links at no cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.

There are many unique celebrations around the world, but one that I’ve always wanted to partake in deals with two of my favorite things – Japan & fried chicken!

If you’re not aware of this one, you’re not alone! Just know that it’s not the most authentic way to celebrate Christmas in Japan, but due to some clever marketing from one gentleman back in the 70s, it’s still a “thing” decades later. 

Not only are KFC buckets popular to pre-order in the weeks leading up to Christmas, but chicken in general becomes a seasonal staple. Restaurants, department stores, and even konbini sell special roast or fried chicken with “Merry Christmas” signage everywhere.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the “KFC Christmas” bucket and you know I couldn’t pass up the chance to try it while I’m here. I waited a day too long though, and the buckets had all sold out by the time I got around to placing my order.

Not to be deterred, I placed an order for a few random boxes for us to sample instead and invited some friends who were also planning to be in Kyoto to join me.

Ironically, a friend from Hawaii was passing through, a student of mine from near Osaka was able to join, and my friend Adrienne and her husband would be in town to work on their renovation of a 100-year old historic machiya home!

Adrienne and I met on my very first solo trip abroad when we were bunk mates in a hostel in London. These days I still do occasionally stay at hostels, but often opt for capsule hotels instead. I happened to be staying at one of the fanciest pods that I’ve come across so far and it was located directly across a KFC! (What are the chances, right?)

One of the best things about hostels is the opportunities to meet other travelers, and this one also hosts a “free beer” happy hour for guests and two of them who sat next to me ended up joining us for my KFC feast as well. (One of them HAD pre-ordered the bucket in time, so it was his second time having KFC on the day!)

The jury is still out about some of the dishes we tried – chicken nuggets and tenders were pretty similar to KFC back home, but there was an unusual stuffed chicken breast and roasted bbq leg quarters (which come with thigh and drumstick still attached) and somehow I ordered wayyy too much coleslaw. 

My student brought us some delicious fruits and matcha cookies and I contributed random red & green savory and sweet snacks from the konbini (kit kats and wasabi arare). 

There was a moment when I looked up and saw all six of them in conversation, getting to know one another and embracing the serendipity that happens so naturally when you’re on the road and open to new connections. 

Merry Christmas from my little corner of the world to yours!

Tips if you want to celebrate KFC Christmas in Japan:

• Pre-orders open weeks in advance from the KFC Japan website
• It helps to have the Google Translate browser extension to be able to translate the information to English 
• Try to find a friend who will allow you to use a Japanese phone number to register, or perhaps see if your hotel concierge might help. (If you’re able to get it to work with a foreign number, please let me know in the comments!) 
• The buckets are large enough for two people and include sides and dessert! If you miss out on a bucket or are worried about finishing it all, you can also order individual “boxes” like we did, or off the regular menu.

>> How did you celebrate this year? Do you have any other holiday traditions?
>> Next up is preparing for our annual tradition of writing Letters to the Universe and choosing a word for the year. It’s such a nice feeling to start fresh at the beginning of the year, a clean slate!