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We Explored Christmas Markets in Asia (not what we expected)
Christmas Markets in Shanghai, Osaka & Kyoto – Asia Holiday
Episode 979 | Filmed December 2025 | Kyoto, Japan & Shanghai, China
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Who are Kara and Nate?!
Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, we got married 2013...
Episode 979 | Filmed December 2025 | Kyoto, Japan & Shanghai, China. We discovered the world of “travel hacking” while planning our honeymoon & became addicted ;) After 2 years of obsessively saving $35k and over 2 million miles and points, we sold our cars and apartment and left home January 10, 2016 for a “one year” trip around the world. Our goal was to see as many places as possible before we ran out of money and went back home to “normal life.” We started this channel to share our experiences with friends and family, but quickly fell in love with living on the road and found a new passion for capturing our travels through video. So we did everything we could to keep going. 4 years later, we achieved our new goal of visiting 100 countries and all 7 continents. We had no plans to slow down, until 2020 forced us to ;) Which is when we bought a converted van to start exploring our own country for the first time! After ~2 years of van life, we are back to full time international traveling! And now we are in our 10TH YEAR of finding the best adventures the world has to offer :) We are incredibly grateful to be able to continue doing something we love every day.
From the twinkling lights of Osaka's first-ever Christmas market to the unexpected charm of a Chinese Christkindlmarkt, we discover that Asia celebrates the holiday season in wonderfully unique ways! We kick things off with mulled wine and festive cheer at Osaka's market, then head to Kyoto for a hilarious Christmas scavenger hunt through historic streets. Shanghai surprises us with an authentic German-style market complete with sausages and beer, and we stumble upon a full-on 'Swirling Karneval' that feels like a fever dream! The Pokemon-themed market in Shanghai is pure joy - think Pikachu in a Santa hat! And the Paulaner German Market serves up the best pretzels we've had outside Bavaria. We end with bloopers and reflections on how Christmas markets in China and Japan are full of surprises, proving that holiday magic knows no borders. From Osaka to Kyoto to Shanghai, these Asian Christmas markets are not what we expected - they're better.
Episode 979 | Filmed December 2025 | Kyoto, Japan & Shanghai, China. We discovered the world of “travel hacking” while planning our honeymoon & became addicted ;) After 2 years of obsessively saving $35k and over 2 million miles and points, we sold our cars and apartment and left home January 10, 2016 for a “one year” trip around the world. Our goal was to see as many places as possible before we ran out of money and went back home to “normal life.” We started this channel to share our experiences with friends and family, but quickly fell in love with living on the road and found a new passion for capturing our travels through video. So we did everything we could to keep going. 4 years later, we achieved our new goal of visiting 100 countries and all 7 continents. We had no plans to slow down, until 2020 forced us to ;) Which is when we bought a converted van to start exploring our own country for the first time! After ~2 years of van life, we are back to full time international traveling! And now we are in our 10TH YEAR of finding the best adventures the world has to offer :) We are incredibly grateful to be able to continue doing something we love every day.
Kara and Nate, veteran Christmas market explorers, take their tradition to Asia for the first time. They start in Osaka, Japan, at the city's only holiday market—a lively, LED-lit affair that feels like a Japanese train station meets a German Christmas market. The mulled wine comes in paper cups (though they buy the souvenir mug), the food skews sweet (matcha churros, custard pretzels, and a waffle Christmas tree), and the orderly crowds add to the festive energy.<br><br>Kyoto's market proves a bust—just a decorated mall with a Nordic food stall—so they revive their own tradition by watching *The Office* Christmas episodes. The real magic happens in Shanghai, where they visit four markets in two days. The Chris Kindle Market, a paid-entry replica of a German market, blew their expectations out of the water: proper mulled wine, raclette cheese, truffle pizza, and even a Middle Eastern stall. One vendor gifted Kara a handmade Christmas tree candle. The Swirling Carnival offered carnival games, and a Pokémon-themed market delivered the most meticulously crafted mulled wine they'd ever seen, complete with rosemary and a free candle. The final stop was the Paulaner Beer House rooftop, offering a stunning Shanghai skyline view and authentic German food. Kara reflects that while these markets can't replace Europe's, they are absolutely worth a visit if you're in Asia during the holidays.
Kara and Nate bring their beloved Christmas market tradition to Asia, discovering that China and Japan put their own delightful spin on the holiday classics. From Osaka's LED wonderland to Shanghai's surprisingly authentic German-style market, they taste everything from mulled wine and matcha churros to a three-foot cotton candy. The grand finale in Shanghai—with a rooftop view of the skyline—proves that Christmas cheer knows no borders.
Kara and Nate explore Christmas markets in Japan and China, finding surprising holiday cheer with unique food, giant cotton candy, and stunning Shanghai views.
Exploring Christmas Markets in Japan and Shanghai China
3:36 In Asia, mulled wine often comes in paper cups by default. You can buy a souvenir mug for an extra fee, but they'll serve the drink in a cup inside the mug to keep it clean.
11:42 Osaka's Christmas market is intimate with about 13 gift stalls and 15-20 food stalls. It's much smaller than European markets, but the Christmas music is plentiful and the vibe is lively.
21:41 Many Christmas market souvenirs sold in Europe are actually made in China. Buying them locally can be more authentic and often cheaper than in Germany.
25:52 For Shanghai's markets, start at the smaller Swirling Carnival for carnival games, then head to the larger Chris Kindle Market for the full German-style experience to avoid crowds.
26:23 Shanghai has a Pokémon-themed Christmas market with brightly colored food trucks rather than traditional wooden huts. The mulled wine here is exceptionally crafted with jelly balls and rosemary.
3:36 In Asia, mulled wine often comes in paper cups by default. You can buy a souvenir mug for an extra fee, but they'll serve the drink in a cup inside the mug to keep it clean.
11:42 Osaka's Christmas market is intimate with about 13 gift stalls and 15-20 food stalls. It's much smaller than European markets, but the Christmas music is plentiful and the vibe is lively.
21:41 Many Christmas market souvenirs sold in Europe are actually made in China. Buying them locally can be more authentic and often cheaper than in Germany.
25:52 For Shanghai's markets, start at the smaller Swirling Carnival for carnival games, then head to the larger Chris Kindle Market for the full German-style experience to avoid crowds.
26:23 Shanghai has a Pokémon-themed Christmas market with brightly colored food trucks rather than traditional wooden huts. The mulled wine here is exceptionally crafted with jelly balls and rosemary.
1:01 Arriving in Osaka's Christmas market
3:22 First mulled wine of the trip
10:00 Long tree waffle snack review
13:33 Kyoto's disappointing market
15:35 Shanghai's Chris Kindle Market
17:56 Raclette cheese and global food stalls
22:39 Giant cotton candy and fake snow
23:09 Swirling Carnival with arcade games
26:17 Pokémon-themed market
31:13 Paulaner rooftop market finale
0:00 our favorite Christmas tradition
1:30 #1 Osaka, Japan Christmas Market
13:31 #2 Kyoto, Japan Christmas scavenger hunt
15:31 #3 Shanghai, China Christkindlmarkt
22:25 #4 Swirling Karneval, China
26:16 #5 Pokemon Market
30:52 #6 Paulaner German Market, China
33:32 reflections
36:14 Bloops
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They are smaller and less numerous, but they put their own spin on things—like matcha-flavored treats, carnival games, and amazingly crafted mulled wine. They're not a replacement for Europe, but definitely worth visiting if you're in Asia.
What was the most surprising food you tried?
Probably the three-foot cotton candy at the Chris Kindle Market in Shanghai. It was the most impressive food I've ever seen at a Christmas market, and they even made fake snow next to it!
Was the Kyoto Christmas market worth it?
No, it was a complete bust. It was just a decorated mall with a Nordic food stall. We ended up going back to watch The Office Christmas episodes instead.
What was the best mulled wine experience?
At the Pokémon-themed market in Shanghai. The vendor put so much care into it—jelly balls, candied fruits, a cinnamon stick, and a sprig of rosemary. She even gave me a free handmade Christmas tree candle!
