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Christmas is recognized in Japan and celebrated with gift giving, young people going on dates, holiday lights (illuminations), eating special cakes (many topped with delicious strawberries), and feasting on Kentucky Fried Chicken.  However, the really big holiday in Japan occurs after Christmas -- i.e., greeting the arrival of a New Year, and it is celebrated over a period of several days, from 31 December into the first week of January.  In Yokosuka, a large and exciting public festival is held in Verny Park, near the U.S. Navy Base (CFAY), where, starting at 18:00, food, drinks, and entertainment are provided for visitors, and then later on the last seconds of 2025 are counted down, with fireworks launched to greet 2026!  (See links below for more details).  Another, more solemn tradition, which happens on New Year's Eve is the ringing, 108 times, of bells at Buddhist Temples.  The bell ringing is called "Joya No Kane" (除夜の鐘) and is intended to drive away the 108 worldly temptations/desires -- thereby allowing a fresh/clean start to the New Year.  The desires, like greed, jealousy, anger, and ignorance, represent the negative human states causing suffering, and each are cleansed by a "gong" of the holy bell.  If you live near a temple, or are out and about on New Year's Eve, you may hear the peaceful sound of the Joya No Kane.                 

LINKS:

Yokosuka Countdown Festival 2026

https://www.tokyoweekender.com/event/yokosuka-countdown-2026/

https://www.guidoor.jp/yokosuka/new-and-now/yokosuka-countdown-2026/

Joya No Kane -- New Year's Bell Ringing

https://www.bells.org/blog/why-do-japanese-bells-ring-108-times-new-year-eve

https://matcha-jp.com/en/1340