Christmas Magic in Japan: The Finnish Hostel Association and Santa Claus Delighted Japanese Families

This Christmas, Santa Claus traveled virtually to hostels in Japan, bringing joy and warmth to the daily lives of japanese families. The Finnish Hostel Association and Japan Youth Hostels (JYH) jointly organized a charity event as part of JYH’s free invitation program for families with children. The program provided families the opportunity to spend quality time together at various hostels across Japan and experience an unforgettable Zoom call with the real Santa Claus – live from Finnish Lapland!

Children Meet Santa Claus

The event brought families together in hostels in Tokyo, Inuyama, Osaka, Shimonoseki, and Okinawa. The Christmas spirit was tangible as children gathered in the hostels and watched the snowy landscapes of Lapland on a big screen, amazed to hear that the temperature was a freezing -30 degrees Celsius. Soon, Santa Claus himself appeared on the screen – Janne Sammalkangas, the host of Hostel Visatupa in Sodankylä. Playing the role of Santa Claus, he answered the children’s questions with warmth and humor. A translator present in Japan ensured that the children understood everything Santa Claus shared with them.

Examples of Children’s Questions for Santa Claus:

• How many reindeer do you have?
  “About 100 reindeer, but I rotate them so that each one gets rest days.”
  
• What do you do in the summer?
  “Maybe I could work as a taxi driver!” This answer made the children laugh.
  
• What is your favorite food?
  “Trout fried in butter and onions with mashed potatoes. I also love sushi, which I can now get even in Lapland!”
  
• Does every reindeer have a name?
  “Yes, but sometimes I get them mixed up. Each reindeer has a different personality: one is fast, another is slow, and a third sleeps a lot.”
  
• How old are you?
  “About 348 years old – I’m not quite sure anymore!”

At the end, Santa Claus sang the Japanese version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (Akahana no Tonakai) with the children, bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.

The Power and Joy of Collaboration

This initiative highlighted the values of the Finnish Hostel Association and the international network, Hostelling International: community, inclusivity, and learning. The hostels in Japan served as warm gathering places where families experienced the magic of Christmas together – while also bringing international visibility to the hostels’ responsible accommodation operations.

Hostel Visatupa – Santa Claus’ Base in Lapland

Serving as Santa Claus’ home studio, Hostel Visatupa is located in Sodankylä, in the heart of Lapland’s tranquility. This cozy hostel is part of the Finnish Hostel Association’s network and offers warm and welcoming accommodation to both domestic and international guests. Through this initiative, Hostel Visatupa brought a touch of Lapland’s magic directly to Japan, showcasing how Finnish hostels can create unforgettable experiences.

Unique, Social, and Responsible Accommodation

The mission of the Finnish Hostel Association is to make travel possible for everyone. This event was a concrete example of how community and responsibility can come together to create unforgettable experiences. Hostels are not just places to stay – they are spaces where stories, people, and cultures connect.

Whether staying in Japan or Finland, by choosing a hostel, you support sustainable tourism and local communities.

Published on December 16, 2024.