For the first ever Christmas at Omiya Kadomachi they are having a Tonttu Christmas from Finland. The period of the Tonttu Christmas actually started on November 25th, but the main events are coming up in mid December.
Tonttu Christmas
Tonttu are what I grew up calling “Santa’s little helpers”. Maybe you know them Santa Elves. But in Finland they call them Tonttu. I personally only became familiar with the term “Tonttu” after our very first visit to Finland No Mori to meet the real Santa in 2015. Since then, I occasionally see it used in places that have a Lapland (ie Finland) Santa visit or Christmas Market. Metsa Village, for example, have Tonttu at their Christmas events. At the Omiya Tonttu Christmas, you can make your own Tonttu!…
Workshops
Omiya Kadomachi are invite you to become a “Tonttu” Santa’s Little Helper for a few hours with their select workshops! Incredibly, these events are free. But they are limited in numbers. As of 2 pm on December 9th there are still places left for these excellent workshops.
The easier of the two workshops is a Hyacinth flower arrangement. Hyacinth is supposedly the Christmas flower in Finland. The other workshop is more of a challenge – make your own Tonttu, like the ones pictured above. (These tonttu are not from this event, they are from Finland no Mori). Participants of the workshop receive a Santa badge and a certificate signed by Santa Claus.
You can make a Tonttu on December 17th at 1 pm or December 18th at 10 am. Advance registration essential as it is limited to 24 people each time. The workspace is at Bloomy’s X Flory. The hyacinth arrangement class is on December 24th from 2 pm. It is limited to 30 people, so you also need to apply in advance for this workshop. You can book through the official event web page.
Christmas Market
The Christmas Market will be on at Kadomachi Square for 6 days only:
- Friday December 16th
- Saturday December 17th
- Sunday December 18th
- Friday December 23rd
- Saturday December 24th
- Sunday December 25th
On each of those days they will also draw the lottery results for people who have completed a Tonttu quiz rally that is ongoing at Omiya Kadokawa.
Other events
- As per above, Tonttu Quiz rally
- Name that Tonttu! Online
- Christmas Card gallery on the 1st and 2nd floors. Plus, during the Tonttu Christmas period (November 25th to December 25th), the first 50,000 people to show receipts for more than 1000 yen of purchases at Omiya Kadomachi EAST / WEST, will receive an original Christmas Card!
Omiya Kadomachi
Omiya Kadomachi opened in June 2022, a couple of months behind schedule, at the site of the old Chuo Department Store. It is a type of civic facility with a concert hall and some shops.
Information
Event: Tonttu Christmas from Finland 2022 トントゥたちのクリスマス from フィンランド 2022
Date: November 25th to December 25th. Workshops – 17th, 18th and 24th. Christmas Market – December 16th to 18th and 23rd to 25th.
Time: Market – 11 am to 7 pm
Cost: free
Venue: Omiya Kadomachi, 2 Chome-118 Daimoncho, Omiya Ward, Saitama, 330-0846. View on Google Maps.
Event information in Japanese: