While it can be relatively easy to celebrate Christmas in Japan with all the seasonal illumination, food options and perhaps a visit from Santa Claus, finding a spiritual option is not always obvious.

However, during the holiday season many churches across the country offer worship services and other kinds of events on and in the run up to Dec. 24 and 25. It's always a good idea to connect with the churches in advance to see if they have room for drop-ins, but here are some good places to start.

Tokyoites are lucky to have access to a considerably large Christian community in the capital that is used to welcoming newcomers. Tokyo Union Church in the Omotesando area (www.tokyounion.org) will host an open house from 2-4 p.m. on Dec. 25 in addition to Christmas Eve and Day services. Other churches holding services on the weekend include Franciscan Chapel Center in Roppongi (www.franciscanchapelcentertokyo.org), which offers mass in both English and Japanese several times on both days; St. Alban's Anglican Episcopal Church in Minato Ward (www.saintalbans.jp); St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Chiyoda Ward (www.ignatius.gr.jp/eng), which normally offers services in several languages; St. Paul International Lutheran Church in Chiyoda Ward (www.spilchurchtokyo.org), which will hold a joint Japanese and English candlelight service on Christmas Eve from 7 p.m. and a morning communion service from 9:30 a.m. the following day; Tokyo Baptist Church in the Daikanyama area (www.tokyobaptist.org), which will hold candlelight services on Christmas Eve and Day; and Tokyo Lutheran Church (www.jelctokyo.org/english) in Shinjuku Ward will hold a candlelight service at 8:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve with a Japanese and English service on Christmas Day starting at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Christmas party.