Osaka at $863 RT

We're officially adding Christmas lights to the list of things Osaka does right.

Every year, the whole city gets lit up with holiday illumination. The most famous decorations are the ones covering the trees along Midosuji Boulevard, but our favorite light show is at Osaka Castle. You really can't go wrong with a stop at the ultra-sparkly Christmas market next to City Hall, either.

What, you thought Europe had a monopoly on Christmas markets? Osaka has a handful of them running through the holiday season, and they stand up to anything you'll find on the other side of the globe. Watch your back, Vienna!

Of course, you don't have to make your whole trip Christmas-themed. Here's another nice thing about Osaka in December: chillier weather means smaller crowds at hotspots like Minoh Falls and Katsuoji Temple.