Think you know Halloween? Think again! Halloween in Japan is on a whole other level! While Japan may not be the first place that comes to mind for Halloween, the country has taken the best parts of the holiday and added a uniquely Japanese twist.
From epic street parties and spooky and kawaii costumes to ghost hunting and even haunted theme parks, it’s the kind of celebration you’ll want to see for yourself. But what really makes Halloween in Japan different from the rest? Stick around and we’ll find out!
Let's Jump Right In!
- Is There Halloween in Japan?
- When Is Halloween in Japan?
- What Is Halloween Like in Japan?
- How Is Halloween Celebrated in Japan?
- Spooky and Kawaii Halloween Costumes
- Where to Go for Halloween in Japan?
- What Happened in Shibuya on Halloween?
- Halloween Parades & Festivals in Japan
- Join the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival!
- Have a Happy Halloween at Japanese Theme Parks
- Dare to Join the Kyoto Ghost Tour
- Ride the Halloween Trains!
- Enjoy Halloween Treats
Is There Halloween in Japan?
Yes, there is! Japan doesn’t have its own traditional version of Halloween, but it borrowed the idea from Western countries and turned it into something uniquely Japanese. Instead of renaming it, people simply call it “Harowin” (ハロウィン), which is the Japanese way of saying the English word.
The holiday really started to gain popularity in the early 2000s when Tokyo Disneyland hosted its first Halloween event. From there, the excitement spread across Japan, and every year the celebrations just keep getting bigger!
When Is Halloween in Japan?
The main date for all the spooky fun is, of course, October 31st. But the celebration isn't just on one day! You'll start to see Halloween decorations, Halloween-themed snacks, and fun Halloween events as early as September. The biggest events happen on the weekends leading up to Halloween, so you have plenty of time to join in the fun.
What Is Halloween Like in Japan?
What makes Halloween in Japan so different? Unlike in many countries where kids go trick-or-treating, Japan’s version is much more adult-focused. Halloween here is all about street festivals, themed events, and big gatherings where people show off their creative costumes. Major cities like Tokyo and Osaka turn into giant party spots, and you’ll see everything from spooky monsters to cute anime characters.
How Is Halloween Celebrated in Japan?
Okay, so we mentioned that Halloween in Japan is more for adults, but that doesn’t mean kids don’t get to enjoy it too! Halloween is celebrated in many different ways for both children and adults. At school, kids often wear costumes, join class parties, and play games. Some shopping malls even hold trick-or-treat events just for them (because going door-to-door is not common and even considered a nuisance).
For adults, Halloween is mainly about costumes and parties. People gather in areas like Shibuya or Ikebukuro to drink, dance, and have fun with friends. Theme parks like Tokyo Disneyland, Sanrio Puroland, and Universal Studios Japan also join the fun with spooky decorations, parades, and even haunted attractions. All in all, Halloween in Japan is both a family-friendly celebration and a major event for adults.
Spooky and Kawaii Halloween Costumes
When it comes to Japanese Halloween costumes, people get super creative! You'll see all kinds of outfits, like classic witches and yokai, but also lots of fun characters from popular anime like Attack on Titan, video games like Pokemon, and kawaii characters like Kuromi and Hello Kitty. There’s even a fun trend where friends wear matching group costumes. You and your friends can dress up like Sailor Moon and her Sailor Senshi!
If you want to buy your own costume, you can find them in stores like Daiso and Donki (Don Quijote). They have all kinds of Halloween merch and cute accessories. Tokyu Hands or Loft also have unique Halloween costumes and makeup items to complete your horror looks.
Want to add a kawaii touch to your Halloween decor? Get super cute Halloween plushies and spooky but kawaii accessories straight from Japan!
Where to Go for Halloween in Japan?
If you’re in Japan during Halloween, the best places to go are the big cities—Tokyo, Osaka, and Kanagawa—where the parties, parades, and street festivals are. The number one spot is Shibuya in Tokyo. Every October, the famous Scramble Crossing turns into a massive street party! The crowds are huge, with an atmosphere that’s buzzing with energy and excitement.
Another fun spot is Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City, where shops and entertainment centers go all out with Halloween decorations, themed goods, and live performances. In Osaka, the action gathers around Amerikamura, or “Amemura” for short. This neighborhood is already famous for its youthful, trendy vibe, but on Halloween, it transforms into a lively street party.
You’ll also find Halloween popping up in big shopping districts like Harajuku and Shinjuku, where stores sell limited-edition Japanese merch and Halloween-themed treats. Just exploring these areas becomes part of the Halloween fun!
What Happened in Shibuya on Halloween?
For many years, the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo was the biggest unofficial Halloween party in the world. The crowded scene is exciting, but also super chaotic that in 2018, a truck was overturned during the celebrations! Due to safety concerns, Shibuya City has since banned public drinking on Halloween and discourages people from gathering there. Even so, the image of Shibuya packed with costumed partygoers is still what many people think of first when they imagine Halloween in Japan.
Halloween Parades & Festivals in Japan
If you’re looking for something a little more organized (and family-friendly) than Shibuya’s wild crowds, Japan has plenty of official Halloween parades and festivals! One of the biggest is the Kawasaki Halloween Parade, where thousands of people show off their costumes during the day, followed by live shows and themed food from nearby shops.
For something with a traditional Japanese twist, check out events like the Kagurazaka Bake Neko Festival, where everyone transforms into ghostly cats, or the Tachikawa Yōkai Bon Odori, which mixes spooky folklore with dance and parades. And if you’re in Tokyo, Roppongi Hills and Omotesando both host fun parades where families and kids can join in!
Join the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival!
If you love anime, manga, or gaming, Ikebukuro is the place to be on Halloween! The Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival (IKEHALO for short) transforms the street into a giant cosplay runway with over 20,000 cosplayers! You’ll spot everything from cute magical girls to fierce game characters, and of course, lots of photo spots. The festival has stage shows, cosplay parades, and fun competitions, so it feels like a mix between a Halloween party and an anime convention.
Have a Happy Halloween at Japanese Theme Parks
Japan’s theme parks also join the Halloween fun! From September to Halloween, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea transform into a pumpkin-filled wonderland. You can expect parades, shows, limited-edition treats, and characters dressed in their (not-so-scary) costumes.
Down in Osaka, Universal Studios Japan brings a scarier twist with Halloween Horror Nights, featuring zombie street takeovers, horror mazes like Chucky’s Carnival of Chaos, and even anime collabs such as Chainsaw Man in 4D. It’s perfect if you’re craving thrills rather than cuteness.
But if you’re a full-fledged kawaii lover, you definitely need to go to Sanrio Puroland in Tama. This indoor park delivers special Halloween events year after year with live shows, meet-and-greets, and limited-edition Halloween plushies. No matter your vibe, Japan has a Halloween theme park for you!
Dare to Join the Kyoto Ghost Tour
Want to get truly spooked? You can go on a ghost tour in Kyoto! This tour starts at Arashiyama Station and takes you to some of the scariest places in the city, like the Kiyotaki Tunnel. You’ll also visit creepy spots like a pond with a bloody past and a quiet temple with over 8,000 stone statues of the dead. It’s a fun and scary way to learn about the history of Kyoto during Halloween!
Ride the Halloween Trains!
Did you know that Japanese trains transform into a party place at Halloween? This tradition started back in the 1990s when some foreigners decided to throw Halloween parties right on the trains. Since then, it's become an exciting, planned event.
One example is the Yuri Kogen Railway in Akita Prefecture, where a special train is decorated for Halloween. Imagine stepping onto a train and seeing it filled with people dressed as ghosts, vampires, and popular characters! It's an unforgettable sight, especially when you see regular commuters standing between them!
Enjoy Halloween Treats
During the Halloween season, Japan’s market is packed with products especially made for the occasion! Japanese restaurants and bakeries create a huge variety of desserts in orange, black, green, and purple. You’ll also find limited-edition Halloween flavors from famous Japanese snack brands like Kit Kat and Milky, which often come in Halloween-themed packaging. Of course, you can find Halloween treats at popular places like Starbucks Japan and Mister Donut!
So there you have it! Japan was really able to add its own unique twist to this popular Western tradition. From the wild street parties to the spooky ghost tours, there's a little something for everyone to enjoy.
What are you most excited to try? Would you dress up in a super creative costume or taste all the spooky snacks? Let us know what you're curious about in the comments!
