Shibuya is once again asking people to stay away on Halloween — and now, neighboring Shinjuku has expressed concerns of its own. Both wards of Tokyo have experienced issues with crowds of rowdy revelers and resultant trash, and they have clamped down.
Shibuya, long one of the most popular places to party on Halloween in Tokyo, essentially “banned” celebrations in 2023, with an ordinance against drinking in the street. Officials disseminated the unambiguous message: “Do not come to Shibuya for Halloween.” The measures were effective, with a sharp decrease in visitors.
Shinjuku Halloween rules
While things improved in Shibuya, Shinjuku’s Kabukicho area reportedly saw a “sizeable increase” in partiers — and the same issues — over the 2023 Halloween period. Partygoers comprised both local residents and international visitors. As a result, this year Shinjuku is introducing measures of its own, establishing an ordinance to prevent street drinking over Halloween 2024.
The ordinance will apply to parts of Kabukicho 1-chome, as well as Shinjuku 3-chome, from 5 p.m. on October 31 to 5 a.m. on November 1. Approximately 100 guards will be patrolling, to enforce the rules.
Shibuya Halloween rules
Shibuya, which implemented a ban on public drinking over the New Year period, too, on October 1 passed an ordinance that will effectively result in a year-round ban on public drinking at night.
In addition to the ban, over Halloween this year special safety measures will be taken, with around 185 guards patrolling the station area between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. on October 30-31.
You can also expect:
- General safety patrols from October 25-26 and October 30-31
- Anti-littering measures
- Closure of the Shibuya Station Scramble Crossing and Miyamasuzakashita public smoking areas
- Officials asking liquor stores to stop selling alcohol from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. from October 26-31 in the areas where street drinking is prohibited.
Shibuya will also be blocking off the Hachiko statue outside the station from October 30-31.
In both Shibuya and Shinjuku, there are no legal penalties for violating the ordinances; however, alcohol may be confiscated. Crowds gathering for events may, it seems, be dispersed. What to do if you want to enjoy a tipple? Simply have drinks indoors, at a bar or restaurant.
Longer-term countermeasures: Tackling “overtourism”
At a press briefing to explain the Tokyo Halloween rules, the mayor of Shibuya, Ken Hasebe, and mayor of Shinjuku, Kenichi Yoshizumi, cited concerns over increasing “overtourism” as a major factor in the establishment of the new Halloween rules.
With this in mind, additional measures that will be taken by Shibuya, year round, include:
- Public service messages at Scramble Crossing, reminding people to refrain from drinking and smoking on the street
- Disseminating posters and videos
- Installing security cameras in the shopping streets
Mayor Hasebe said that without further countermeasures for the mid- to long term, the issues of year-round “overtourism” and festive overcrowding will not be easilly resolved. He said that Shibuya is looking at ways to ease crowding in popular tourist spots, encouraging people to visit other, lesser-known parts of the city, rather than concentrating on Scramble Crossing and the like.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change.
