Halloween has become a massive hit for Japan in the last decade. This includes a lot of imported Western traditions like trick-or-treating, parades, and spooky costumes. But there are also some events that have a distinctive Tokyo twist. Tokyo Halloween festivities can happen way before October 31 — there is something almost every weekend throughout the month of October.
And there’s something for everyone, from the family-friendly to the I-probably-shouldn’t-show-my-child-this. For more things to do this month, besides just Halloween stuff, check out our article on October’s top events or see our full event listings.
Adult Halloween events
Shibuya Halloween (Oct. 29–30)
Watched by millions, Halloween in Shibuya has become famous (or we could say, infamous) around the world. There is no organizer for the event; it is an unregulated meet-up of Halloween lovers across Tokyo (and Japan), so feast your eyes on an array of costumes from the disturbing to the hilarious.
Authorities have tried to cut down on the debauchery in recent years by banning street drinking, not allowing convenience stores in the area to sell alcohol, and keeping the roads closed to pedestrians — but this still didn’t stop the hordes from parading across Shibuya Crossing last year.
Shibuya Halloween 2023
Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival (Oct. 29–30)
It’s a good time to be dressed up in Ikebukuro during Halloween. However, you won’t find many monsters here — this event is more otaku– (geek) oriented than others. The heart of this Halloween festival is Sunshine City’s open-air space (as well as the nearby park); however, over the weekend, you’ll see cosplayers all over East Ikebukuro’s main shopping area. There will also be plenty of other activities and attractions: a cosplay runway, stage events, gatherings for characters of similar series/themes, a parade, parties, and much more.
Regular cosplay entry starts at ¥2,500 per day and gets you changing room access. See the event listing for more details.
Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival
Club Halloween parties
All the street festivities may get you in the mood for singing and dancing. Head to karaoke or do the monster mash in these clubs.
- Back From The Grave: Halloween Ball at Shinjuku LOFT
- Tokyo Decadance Halloween at DecaBarS
- Womb Halloween Party at Womb
- Halloween Special at Club Asia
Theme park Halloween events
Tokyo Disney Resort Halloween (Sep. 15–Oct. 31)
The happiest place on earth has turned spooky. Expect parades, themed food and merchandise, as well as special decorations at both parks. What makes this seasonal event different from other times of the year is that you can finally dress up as your favorite Disney character. Usually a privilege reserved for those under 12, Tokyo Disney Resort allows all ages to don a princess dress and enjoy the thrills.
There are some rules and regulations (it is Disney after all), so make sure to check our event listing below for details. Also, read our article on how to save money at Disney.
Tokyo Disney Resort Halloween 2023
Sanrio Puroland Halloween (Sep. 9–Nov. 1)
You’ll find an explosion of sweet Halloween events at Sanrio Puroland this autumn. This theme park is dedicated to Hello Kitty and her friends (such as Gudetama, My Melody, and Pompompurin). For Halloween, these characters will be divided into “Trick” or “Treat:” The latter will go around the park giving sweets, while the former may give you an unexpected surprise. There will also be illuminations, a new park show, limited food menus, and a vampire butler cafe — we’re not kidding.
For the adults, there is also a horror immersive experience called Obaken Zombieland that takes place on October 15 and October 23 for an extra price.
Sanrio Puroland
Small Worlds Halloween Candy Hunt (Oct. 1–31)
Small Worlds — a theme park dedicated to miniatures — has plenty of events that discount admission prices, and for Halloween, they have created an easter-egg hunt but with Halloween treats. Kids up to elementary-school age will get in for free and adults who are dressed in a costume can enter for only ¥1,000. See the miniature life of Tokyo with a sugary twist.
Small Worlds Tokyo
Other theme park Halloween events
- Happy Halloween Joypolis (Sep. 23–Oct. 31): This theme-park event has thrilling rides and Sonic with a cape. Get your tickets here.
- Namja Ghost Festival (Oct. 14–Nov. 27): Five terrifying attractions will take over Namjatown in Ikebukuro.
- Hanayashiki Halloween (Oct. 1–Nov. 6): Tokyo’s oldest theme park will hold plenty of Halloween shows throughout the season in addition to their year-round haunted house.
Family-fun Halloween events
Halloween Night in the Forest (Oct. 21–30)
Halloween illuminations aren’t really a thing in Tokyo — but this is Saitama. There will be plenty of spooky artworks and installations, including projection mapping, recycled art, lantern art, and more. “Halloween Night in the Forest” takes place over six days (Oct. 21–23 and 28–30) at Shinrin Park, which is about an hour north of Ikebukuro.
Halloween Night in the Forest
| At the door: ¥450 | ||
| At the door: ¥210 | ||
Futako-Tamagawa Halloween Party (Oct. 29–30)
Held as an in-person event for the first time in three years, this family-oriented Halloween party focuses on having fun with the kids. The theme this year will be “Welcome to the world of picture books.” There will be a photo booth, craft workshops, fair booths, and more. It will be held at various places around Futako Tamagawa Rise Shopping Center.
Omotesandō Halloween Pumpkin Parade (Oct. 27)
This Halloween celebration usually gets over a thousand participants each year and is mainly for the kiddies. Only children aged 12 and under, as well as their guardians, can participate in the parade. As trick-or-treating is one of the activities, kids can get some treats afterwards, and some shops and restaurants around the area are known to give special discounts and services to costumed participants.
Pre-registration is required and costs ¥1,000 per child (guardian included). Registration will start online from October 16.
Omotesando Halloween Pumpkin Parade
| Advance sales: ¥1,000 | ||
Yokohama Yamate Seiyōkan Halloween Walk (Oct. 30)
The Yamate area of Yokohama is known for its Western-style houses, remnants of the time when the area was an enclave for Westerners in the 19th and early 20th centuries. On the 30th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a stamp rally for costumed participants. Collect stamps from various locations in the Yamate area — including some houses and a park — and get prizes for being one of the fastest to complete the rally.
Where: Yamate Seiyōkan (Motomachi-Chukagai or Ishikawachō Station)
Kichijōji Halloween Festival (Oct. 29–30)
Another very kid-orientated event, this weekday parade is advertised as one that is “by moms, for moms” (but dads can still participate). There will also be trick-or-treat activities throughout the event period. The organizers are looking for parent-and-child participants to dance themselves around Kichijōji. Advanced registration starts at ¥1,500.
Kichijoji Halloween Festa 2023
Kagurazaka Bake Neko Festival (Oct. 16)
Bake neko literally translates to “changed cat” — a perfect description of this parade. You won’t find any normal kitties here; everyone is human (sorry to spoil the magic). By blending Japanese folklore with Halloween, the organizers have created a spectacular event filled with unnatural feline features and humans transformed into cat ghosts, cat demons, and cat monsters.
It costs ¥500 to join the parade, but children below junior-high-school age can enter for free. To join, all you need to do is to dress up as a cat or simply have a costume with cat motifs, even something as simple as cat ears will do.
Bake Neko (Supernatural Cat) Festival
Other Tokyo Halloween activities
There are many other creepy things to do in and around Tokyo to get you in the Halloween mood. There are escape rooms to solve, plenty of haunted houses to tour, and even some creepy robots to meet.
If your idea of Halloween involves a trip and scream-park attractions, you might want to head to Osaka for Universal Studios Japan (USG)’s Halloween Horror Nights. But you don’t have to go that far — Fuji-Q Highland also has a few mysteries still left unsolved.
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