There are many countries where the spirit of Halloween is nowhere to be seen, heard, or felt, but Japan is certainly not one of them!
Shibuya crossing as never seen before!
If you thought you had seen the infamous Shibuya crossing at its glorious worst, then think again! In what could only be described as a borderline stampede, the streets of Tokyo’s major shopping district flood to new heights on the night of Halloween.
When the entire city is packed with police officers patrolling the area and issuing safety instructions, you know you’re in for a wild night. Don’t be intimidated though, because you’ll find everybody to be in good spirits as they laugh, pose, and take photos on this special night!
A cosplayer’s paradise
What makes Halloween in Japan truly special is the insertion of Japanese pop culture into costume ideas. As you walk through the streets of Shibuya, you will see thousands of cosplayers dressed as your favorite anime and manga characters!
Whether it’s Goku and Bulma from Dragon Ball or Tanjiro and Nezuko from Demon Slayer, you’ll find at least one cosplayer dressing the part. The simple act of admiring the plethora of costumes is reason enough to spend the night of October 31st in Shibuya!
Don’t be shy to ask a cosplayer you like for a photo, as many of them are happy and willing to do so! I was fortunate enough to come across a couple dressed as my favorite Dragon Ball characters who were more than excited to do a pose with me!
The horror component hasn’t gone anywhere
If you’re more into the traditional “spooky” aspect of Halloween then you need not steer away because there’s plenty of that too! Amidst the many pop culture cosplays are an equal amount of horrifyingly awesome costumes that really capture the Halloween spirit.
The photo here shows a horrific but genius costume featuring a plate of amputated hands, one of which is the cosplayer’s actual hand. Among other scary outfits was a gang of Jokers from the Batman series as well as skeletons, ghosts, and zombies!
Everybody gets into the Halloween spirit!
The Halloween spirit in Japan goes beyond the civilians as even the local council cleaners get in on the action. Here, we can see a T-rex dinosaur enthusiastically collecting rubbish off the streets in Shibuya, Tokyo.
The autumn season has always been one of the best times to visit Japan, and celebrating Halloween is just one more reason to come down in October! If you’re planning to visit or happen to be in Japan during this time, make your way down to Tokyo’s central shopping district for an unforgettable night!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!
