Perhaps it is somewhat ironic that in a city where you can buy and drink a beer from a vending machine at 3 a.m., the one night you cannot drink in public is Halloween. Unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening in Shibuya again this year — Tokyo’s busiest nightlife district is basically saying, “Have fun, but don’t have too much fun.”
Before we get into why Tokyo turned into a Halloween police this year, here is the bottom line — on October 31 of this year, there will be about 125 security guards patrolling Shibuya, they will block off traffic for the duration of the night and morning until November 1, and they will put Hachiko (the famous dog statue at Shibuya Station) behind fences, as you would a museum exhibit. The objective? To stop another chaotic Halloween where costume-clad tourists turn Shibuya’s streets into a neon battlefield of booze, selfies, and street chaos.
Now, let’s rewind. For years, and for many significant moments, Tokyo has felt like the place to celebrate — New Years’ countdowns, concerts that seem to pop up out of nowhere, and yes, the crazy colorful Halloween street party. But what was once a photogenic cultural mashup has slowly turned into an annual headache for those in charge — too many tourists and too much booze and too little control — that’s a dangerous mix.
The Shibuya Ward office has officially requested every one – especially overseas visitors – not to throw street parties this Halloween according to Japan Times. Mayor Ken Hasebe specified that Shibuya welcomes visitors at any other time, but not on occasions such as Halloween or New Year’s countdowns where crowds converge in one location. Translation? If you plan to dress up like a zombie this Halloween, then go somewhere else.
Interestingly, compared to last year’s full ban, this year’s restriction sounds softer. The city now gives the green light for you to have a good Halloween-meaning community based or private events such as Halloween trick-or-treats for kids, store-sponsored costume parties or simply dress-up bar events are all good to go. Just no street parties at Shibuya’s crosswalk.
And costumes themselves are not onto the books at all. You are allowed to wear them – as long as you are going somewhere that is. But simply loitering, drinking, and smoking, or parading around to show off your outfit, is a non-starter. Think of it more as a silent arrangement: Tokyo lets you be a vampire but only if you are a vampire that is fundamentally going somewhere.
The limitations don’t stop at Shibuya. Shinjuku District has gotten in on the action too, asking nearby businesses to voluntarily suspend alcohol sales, and increasing patrols for public saftey. Local officials have said it’s about ensuring safety and comfort — both for residents and visitors.
Interestingly, there remain measures in place from previous years. The crackdown on chaos, for example, didn’t just start last year. The crackdown started in 2019 after Shibuya’s celebration got out of hand. Last year other measures, like asking local shops to suspend alcohol sales on the weekend of Halloween, apparently kept some of the foolish activities and litter public in check. This year, Tokyo is just doubling down on what worked.
Also, don’t even think of getting a shared scooter to swerve through the madness. Even Luup will turn off select scooter locations from October 30 to November 1 to help pedestrian traffic stay orderly.
Moral of the story? Tokyo loves Halloween — just not as messy. You can still enjoy your pumpkin latte, wear cat ears and take photos, just do not turn Shibuya into a haunted frat party.
So yes, celebrate Halloween in Tokyo; just do it smartly, classily, and indoors. Remember, ghosts have rules too.
