Halloween in Japan: Events & Parties 2024

The Japanese love to dress up and adore spooky mystic stories. No wonder Halloween has become quite successful in Japan after appearing in the early 2000s. Tokyo, Osaka, and Kanagawa prefectures now host Halloween-themed activities: street parties, parades, bar crawls, flash mobs, and zombie runs. Cosplay remains the main focus of the holiday in Japan. Meanwhile, trick-or-treating and haunted houses are uncommon. In Japan, Halloween is also more of an adult holiday than children's.

Halloween Trains

Halloween Trains is one exclusively Japanese phenomenon. If you happen to ride a train in Japan in late October, you'll be amazed how usually quiet and clean space transforms into a giant party wagon. The tradition was started in the 1990s by a group of American ex-pats, who were frequently throwing Halloween parties on the trains. Today, trains remain one of the trendiest places to celebrate, however, the tradition has died down due to a tragic incident that took place at one of the Halloween trains in 2021. There are websites where you can sign up for this exciting ride.

Halloween Train at Yuri Kogen Railway (October 19–21, 2024)

If you find yourself in the Akita prefecture, swing by the Yuri Kogen Railway near the city of Yurihonjo. The railway hosts numerous festive events throughout the year, including the famous Halloween train. Spookily decorated train welcomes visitors to wear costumes and enjoy the sights of Japanese countryside in the fall. The train leaves from Yashima at 9:50 am and arrives at 10:31 am at Ugo-Honjo Station. The train then departs from Ugo-Honjo at 10:55 am and arrives at Yashima at 11:34 am.

Halloween Street Parties

The most popular way to celebrate Halloween in Japan is by grabbing your costume and heading to one of the bustling block parties in the area. One of the largest Halloween parties in Japan takes place at Triangle Park (or Sankaku Koen) in Shinsaibashi, Osaka, on the last Saturday of October. Thousands of people show up in the most amazing costumes. This event is entirely spontaneous and doesn't require any organization. Another famous street party takes place at Roppongi Hills. This party goes on until morning. You can read more about Tokyo's Halloween celebrations here.

Halloween Party in Triangle Park, Osaka (late October)

Triangle Park, known locally as Sankaku Koen, is located in the heart of the Shinsaibashi district, the go-to area for shopping and nightlife. Surrounded by dozens of nightclubs and restaurants, the park offers a plethora of opportunities beyond its grounds. Thousands of people come to Triangle Park to show off their costumes, dance, meet new people, and go bar-hopping. The party normally takes place on the last Saturday of October and begins in the evening, once the dark starts setting in.

Halloween Parties at Roppongi Hills, Tokyo (late October)

Another famous venue for the Halloween party is the Roppongi Hills district, one of the most luxurious neighborhoods of Tokyo. Hundreds of people dressed in spooky costumes flock to the streets of Roppongi to experience the peak of nightlife. Besides the street party, there is also an annual children's parade and music performances.

Halloween Costumes

The Japanese fully embrace the idea of dressing up in crazy Halloween outfits. Some costumes are super cute, and others are very creative or terrifying. Japanese anime and manga characters are the most popular themes for costumes. But traditional monsters, vampires, and ghouls would also work for a Japanese Halloween. People also dress up as their favorite characters from computer games, TV shows, and films, such as Pikachu and Mario. Many people make their costumes themselves; others buy them at Don Quijote, Daiso, and other specialty stores.

Halloween Events at Theme Parks

Japanese theme parks were pioneers in Halloween celebrations in Japan, and they are still among the top places to visit during Halloween. Tokyo Disneyland ran the first official Halloween festival in Japan and still enjoys huge popularity. The park’s main characters are ghosts and goblins haunting the park after dark. In early September and early November, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka hosts famous Halloween events, such as ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ with haunted houses and unique Halloween-themed movie rides. Sanrio Puroland also has a ghoul hunt at night and themed parties during October.

Halloween Horror Nights in Universal Studios Japan (September 6-November 4, 2024)

Universal Studios Japan boasts one of the most jam-packed Halloween programs, offering dozens of eerie rides, parades, and themed events. Usually, there is a child-friendly program during the day and an adult-oriented one in the evening. Hundreds of zombies chase after visitors in a scary Zombie Horror spectacle, while Chucky's Carnival of Chaos will send chills down everyone's spine. Horror mazes, zombie dances, and spooky rides will entertain you during the whole Halloween weekend. Tickets start from 9,400 Japanese yen, with the park generally open from 8-8:30 am until 9:30-10 pm. The hours differ depending on the day and month.

Halloween in Tokyo Disneyland (October 1-November 7, 2024)

To celebrate the spooky season, come to Tokyo Disneyland, which provides the perfect setting for this fall holiday. The massive grounds of the amusement park are decorated with pumpkins in the shapes of your favorite characters and garlands. The highlight is the annual "Spooky Boo!" parade, which unfolds several times a day and features several themed floats. The Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare invites you to experience several spooky rides inspired by "The Night Before Christmas." Numerous Halloween specialty drinks and merchandise will be available for purchase. Tickets range from 9,400 Japanese yen to 10,900 Japanese yen per day. The park is open from 9 am until 9 pm.