Halloween in Japan

It’s that spooky time of year again, when we suddenly start to decorate with cobwebs, rather than clean them up. And while we’re all familiar with how we celebrate Halloween in North America, did you know that this classic holiday is now being adopted and adapted by other cultures around the world? Joining us today to share what Halloween looks like in Japan is local tour guide Gulay.

What Halloween Looks Like in Japan

Just imagine a Halloween without “trick or treat!” Is such a thing really possible? Increasingly, this holiday is being celebrated outside of North America, but with a unique spin. The Japanese are slowly making it their own, so if you are in Japan on this date, get ready to celebrate Halloween differently from how you might do it at home. Halloween in Japan is not only spooky or creepy; you are likely to see a hefty dose of cute.

How did Halloween Start in Japan?

Halloween in Japan started in 2000. Tokyo Disneyland held its first Halloween event in 1997 and called it “Disney Happy Halloween” The event was a big hit, then Universal Studios Japan in Osaka opened its doors in 2001. They have their own special Halloween events, decorations, and souvenirs to offer their visitors. It was well attended and thanks to these Halloween-themed events, they attracted more visitors. Over the years, Halloween has been growing throughout the country. This goes to show us the power that Disney has in Japan. Unlike in North America, where the greater focus is on children, Halloween is largely celebrated in Japan among teens and adults. This is just one of the differences from how the event is celebrated in the west.

Get in the Spirit: People-watch at Tokyo’s famous Shibuya Crossing

Halloween seemed like it would be a great fit for Japan, because the country gave the world cosplay. (Cosplay is the act of dressing up as a character or concept, and going so far as to copy their mannerisms and gestures) Of course Japanese people took this a step further; you will see the craziest costumes here that will never see anywhere else in the world, leading to some fun nightlife. There are Halloween street parties and costume parades in different locations around Japan. These big open air parties are designed for adults who want to have a good time wearing costumes, partying with friends and strangers, and sharing a drink. In Tokyo, Ikebukuro, Roppongi Hills and Shibuya hosts the most popular and unforgettable street parties of the city. Thousands of people attend these events to go a little weird, and look a little unreal in public! For everyone, it is the best time to show off their costumes and creativity. “Don Quijote” and “Daiso” are some of the most popular shops to buy Halloween costumes, make-up and decorations. But Halloween-related products can be found at many stores all over Japan.

Try Crazy, Only in Japan, Halloween Flavours

When big companies realized that Halloween was rising in popularity, without question, this would be the key for anyone interested in discovering new opportunities in Halloween-themed business in the Japanese food market. Japan loves novelty, so these limited-time foods are a hit each October. Here are a couple of the sweeter examples: Starbucks serves costumed “Treat with Trick Frappuccino” in Japan for the Halloween season only. One side is sweet and pretty, whereas the other side has delicious flavors and dark trickery colors. A bit more exciting than the typical fall Pumpkin Spice latte! This year KitKat started selling purple-coloured, apple cinnamon-flavoured chocolate bars, and Krispy Kreme came out with time-limited Halloween flavours and fillings and spooky character donuts.

Halloween Tips for Japan

“Trick or Treat” is not in the mainstream Japanese Halloween culture (because in Japan, there is a strong desire to avoid even the possibility of bothering someone else), but it is still possible. When people go for trick or treat, it is very organized. You sign up for a group, and you get a map showing which exactly houses are participating. So that you always know you are in the right place, the participating houses put up Halloween decorations outside. Halloween has been becoming more and more popular in Japan in the past 20 years. Hope to see you here for the next Halloween, wear our cosplay costumes and enjoy “the much more cute than scary” party! Happy Halloween! Want to visit Japan this October? Travel restrictions make it impossible to be there in person, but in the meantime, Gulay offers fun, virtual tours for you to experience a bit of Tokyo and Kyoto from home. There's even one with a ghostly theme, if the spirit moves you...