You’ve heard of it. We’ve heard of it. Everyone has heard of it. Tokyo’s bright lights, youth culture, and nightlife collide in, when vampires, nurses, and anime characters pack the streets. At least, they used to.

Since 2018, the ward has passed ordinance after ordinance to discourage public drinking and disorder. As of 2023, street drinking in Shibuya is banned year-round. The Itaewon Halloween tragedy also cast a long shadow, making safety the clear priority.

Is Halloween in Shibuya banned? Not exactly.

While 2024 came with an official “Don’t Come” message, this year is framed as “Stopping Troublesome Halloweens.” Dressing up, trick-or-treating, enjoying yourself – all perfectly fine. Being drunk, loud, or careless on the streets – that’s what authorities are targeting.

Even so, thousands are expected. Shibuya Halloween still draws tourists, students, and cosplayers to bars and clubs. To keep order, 125 security guards will patrol the district, and the Hachikō statue will be cordoned off to prevent damage. With these measures, things will hopefully be calm this year.

Should you still go? Probably not.

Let’s be honest: Everyone and their grandmother is visiting Japan these days. If you’ve heard of Shibuya Halloween, everyone else has too. At peak, the foreign crowd might even outnumber locals. Does being shoulder-to-shoulder with sweaty strangers sound fun? Not really. On top of that, every convenience store in the area suspends alcohol sales during Halloween. Ignoring that to find a bar isn’t great either. Everything is packed. You’ll be jammed in.

You can still go if you want. But why not something else? Tokyo Disneyland has an entire Halloween event. Sanrio Puroland offers costumed cuteness. Tokyo Joypolis is also a blast. None of these involve getting crushed by crowds. Still want a night out in costume? Skip Shinjuku. That’s everyone’s fallback, and it’s facing crackdowns too. Roppongi is much better. It’s equally wild, more spread out, and easier to navigate.

What should I wear? What’s popular right now?

This is Japan. The answer was always going to be anime. The Kimetsu no Yaiba is still popular because of the movie. Jujutsu Kaisen just wrapped up. Chainsaw Man and Dandadan are trending right now too. Old favorites like Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, and Evangelion also never die.

Need other ideas? Don Quixote has kigurumi. Zentai are also an easy choice. Masks, wigs, dresses, cosplay – they’re honestly all easy to find. You’re in Tokyo. You’re going to find something, somewhere, no matter what.

What else should you know? What else can you do?

Respect the rules. Respect others. Ask before taking photos. Stay aware of your surroundings. The reason Shibuya Halloween has become restricted is that people ignored these basic rules.

Also, remember: it’s cold, it’s crowded, and pickpocketing can happen. Dress warmly, know where your wallet is, and avoid overindulgence. Your future self will thank you.

If you’d rather enjoy Halloween in Tokyo without the chaos, TABIBIYORI TOUR can guide you to hidden bars, local events, and seasonal spots where the holiday feels exciting instead of overwhelming.