Celebrating Halloween in Tokyo as an adult
- Published on : 30/10/2025
- by : Phoebe
- Youtube
Halloween (Shibuya)
@Big Ben in Japan on Flirck, CC BY-SA 2.0
What to do around October 31st in the Japanese capital
Halloween is a popular event in Japan, especially in the capital, which hosts numerous events throughout the month of October. It's a popular time of year for young and old alike, with everyone taking part in their own way. What can you do in Tokyo when you're too old to go trick-or-treating? Japan Experience gives you some tips on how to make the most of October 31 in Tokyo.
Parades
Contrary to popular belief, Halloween parades in the archipelago are not just for children. For students and young professionals, the holiday is above all an opportunity to dress up and have fun with friends - a breath of fresh air in a society where social codes remain strict. That's why numerous parades for adults are organized all over Tokyo at the end of October.
Where to go out?
Although the most important parades take place in the city's major districts on the evening of the 31st (or the weekend before if the latter falls on a weekday), several smaller districts also hold their own parades.
- Shibuya: Shibuya's Halloween parade is arguably Japan's most famous. Every year, it attracts over 100,000 participants who gather around the Shibuya Crossing. However, since the Covid-19 pandemic, local authorities have sought to limit large-scale gatherings. As a result, the event has declined in scale but remains a modern-day tradition emblematic of the Tokyo season.
- Roppongi: Roppongi is more modest than its predecessor; the Roppongi fashion show also attracts several thousand people every year. In a district renowned for its many bars and nightclubs, this is hardly a surprise.
- Kawasaki: the Kawasaki parade is a good option for those who hate crowds. Held every year from 2:20 to 4 p.m. around Kawasaki Station, the parade brings together many festival-goers in elaborate costumes.
- Kagurazaka: For cat lovers, Kagurazaka is the place to be. Every year around October 15, the Kagurazaka Bakeneko Festival takes place, a cat-themed parade that draws large numbers of people through the streets of the district from 2 to 5 pm. Unlike other free-participation parades, this one requires prior registration. Registration takes place on the day itself, between 10 a.m. and 1:50 p.m., and the only condition for participation is to be wearing at least one cat-themed accessory.
Bakeneko Festival
@HAMACHI! on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
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N700 Shinkansen high-speed train on the Tokaido line
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Haunted houses
Whether in 3D or virtual reality, haunted houses are a big hit in the capital. With ghosts to escape and riddles to solve, Japanese haunted houses are very different from their French counterparts, where visitors are content to sit in a ghost train. Here, the experience is lived at 200%, for better or for worse..
Where to go out?
- Daiba Mysterious School (Odaiba)
A school-themed haunted house that will traumatize you from the classroom.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
ADDRESS: 〒135-0091 Tokyo, Daiba, 1 Chome-6-1 Daiba, Minato City デックス東京ビーチ4階
DATE AND HOURS: permanent home, daily from 11am to 7:45pm
WEBSITE: obakeland.net
- Obake.red
Obake.red is a platform dedicated to horrific and immersive experiences in Tokyo. For Halloween, the franchise is offering a number of virtual attractions, including escape games and haunted houses, at several locations in the capital, including Tokyo Dome City and Immersive Fort Tokyo.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
ADDRESS AND TIMETABLE: varies according to experience. Please consult the official website for more information.
WEBSITE: obake.red
Horror in VR
@unsplash
Special Halloween menus
With its pumpkin-like cakes and bloody cocktails, Halloween is the perfect opportunity for restaurateurs to present dishes inspired by the horror festival. Numerous brands offer special menus just for the event, including several luxury hotels, which prepare afternoon teas with spooky themes.
Where to go out?
- The Strings by Intercontinental: this year's afternoon tea at The Strings by Intercontinental features several characters from horror films. Among them, the nun, whose representation in cake amused the editorial team.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
ADDRESS: 〒135-0091 Tokyo, Daiba, 1 Chome-6-1 Daiba, Minato City デックス東京ビーチ4階
DATE AND TIMETABLE: from September 24 to October 31, 2025, from 2 to 4:30 pm and from 6 to 9:30 pm
WEBSITE: intercontinental-strings.jp
- Shangri-La: For the pleasure of the taste buds and the eyes, the Shangri-La puts on a show. Let yourself be tempted by gourmet ghosts and chocolate cats. Chestnut Mont-Blanc, pumpkin-scented pastries and snow crab- this season, flavors are transformed into spooky creations!
Halloween Afternoon Tea
@The Strings by Intercontinental
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
ADDRESS: MARUNOUCHI TRUST TOWER MAIN, 1-chōme-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-8283
DATE AND HOURS: October 1 to 31, 12:00 to 5:30 pm weekdays, 1:00 to 5:30 pm weekends and holidays
WEBSITE: shangri-la.com
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Nightclubbing
Calendar events always make good themes when it comes to partying. In Tokyo, most clubs offer horror-themed parties around October 31. These events are usually costumed, and discounts are even available for those dressed up for the occasion.
Halloween in Japan
@Big Ben in Japan on Flick, CC BY-SA 2.0
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