How is Halloween celebrated in Japan?

05:13 10/21/2024

The days are getting shorter, the temperature is dropping, and we are moving into the middle of October. This can only mean one thing. Halloween is coming soon!

Japan is big on holidays, and Halloween is definitely no exception. Although the holiday itself is not rooted in Japanese culture, it has been adapted to the country with a very unique Japanese twist, making it completely different from that which is celebrated in the West. As Halloween is coming in just a few weeks, why not check out this article to find out what makes it special and to better prepare yourself for the upcoming festivities? 


Though the holiday is not rooted in Japanese culture, it has been embraced with a uniquely Japanese twist, focusing more on costume parties, themed events, and commercial activities rather than the traditional customs associated with Halloween in the West.


1. About Halloween in Japan 

When it comes to Halloween, some of the cultural activities that will come into mind for many people are definitely Trick-or-Treating, pumpkin carving, or decorating your house with spooky decorations. These traditions are not very prevalent in Japan, especially in the case of Trick-or-Treating. Instead, there is much more emphasis on cosplaying events, themed celebrations, and commercial activities. Further information will be provided in later sections of the article. 


Source: Blog.japanwondertravel


Similar to the West, Halloween in Japan is not limited to a certain age group: the event is celebrated and famous to people regardless of their age. At Japanese schools, especially kindergarten and elementary schools, teachers often organize Halloween-related activities, such as drawing Halloween-themed pictures, making costumes, parties where children can dress up as their favorite characters, and so on. 


Although officially held on the 31st of October, you can feel the Halloween atmosphere a few months prior, throughout September and October as well. Some stores will even start selling Halloween merchandise and products around the end of August, which is a whole 2 months before the official date of the event! 


2. Where to go during Halloween?

There are many ways for you to celebrate Halloween in Japan and feel the festivities. Some people would spend it with their family, friends, and their loved ones. However, the majority, especially the younger generation, would choose to party hard in nightclubs, and bars, or enjoy the vibrant and cheerful atmosphere by going to amusement parks or just simply heading out to the streets. 


Some of the best cities to celebrate Halloween include Tokyo, Osaka, and Kanagawa, with huge parties, large-scale flash mobs, and grand parades.


3. Theme park events

Source: Charactercentral.net 


Major theme parks, such as Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan, and Sanrio Puroland hold special Halloween events with parades, shows, and seasonal decorations that generally take place through September and October. These events are super grand and held on extremely high scales with a plethora of exciting Halloween-themed for you to experience and be truly immersed in the spooky atmosphere of the holiday. Among the three, Sanrio Puroland is arguably the most “tamed”, making it the perfect option for those who are bad with scary things. 


4. Halloween costumes 

Similarly to that of the West, one of the biggest elements of Halloween in Japan is the focus on dressing up. Japan is well-known for its strong cosplay culture, this Halloween provides its people with the golden opportunity to dress up in their favorite costumes. The choices are extremely wide, ranging from traditional Halloween costumes such as witches, ghosts, and zombies, to their favorite fictional characters to even real-life celebrities.


Source: BoredPanda


Another famous genre is to dress up as people in everyday life situations. Also known As “Mundane Halloween” or “Jimi Halloween” in Japanese, the event is where people dress up in costumes depicting themselves in certain interesting everyday situations. From “The person whose glasses fogged up from a hot drink” to “A person woken up by the Amazon delivery” or “The person who slept face down during lunch,” the ideas are absolutely hilarious and relatable. 


5. Limited edition Halloween menus and products 

Strolling the streets of Japan during the month of Halloween and in the preceding ones, you will definitely notice how most chains, restaurants, cafes, and such in Japan are releasing a bunch of Halloween-themed menus to celebrate the holiday. These food items are generally made from seasonal items such as pumpkins or sweet potatoes and decorated to fit perfectly with the “spooky” vibes of the occasion. As they are time-limited and won’t come back until at least next year’s Halloween (or might never come back at all), make sure to give them a try when you still have the chance! 


Source: Savvytokyo 


Many retail stores will also have special Halloween products as well as Halloween-specific sale events, so don’t forget to keep an eye out for them! 


Now that you know the celebrations for Halloween in Japan, what are your plans for the event this year? Let us know in the comments down below!


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