GM, COT❣️ Yuzunoko here.
If you could take photos in costume at a train station after the last train has departed, what kind of photos would you envision?
The cosplay photoshoot event "Kabukosu second" at Seibu-Shinjuku Station and Tokyu Kabukicho Tower will be held from the night of Saturday, November 21, 2026, to the early morning of Sunday, November 22, 2026. According to the announcement by Seibu Railway, this event charters the station premises after the last train, allowing participants to shoot inside Series 2000 train cars and beneath the platforms.
It was conceived by an active station attendant whose hobby is cosplay photography. This marks the second installment following "Kabukosu 2026" in February 2026, and the application period for this edition opened on October 27, 2026.
Participants must be 20 or older; applications only via the Seibu Line App
In Seibu Railway's event announcement, participation is open to individuals aged 20 and older, and bringing official identification is required. Recruitment is limited to a total of 150 participants: 100 cosplayers and 50 photographers. Cosplayers are divided into four groups of 25 participants each, filled on a first-come, first-served basis for each application group.
Applications are accepted through the "Outings" tab of the Seibu Line App. Membership registration is required, and tickets will not be sold on the Seibu Railway website or at physical stations. The application period has been announced to run from 11:00 on October 27, 2026, to 23:59 on November 15, 2026.
However, purchases will no longer be possible once the capacity limit is reached, even within the application period. Because this article does not verify the current availability of places or whether tickets can still be purchased, please check the status shown in the app when applying.
Each member may purchase one ticket, and one ticket admits one person. Cancellations and modifications cannot be made after purchase, so it is best to discuss and coordinate beforehand with your shooting partners, including which group to join.
19:00 marks the start of reception; changing times differ between Groups A and B
The reception location is a dedicated reception desk on the 4th floor of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. Under Seibu Railway's schedule, the reception and changing times for cosplayers are divided into the following four groups:
- A1: November 21, 2026, 19:00–20:00
- A2: November 21, 2026, 20:00–21:00
- B1: November 21, 2026, 21:00–22:00
- B2: November 21, 2026, 22:00–23:00
Groups A1 and A2 can use special shooting areas inside the tower starting at 20:30, and from 22:00, all participants shoot in designated spots within the tower. Checking in at 19:00 does not mean station shooting begins immediately.
Photographer reception is open from 19:00 to 23:00. However, because there is no waiting area, organizers ask photographers to arrive approximately 10 minutes before shooting begins. Rather than assuming arriving at the same time as the cosplayers is sufficient, be sure to coordinate your schedule around the planned photoshoot.
Station shooting begins on November 22: Group B at 00:30, Group A from 02:15
The alternating shoot between the station and the tower takes place after midnight on November 22, 2026. According to Seibu Railway's announcement, Groups B1 and B2 move to Seibu-Shinjuku Station at 00:30, while Groups A1 and A2 shoot in designated areas inside the tower.
At 02:15, locations are swapped: Group A moves to the station, and Group B heads to the tower. Shooting locations at the station include inside Series 2000 train cars, beneath the platforms, and other designated areas within the station. Eating is also permitted at the tower during these time slots.
(It is worth clearly distinguishing between "gathering on the night of November 21" and "station shooting on November 22" on your schedule.)
Photographers can move back and forth between the designated shooting locations in the tower and the station starting at 00:30. Guidance specifies that participants must present their event pass near the North Exit ticket gates when entering or exiting the station. The normally off-limits areas beneath the platforms are opened only within the designated shooting area for this event.
Group A's station shooting ends at 04:00, followed by a move to the tower. The event concludes for all participants at 04:30. Changing rooms are scheduled to be available from 04:00 to around 06:00, so plan your photography and changing time separately.
17th-floor terrace exclusive to Group A; photographer tickets do not include cloakroom service
Facility management company TST Entertainment highlights the 2nd-floor "Shinjuku Kabuki hall–Kabuki Yokocho" and the 3rd-floor "namco TOKYO" as shooting locations inside the tower.
The 17th-floor "SPACE WEST TERRACE" is reserved exclusively for participants attending with Cosplayer Ticket A. Photos can reportedly be taken on the terrace overlooking the Seibu Line. Combining the night station with the lights of the tower looks exciting❣️
According to the company's guidelines, cosplayer tickets include changing facilities and cloakroom service, but photographer tickets do not include cloakroom service.
(If you arrive expecting to check in camera luggage as well, you will likely end up having to carry it with you.)
Make sure to verify not only your intended shooting spots, but also reception times and luggage handling rules according to your ticket category.
About this article
This article was compiled based on announcements released on October 21, 2026, by Seibu Railway and on October 23, 2026, by TST Entertainment. Translated from the Japanese original. Quotes from Japanese sources are our own translations. The event is announced to proceed rain or shine, but will be cancelled in the event of severe weather. Because schedules and instructions are subject to change, please check the Seibu Line App and the organizers' latest guidance before applying and before departing.
See you next time on COT❣️
Sources: Kabukosu second Event Guide and Schedule (Japanese) (Seibu Railway, October 21, 2026), Kabukosu second Confirmed (Japanese) (TST Entertainment, October 23, 2026)