GM, COT❣️ Yuzunoko here.
Did you know there is an event where dressing up in a Halloween costume helps support a disaster-hit region?
On October 31, 2026, Kumamoto Halloween 2026 will be held at Sunroad Shinshigai, an arcade (a covered shopping street) in Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City. It is the eighth edition since the first one in 2019. This year it runs for one day only, as a recovery support festival for the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake of July 28. Admission is free, and only some programs charge a fee.
First time in the arcade
Until now, Kumamoto Halloween has been held in public squares in central Kumamoto City. This year the venue moves for the first time to the Sunroad Shinshigai arcade. On its official website, the organising committee describes it as the widest arcade in Japan, about 18 metres wide and about 236 metres long.
The event runs from 10:00 to 18:00 (planned). The venue map, changing rooms and cloakroom will be announced on the official website once they are settled. The venue is different from last year's, so it is worth checking the location before you set out.
(Having a roof overhead is quietly a big help when you are walking around in costume.)
"Autumn Harvest Festival": a turning point in its eighth year
Kumamoto Halloween has been run as a community Halloween that celebrates the autumn harvest. Regular features include harvesting on site, a market where you can fill a bag with local produce, children's community cafeterias and food drives, and the "Downtown Clean Campaign", in which people pick up litter while still in costume.
According to the organising committee, the event has drawn 80,000 to 100,000 visitors for three years running, with about 81,000 in 2025.
2026 is also ten years after the April 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. Then the July 28 earthquake struck. The committee explains that the damage reached farmland and equipment just before the harvest. So this year, it says, is the year to support the affected areas and producers.
Donations collected at the venue go in full to the affected areas, and part of the sales from designated goods and paid programs goes the same way.
(Donating at a festival moves your feelings in a bright direction, and I like that.)
What happens on the day
The stage is scheduled to host the kids and general divisions of the costume contest, a costume parade and an autumn lottery. The parade sets off from the special stage and walks to the front of SAKURA MACHI Kumamoto, a landmark in the city.
The opening act is a live performance by Kumamoto singer-songwriter Akari Okada, and the finale is a set by the Kumamoto gospel group KC Choir. A surprise guest is also planned, according to the committee.
Entries for the on-stage Costume Performance SHOW closed on October 17. This year it looks like a show to watch rather than take part in.
Learning disaster preparedness as a family
The new program this year is one where you learn about disaster preparedness while still in costume.
- Heart health talk: with the Kumamoto Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Promotion Council, a doctor (Dr. Matsuzawa) explains the changes that can affect the body during evacuation or sleeping in a car, and what you can do to protect your heart
- Crossroad and disaster talk: a certified disaster-prevention specialist uses a "which would you choose?" game to get families talking about how to prepare
- AED skit, explanation and hands-on session: after a skit and talk by Dr. Matsumoto of Matsumoto Surgery and Internal Medicine Clinic, visitors can try an AED at the booth
(Listening to a talk about AEDs in a Halloween costume is a combination you will probably find nowhere else.)
Before you go
The venue is the Sunroad Shinshigai arcade and admission is free. Some programs charge a fee, and part of that money goes to the recovery effort. The event runs from 10:00 to 18:00, but times can change, so check the official X account on the day as well.
The changing rooms, cloakroom and venue map will be published later. If you plan to come in costume, keep an eye on the official website for updates.
About this article
This article is based on the official Kumamoto Halloween 2026 website and an announcement from the organising committee, Kumamoto Halloween Executive Committee (a press release distributed by RONG-Tai FACTORY Co., Ltd. on October 15, 2026). Dates, times and program details were checked against those two sources.
Schedules may change. Check the official website and official X account for the latest information.
Sources: Kumamoto Halloween 2026 official website (Kumamoto Halloween Executive Committee 2026) (Japanese), Dress up, have fun, learn, and before you know it you are helping: one of Kyushu's largest Halloween events, Kumamoto Halloween 2026, goes ahead for one day only on Saturday October 31 as a recovery support festival after the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake (RONG-Tai FACTORY Co., Ltd., October 15, 2026) (Japanese)
Translated from the Japanese original.
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