GM, COT❣️ Yuzunoko here.
Have you decided where to celebrate Halloween in Shibuya this year?
Shibuya Ward (one of Tokyo's central municipalities) has set the slogan for this year's Halloween measures: "GOODBYE BAD HALLOWEEN." It is a call to put an end to "nuisance Halloween."
There is no rule banning walking the streets in costume. But around Shibuya Station, two rules are in effect regardless of Halloween. If you plan to visit Shibuya at the end of October, knowing them first will give you peace of mind.
This Year's Slogan Is "GOODBYE BAD HALLOWEEN"
Shibuya Ward held a press conference on September 30 to announce this year's Halloween measures. The ward's online photo diary says Mayor Ken Hasebe unveiled the tagline "GOODBYE BAD HALLOWEEN." It is a call to eliminate nuisance behavior like street drinking, smoking, littering and blocking foot traffic, and to enjoy the season with good manners inside local community and venue events.
Messages on etiquette will also go out in English, Chinese and Korean for visitors from abroad. A newly produced awareness video is part of this year's campaign too.
Not "don't come," but "choose where to enjoy it." That is how Shibuya is putting it this year.
Drinking on the Street at Night Is Banned Year-Round
First, the alcohol rule. Shibuya Ward amended its "Ordinance on Securing a Safe and Peaceful Environment in the Area around Shibuya Station" to ban drinking in public places such as streets and parks, year-round, between 18:00 and 5:00 the next morning, effective October 1, 2024.
"Year-round" is the key part. This is not a special rule for Halloween; ordinary weekends work the same way. Around Shibuya Station, the easiest thing is to remember that you cannot drink outside at night. Inside restaurants and bars, everything is as before.
Littering Brings a 2,000-Yen Fine Anywhere in the Ward
The second rule is about trash. Shibuya Ward partially amended its "Ordinance for Creating a Clean Shibuya Together" to impose a 2,000-yen fine for littering, starting June 1, 2026. It applies across the whole ward, private property included.
The ward's page also lists the number of fines issued: 325 cases in June 2026, 183 in July, 455 in August and 584 in September, for a four-month total of 1,547. Up to 60 patrol staff walk the ward each day, and if you are caught littering, the fine is collected on the spot.
One thing to keep in mind: claiming you did not know the ordinance will not work. The ward's page says, "Excuses based on not knowing the ordinance exists will not be accepted."
Props like faux flower petals or confetti leave small bits of trash behind. Taking it home when you are done is part of the deal (prop trash has a way of showing up more than you would expect).
Traffic Controls Start on the Evening of October 30
According to the Shibuya Police Station of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, traffic measures will be in place around Shibuya Station from the evening of Friday, October 30 to the early morning of Sunday, November 1.
The ward's October 15 newsletter lists the road closure times: from 16:00 on October 30 (scheduled) to the early morning of October 31, and from 16:00 on October 31 (scheduled) to the early morning of November 1. Parts of the area shown on the map will be closed to vehicles, and depending on conditions there may also be checkpoints or traffic controls on Inokashira-dori and Dogenzaka.
Parking meters around Shibuya Station will be out of service all day, so driving in is not really an option for these three days (the train is the easiest way in).
Heavy crowds are expected from night into the early hours, and the police are asking drivers to detour via surrounding roads. Around this time last year, the area around the Hachiko statue (the famous dog statue outside Shibuya Station) was covered with temporary fencing to avoid crowding. Check the ward's announcements for this year's on-site measures.
To Enjoy Cosplay, Pick an Event
For people in costume, the ward's guidance is "inside local community and venue events." Shibuya Ward has Halloween events of its own. Here are two from the ward's October 15 newsletter.
The first is "Starfall Halloween 2026" at Cosmo Planetarium Shibuya. This special screening runs from 19:00 to 19:50 on Saturday, October 31, and walks through that night's starry sky together with the history of Halloween. Capacity is 120 people, first come, first served; admission is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for elementary and junior high school students. Sign-ups open October 24 on the planetarium's website or at its on-site ticket machines. On open days through October 31, the planetarium also runs "Halloween Night Mode," dimming the lobby lights after sunset.
Getting the starry sky and the history of Halloween in one sitting sounds like a lovely combination (a little mysterious and cute, right?❣️)
The second is "SCC Halloween Market 2026" at SCC Sendagaya Community Center, from 12:00 to 18:00 on Saturday, October 24. It features a Halloween rally, merchandise stalls and workshops; the rally is limited to the first 150 people, and some booths charge a fee.
If you want to enjoy walking the streets in cosplay and taking photos to the fullest, pick a place where an event is set up. In Ikebukuro (a major commercial district in Tokyo), the three-day street event "Ikehalo" starts October 30. For details, see Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fes 2026 runs three days from October 30: Ikehalo Night, tickets, parade applications and the rules.
About This Article
This article was put together from the Shibuya Ward Portal's photo diary (the Halloween measures press conference), the ward's pages on the ordinance amendment and the littering rule, the Shibuya Police Station's traffic advisory, and the Shibuya Ward News issue of October 15.
The scope and hours of traffic controls can change with conditions. Before you head out, check the latest announcements on the Shibuya Ward Portal and from the police.
Quotes from Japanese sources are our own translations.
Translated from the Japanese original.
See you next time on COT❣️