The Guide to Celebrating Halloween in Japan with Kids
2018-10-11
Are you ready for Halloween?
The much-anticipated spooky sugar-filled holiday is just around the corner.
Halloween has been growing in popularity in Japan over the recent years but like many other foreign holidays celebrated in Japan, it has got its own twist!
Unlike in the United States where a greater focus is on children and trick-or-treating, Halloween is largely celebrated amongst teens and young adults in Japan. Last year, a survey conducted by Sapporo Beer found that only 58 percent of Japan celebrates Halloween. In comparison however, 79-86 percent of Japanese young adults (ages 20-34) answered that they celebrate halloween in one way or another. For most people, Halloween is a commercial western celebration of pumpkins, costumes/cosplay, and candy and have little to do with its Celtic or Christian roots. Because of this, the way in which Halloween is celebrated here in Japan may be quite different than what you are used to.
Trick or Treating
There is trick or treating in larger multicultural cities in Japan like Tokyo. But not door-to-door trick or treating like you might be expecting. Trick or treating in Japan take place in malls and commercial districts known as shotengai. Japanese culture, which considers the home highly private and tries to avoid being a bother to others, is not compatible with the traditional form of trick or treating practiced in the United States and some other cultures. Instead, shops in certain commercial districts will advertise and provide a stamp rally or candy for elementary-school aged children on Halloween day or weekend.
Here are some places in the Tokyo area that you can take the children trick or treating while babysitting:
Date: 10/27 Saturday, 11:00-16:00
Location: Okamachi Panda Square (Ueno)
Kawasaki Halloween Kids Parade
Date: 10/27 Saturday, 12:00-15:30
Location: La Citta Della (Kawasaki)
Date: 10/28 Sunday, 14:00-15:15 (parade)/11:00-17:00 (candy rally)
Location: Jingumae Elementary School (parade)/Omotesando designated stores (candy rally)
Date: 10/27-31 Saturday-Wednesday
Location: TeNQ Space Museum (Tokyo Dome City)
Date: 10/30 Tuesday and 10/31 Wednesday 10:00-18:00 (candy rally)/ 10/31 #1 14:20-15:30 #2 15:40-16:50 (parades)
Location: Kichijoji designated stores (candy rally)/ #1 Coppice #2 Inokashira Park Outdoor Stage (parades)
Date: 10/27 Saturday 10:30-13:30
Location: Roppongi Hills (Roppongi)
Theme Parks
Many theme parks in Japan celebrate Halloween with added attractions, spooky decorations and pumpkin-themed sweets! Check out these famous theme parks to get in the Halloween spirit! Some parks even offer discounts for coming dressed in costume.
Date: ~10/31
Location: Maihama
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. Spirit away for a frightfully delightful good time—from costumed Character encounters to themed attractions, creepy eats, bewitching entertainment and more!
Date: ~10/31
Location: Tama
Enjoy character boat rides, special photo spots, characters dressed up extra-spooky for Halloween and terrifyingly cute dishes at the character food court.
Date: ~10/31
Location: Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa
Enjoy the aquarium's dolphin show that celebrates halloween with fall flowers and pumpkins and music that makes you want to jump out of your seats and start dancing!
Date: ~10/31
Location: DECKS Tokyo Beach (Odaiba)
This year, Joypolis is getting into the Halloween spirit with a Happy Halloween dessert menu, a Halloween stamp rally, a special Halloween Super Sonic and photo spot. Come dressed in a costume to enjoy a ¥300 discount of admissions and attraction pass!
Date: ~11/4
Location: Osaka
The Minions and park characters have gotten into the Halloween spirit and are all dressed up as "Cute-N-Spooky" monsters! Join the mischievous and playful bunch for parades and Trick or Treat during the day, and when night falls, get wild for the park's first Halloween light show!
Date: ~10/31
Location: Yomiuri Land-mae (Inagi)
Enjoy zombie-themed foods, haunted house, and zombie parade. Those who wear a costume to the theme park enjoy free admission and half off on one-day passes for rides.
Halloween Treats
Supermarkets, department stores and restaurants are already getting festive with specially designed menus, candies, snacks and decadent desserts that features Halloween-themed packaging and flavors. Most of these treats are available for a limited time only and are original to Japan.
Suehiroan at GINZA SIX
Seven Eleven
