In Japan, the rowdiest Halloween revelries usually take place the weekend before Oct. 31 — this year, Oct. 25 and 26. Partygoers who haven't yet made plans would do well to start organizing their costumed nights out now, however, as the famous (or infamous) impromptu celebrations on the streets of Shibuya and Shinjuku are looking to be a thing of the past.
Efforts to stop drunken revelers from converging on public areas once synonymous with Halloween in Tokyo have increased again this year, with Shibuya and Shinjuku wards now working together to prevent mass gatherings and alcohol-related incidents on their streets — most notably through an ordinance banning public drinking at nighttime in certain areas.
In a joint press conference held earlier this month, Ken Hasebe and Kenichi Yoshizumi — mayors of Shibuya and Shinjuku wards, respectively — announced that countermeasures targeting Halloween hot spots in Shibuya last year would also be adopted in Shinjuku, with Kabukicho’s Cine City Square pinpointed as a hive of antisocial activity.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.