Break out your best costume for these spooky season events and activities in Tokyo
Halloween has come a long way from its origins in ancient Celtic harvest festivals. These days it's more about looking as OTT as possible, a custom that was popularised in the US in the early 1900s. In Japan, too, there is none of the doom and gloom of the holiday's historical association with death, which may have something to do with the fact that the local celebration first made waves at Tokyo Disneyland.
We're looking forward to a series of Halloween events on October 31, as well as the days leading up to it. Whatever you decide, don't let your costume go to waste – dress up for some of Tokyo's most spectacular Halloween parties.
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Halloween gets feral under Neko Mafia’s banner. Kaiki turns into a club-sized brawl of basslines and costumed chaos. The vibe is aggressive but playful, more cartoon fight than serious rave.
Sakura from Amapi Night leads the lineup, joined by Alicea from Munich, Bluemew, and more – each switching between house, breakcore and campy pop edits.
Come for the music, stay for the drama. Costumes get discounts, confidence gets applause.
Sanrio characters are dressing up as magicians this year for the amusement park's magic-themed PuroHalloween celebration. For the 20-minute Halloween parade, you'll find Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi and friends transformed into wizards. You can catch the spectacle from the first floor or second-floor balcony at Puro Village.
You’ll also get to meet and greet Halloween versions of Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin and friends. Make sure you stick around for the illumination show. It’s inspired by Ojamajo Doremi, as the TV series is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Throughout this Halloween season, Sanrio Puroland’s food court is serving some appropriately themed food and drinks. There’s pitch-black Kuromi karaage fried chicken and cheese hamburg curry (¥1,600), turquoise blue Cinnamoroll magical curry with curly fried shrimp (¥1,600) and Pompompurin Halloween gentleman’s katsu curry, as well as sweet treats like a golden Pompompurin sweet potato mont blanc (¥950) and Milk’s rare cheese and choco-mint parfait (¥900).
A masquerade with edges, The Tokyo Club leans modern and glossy, then drops a shibari performance by Beni Shibari into the middle of it. Masks at the door keep things level.
Entry is free with a drink ticket buy, which keeps the crowd mixed and well-dressed. Think party formal with permission to flex. If you want Halloween to feel seductive rather than slapstick, this is the room.
Every year, Verdy throws one of the wildest Halloween parties in Tokyo. Harajuku Horror Night takes over Shibuya’s Spotify O-East and Azumaya again this year, pulling in the city’s most dressed-up crowd – people show up looking ready to kill, and on this night, maybe literally. Even Verdy shows up in costume, fully committed to the theme like everyone else. The line-up always mixes major names with Verdy’s friends across music, fashion and nightlife, making it one of those events that’ll make you the cool friend of the group for knowing what’s up.
This year, the party expands with a collaboration alongside Kyun Desu, Tokyo’s go-to hyperpop collective, and headlines Ice Spice, the New York rapper behind some of the decade’s biggest anthems. Harajuku Horror Night keeps proving why it’s become one of the city’s most anticipated nights out.
UPDATE: Tickets are now sold out online, but there will be tickets available for purchase at the door.
Nakameguro’s Hven has teamed up with Parisian sake brand Heavensake for a chilling hallow’s eve celebration complete with free-flowing sake and addictive beats from some of Tokyo’s most distinct names in house and techno. Expect intoxicating tunes by internationally acclaimed producer Shinichi Osawa, as well as spins by Tokyo-based Italian techno DJ Sante Visioni, producer and model Rhyme, Al Jones and many more.
Early bird tickets are now available on Resident Advisor for ¥3,500 – a generous ¥1,500 off the door price.
Halloween gets feral under Neko Mafia’s banner. Kaiki turns into a club-sized brawl of basslines and costumed chaos. The vibe is aggressive but playful, more cartoon fight than serious rave.
Sakura from Amapi Night leads the lineup, joined by Alicea from Munich, Bluemew, and more – each switching between house, breakcore and campy pop edits.
Come for the music, stay for the drama. Costumes get discounts, confidence gets applause.
Ginza is hosting a luxury soiree of DJ spins and punch cocktails this Halloween. Make your way to the opulent Punch Room Tokyo lobby bar within the Tokyo Edition, Ginza hotel for an evening of music and mixology, with the tunes curated by in-house DJs Franco and Leo Gabriel from 9.30pm and 11.30pm respectively. You can also expect special live performances throughout the evening by renowned percussionist Kan and Reggaeton singer Konoike – a perfect line-up to get your groove flowing with the bar’s signature punch cocktail in hand.
Guests can reserve seats online via Tablecheck, or walk in if there are vacancies.
Celebrate Hallow’s Eve this year at a more elevated setting, namely the stylish Gold Bar at The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon, which is hosting some of Tokyo’s top performers. Expect DJ duo Una and Matcha, known for their edgy and ever-evolving sets, to lead the spookily thrilling evening, followed by spins from LA-based, globally recognised DJ and producer Bender at 11pm. Actor and model turned music producer Shuzo will then wrap up the evening from 12.30am. Complete the experience with inventive cocktails crafted by the bar’s resident mixologists for a truly unforgettable Halloween celebration.
Guests can reserve seats online via Tablecheck, or walk-in if there are vacancies.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is descending to Zerotokyo this Halloween for a chaotic evening of techno and kawaii-filled J-pop. Along with the Harajuku pop icon, the Z hall four storeys below ground is expected to feature record producer and DJ Taku Takahashi from M-flo, radio host and DJ TJO, DJ unit Trekkie Trax Crew, DJ Celly, and more. Meanwhile, The Ring on the basement third floor is set to host the Cyberjapan Dancers with spins by DJ Mitomi Tokoto.
Special fastpass tickets priced at ¥3,500 are currently on sale via Zaiko until October 30, which gives guests priority access at the door. Tickets are also available at the door, starting from ¥4,000.
Department H has held Tokyo’s fetish line for decades. The Halloween edition makes the Showa cabaret setting feel like the city’s strangest catwalk, with latex, leather, drag and performance art spinning around from cieling to stage and a market for gear.
Costume effort gets rewarded at the door. If you look regular, budget more. If you’ve planned your outfit for a week, the entrance staff will notice.
The regulars include icons, lifers, and first-timers who finally worked up the courage to go. It’s welcoming, it’s theatrical, and it runs late enough to feel like a secret even when the room is full.
Tokyo techno collectives Shape and Mind Off are teaming up once again for their annual Halloween bash, taking over Vent in Omotesando on October 31. Headlining the night are Drunken Kong and Dani Savant, who’ll be joining forces for a special back-to-back set.
Also on the main floor, house DJ and producer Akira Arasawa will be churning out beats alongside Enthuse. In the room next door, expect groovy and uplifting techno from Jun, plus deep minimal beats from Tokyo’s Raul. Tochan shifts gears between minimal, deep house and psychedelic techno, with rising local producer and DJ Mucaro rounding off the night.
Advance tickets are currently on sale via Livepocket.
Every year from October to December, hordes of Tokyoites make the exodus out of town to classic autumn-leaf destinations like Kamakura, Nikko, Hakone and even Osaka.
However, if you prefer not to travel, there are still plenty of gardens and parks right here in the city to catch the brilliant autumn colours from mid-to-late November. Here are our top picks of historic retreats, lush parks and lesser-known viewing locations, all in or close to Tokyo.
BEFORE YOU GO: The 2025 autumn leaves forecast for Tokyo and Japan
Tokyo never stops. The world’s greatest city pulsates with energy whatever the hour, changing ceaselessly, always offering up something new to discover and relish. To help you make the most of the capital’s relentless abundance, we’ve put in many all-dayers and all-nighters to deliver a round-the-clock guide that puts you right on Tokyo time.
Below you’ll find all you need to plan an unforgettable 24 hours in the city, from wolfing down a bowl of super-fresh seafood before sunrise to embarking on an all-night indie club crawl or soaking in an open-air hot spring at 3am.
It’s time to pound that convenience store energy drink, hit the streets and discover the capital in all its dynamic glory.
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