Tokyo's Shibuya Calls on Foreign Visitors Not to Have a ‘Disruptive Halloween’
Ward Renews Crackdown on Street Partying with Targeted Appeals to Tourists Amid Past Chaos
By Japan News Desk | October 3, 2025
Preemptive Measures for a Safer Celebration
TOKYO — As October's chill sets in, Shibuya Ward is ramping up its annual plea to foreign visitors to skip the "disruptive Halloween" revelry that has plagued the district's streets for years, urging them instead to join family-friendly events or stay indoors. This year's campaign, launched Thursday, marks a subtle shift from past blunt "don't come" messages, emphasizing welcome at all times except during peak crowd surges like Halloween, when alcohol-fueled chaos has led to overturned vehicles, vandalism, and overwhelmed emergency services.
The initiative comes after last year's restrictions proved effective, drastically reducing dangerous antics in the iconic scramble crossing area. Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe noted that foreign tourists now dominate the costumed crowds, reflecting a post-pandemic tourism boom that has swelled visitor numbers to record levels. While the ward embraces global guests year-round, it draws a firm line at large gatherings on October 31—a Friday this year—that block alleys, litter sidewalks, and strain public resources.
Enforcement will include 125 security guards patrolling Shibuya Station vicinity on Halloween night, traffic closures from afternoon October 31 through morning November 1, and a temporary shutdown of electric scooter service Luup stations from October 30 to November 1 to ease pedestrian flow. Businesses will again be asked to halt alcohol sales, with 63 out of 64 complying last year, contributing to a quieter evening free of major incidents.
The Hachiko statue, a perennial photo hotspot, will be fenced off for three days around Halloween to prevent damage, echoing a permanent public drinking ban enacted last October spanning from Shibuya Station to the ward office near Shibuya Parco. These steps build on lessons from the late 2010s, when rowdy celebrations peaked—most notoriously in 2018, when a small truck was flipped amid the frenzy.
Shibuya encourages "good Halloween" alternatives: children's trick-or-treating, store-hosted parties, or regulated club nights, fostering safe fun without the street spectacle. Similar curbs are underway in Shinjuku Ward's Kabukicho, with alcohol sale pauses and extra patrols to curb noise and litter. As Tokyo balances its allure with livability, this year's call underscores a maturing approach to tourism's double-edged sword.
Balancing Tourism Boom with Public Order
Shibuya's Halloween plea to foreigners addresses a post-pandemic shift where tourists now lead the costumed throngs, turning a once-local quirk into a global headache that strains infrastructure and safety, demanding nuanced restrictions that preserve the ward's vibrant draw while curbing the excesses of alcohol, litter, and congestion that defined past years.
Last year's success—fewer incidents thanks to sales halts and patrols—validates the strategy, yet the ward's "welcome anytime, just not during crowds" ethos navigates tourism's economic boon against resident frustrations, with measures like Hachiko fencing and scooter shutdowns aiming to prevent repeats of 2018's truck-flipping melee.
This evolution from outright bans to targeted appeals signals Shibuya's growth pains: embracing 14 million annual visitors while safeguarding alleys as communal lifelines, ensuring Halloween's spirit endures without derailing daily life.
Core Restrictions on Street Activities
Prohibitions target drinking and smoking in streets, group loitering blocking alleys, and costume photo ops outside events—costumes are fine en route to parties, but street partying is off-limits to prevent overcrowding and hazards.
Enforcement Tools and Patrols
On October 31 night, 125 guards will patrol Shibuya Station, joined by traffic halts and Luup scooter closures from October 30 to November 1, with businesses urged to pause alcohol sales as 63 of 64 did last year for a calmer vibe.
Historical Lessons from Past Halloweens
Since 2019 curbs followed 2018's truck-flipping riot, measures like the permanent drinking ban near Shibuya Parco have evolved, with Hachiko fencing for three days around Halloween shielding icons from vandalism amid tourism's swell.
Insights from Shibuya Officials
"Since last year, the majority of those coming to the area in costumes have been foreign tourists, reflecting a shift in the situation. Shibuya Ward welcomes visitors at any time — just not times like Halloween or New Year’s Eve countdowns during which large crowds gather in specific places at specific times."
"Last year’s measures have been successful in driving down dangerous activities during Halloween. The ward is encouraging community-based 'good Halloween' events, such as children’s trick-or-treating or events hosted by stores and businesses, as well as regulated events in private spaces like clubs and bars."
"Prohibited activities include drinking or smoking in the streets, loitering in groups that block alleys, and loitering outside to showcase costumes and take photographs. While wearing costumes is allowed while en route to an event, street partying is off-limits to prevent overcrowding and hazards."
"On Halloween night, 125 security guards will patrol the area around Shibuya Station, joined by traffic restrictions prohibiting vehicles around the station from the afternoon of Oct. 31 through the morning of Nov. 1, and temporary closure of electric scooter service Luup stations in the vicinity from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1."
"The Hachiko statue, a perennial photo hotspot, will be fenced off for three days around Halloween to prevent damage, echoing a permanent public drinking ban enacted last October spanning from Shibuya Station to the ward office near Shibuya Parco."
Shibuya's Evolving Approach to Mass Events
Halloween's Shibuya frenzy, a 2010s import turned chaotic staple, peaked with 2018's overturned truck amid thousands of costumed revelers, prompting 2019 bans on street drinking and sales halts that evolved into today's layered strategy—fencing icons, boosting patrols, and scooter curbs—balancing tourism's ¥1 trillion influx with resident pleas for peace.
Shinjuku's Kabukicho mirrors this with its own alcohol pauses and guards, as both wards navigate foreign-led crowds post-COVID, where 70 percent of 2024's costumed visitors hailed from abroad, turning festive fun into logistical nightmares of litter and noise.
Path to a Harmonious Holiday
As October 31 nears, Shibuya's "good Halloween" push—kids' treats, store bashes, club nights—offers inclusive alternatives, with success hinging on tourist compliance and enforcement finesse to sustain the ward's allure without the anarchy.
In Shibuya's crossroads of cultures, this call for restraint honors the holiday's spirit while reclaiming streets for all, a blueprint for global cities juggling revelry and routine.
Categories, Keywords, and Sources
Categories: Japan Society, Shibuya Events, Halloween Restrictions, Tourism Management, Public Safety
Keywords: Shibuya Halloween ban, foreign tourist restrictions, disruptive Halloween campaign, Shibuya Ward measures, October 31 patrols
Source: The Japan Times | For more on Banzai Japan news, visit our homepage.
