From smashed glass to street chaos... Tokyo restricts Halloween celebrations in one of its most famous tourist districts

- Shibuya Intersection in Tokyo is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the Japanese capital, as more than 500,000 people cross it every day, including pedestrians, skateboard users, and dancers. Although many cities aspire to have a similarly popular tourist destination, Shibuya does not want to continue this path.

In light of increasing complaints about overcrowding of tourists and the behavior of some of them, and the friction it causes with local residents, the authorities are seeking to change the modern image for which this neighborhood is famous. Shibuya has long been known as a popular destination for young people during the Halloween season in Japan.

In the early 2000s, the neighborhood began attracting children wearing costumes, before adults also joined in the celebrations. As demand increased, in 2017 the authorities launched the “Shippo Halo” event as a community event, and celebrations expanded year after year, driven by the neighborhood’s location and its popularity among foreigners.

But after about a decade, residents' demands to put an end to these celebrations escalated, which became a source of nuisance to the neighborhood administration headed by Ken Hasebe. This year, the authorities replaced the slogan "Shippo Hello" with the phrase "Goodbye Bad Halloween", in an attempt to reduce chaos in public places.

From a remarkable phenomenon to a nuisance since Japan reopened its doors after the pandemic, the country has witnessed a continuous tourism boom that has not stopped until today. Its impact has already been felt in many destinations, from the hiking trails of Mount Fuji and the ski slopes of Niseko to the deer park in Nara.

In 2025, Japan will receive more than 40 million foreign visitors, about 5 times the number recorded in 2012. As the number of tourists increases, cultural frictions and misunderstandings between them and local residents increase.

During Hasebe's tenure as mayor, Halloween celebrations in the Shibuya neighborhood transformed from a local gathering into a global event, accompanied by several problems, most notably: In 2018, Hasebe welcomed visitors, inviting them to enjoy Halloween celebrations without disturbing the residents. Despite some violations and arrests, the authorities' appeals seemed to finally bear fruit.

But on October 29, 2022, the potential consequences became much more serious. Neighborhood tragedy Two days before Halloween 2022, about 100,000 people flocked to the Itaewon neighborhood in the South Korean capital, Seoul, causing severe congestion in its narrow streets.

The celebrations quickly turned into a tragedy when people crowded into an alley and piled on top of each other, leading to the death of 154 people, most of them Koreans in their twenties and thirties, from suffocation or crushing. The disaster raised concerns around the world about the possibility of similar incidents occurring in other cities.

In Shibuya, authorities realized that the dangers of Halloween celebrations go beyond empty bottles and loud music. Therefore, Hasebe publicly called on people not to head to the neighborhood during Halloween.

However, it attracted about 15,000 people in 2023, compared to about 60,000 in previous years, and then the number rose to about 20,000 in 2024. Hasebe estimates that foreign tourists make up between 70 and 80% of the crowds.

Thus, the authorities imposed additional security measures, including erecting barriers around the famous dog statue, “Hachiko,” where visitors usually line up to take photos, and asking stores to refrain from selling alcohol. This year, additional security guards are scheduled to be deployed to 10 locations in the neighborhood during the Halloween holiday.

But some business owners believe that these restrictions harm their interests, while others believe that the police measures cause them greater problems than those that may be caused by revelers. The owner of a traditional Japanese izakaya restaurant told Ofoq News: “At the beginning of the evening, the number of police cars and officers is greater than the number of people wearing costumes.

Police cars are lined up in front of the restaurant, making parking for delivery vehicles impossible. She added that her regular customers, most of whom are office workers in Shibuya, prefer to go home early on Halloween night to avoid chaos.

She explained that her restaurant, although located in the neighborhood, is far from the main streets, and was “never” exposed to damage as a result of the celebrations. But the biggest difficulty is making her way through the crowds to Shibuya Station, to catch the last train before midnight.

On the other hand, others believe that the imposed restrictions are still insufficient. Tatsuji Suzuki, president of the Center Gay Street Commercial Association, explained that the new restrictions, including a fine for littering, lack strict enforcement.

Instead of waiting for the Shibuya authorities to intervene, Suzuki and the association members decided to take action themselves, fearing that security problems would deter visitors. Later, the municipality joined these efforts, and the streets of Center Gay were cleaned daily, in addition to conducting crime prevention patrols.

Shibuya closed some public restrooms and changing areas at the train station, to prevent revelers from using them to wear Halloween costumes. Posters were also spread in the neighborhood warning against gathering in the place or obstructing movement.

Suzuki hopes that October 31 will return to being a normal day, noting the decline in the popularity of Halloween in Japan. He said: "People are embarrassed to wear costumes."

For his part, Shibuya Mayor Hasebe, whose annual Halloween campaigns focus on urging people to behave appropriately, suggests moving celebrations from the street to closed spaces.