Shibuya Declares War on “Nuisance Halloween” With Tough New Rules and Hachiko Statue Lockdown
Japanese pop culture news edited by Patrick Macias
Shibuya Ward announces strict new Halloween countermeasures for October 31
Street drinking ban extended, with convenience stores asked to stop alcohol sales
Hachiko statue to be completely sealed off to prevent crowding and vandalism
Shibuya Cracks Down on Halloween Chaos
Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward has announced its official Halloween safety plan for 2025, rolling out an unprecedented series of countermeasures to curb rowdy behavior. In recent years, Halloween in Shibuya has attracted tens of thousands of visitors, leading to street drinking, noise, littering, and crime.
This year’s campaign slogan is clear: “No Nuisance Halloween!”
Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe addressed the public directly, stressing that everyone needs to reflect on their behavior. “We want people to think about what constitutes a nuisance Halloween,” he said. “Drinking on the street, smoking, loitering, littering, and public noise are not acceptable. We are not against Halloween itself, but against the kind of behavior that disrupts the community.”
Visitor Numbers Down, But No Room for Complacency
According to Shibuya officials, around 18,000 people gathered at the Center Gai area at peak time last year. This was a drop from about 23,000 in 2022 and the pre-pandemic high of 40,000 in 2019. Officials attribute the decline in part to a year-round ban on street drinking, as well as requests made to convenience stores to voluntarily stop selling alcohol near the station.
Mayor Hasebe noted that these efforts are having an effect. “The atmosphere of danger from open drinking on the streets has been largely contained,” he explained. “But we cannot be optimistic. We must be prepared for even more visitors than last year.”
Bans, Patrols, and Police Coordination
On October 31, a Friday night this year, the ward is expecting a major surge in visitors. From 7 PM to 5 AM, 125 private security guards and ward staff will be deployed alongside Tokyo police, who will set up about ten watchtowers across the area.
Street drinking will be prohibited from 6 PM to 5 AM, and 58 alcohol retailers around Shibuya Station have been asked to suspend sales for the night. Smoking areas in front of Shibuya Station, Miyamasuzaka-shita, and the former Moyai statue will be closed. Traffic restrictions will also be put in place near the famous Scramble Crossing from around 4 PM on October 31 until crowds disperse.
Hachiko Statue to Be Completely Closed Off
Perhaps the most symbolic measure is the lockdown of Shibuya’s iconic Hachiko statue. From October 30 through November 1, a temporary wall will surround the Hachiko landmark to prevent gatherings and protect it from vandalism. Visitors will not be able to see or photograph the statue during this period.
Other measures include suspending e-scooter and micromobility rental services near the station and setting up garbage collection points at key locations such as Udagawa-cho Police Box and Shibuya Station.
A Message to Visitors and Foreign Tourists
In recent years, foreign tourists have made up an estimated 80–90 percent of Shibuya Halloween crowds, often arriving in elaborate costumes. To reach them, Shibuya is rolling out multilingual awareness campaigns with posters and street flags in English, Chinese, and Korean. Media tours with the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan are also planned.
Mayor Hasebe emphasized, “Outside of Halloween and countdown events, we always welcome visitors to Shibuya. But during Halloween, we ask that you follow the rules and enjoy safely. Even something small, like leaving a little garbage or stopping to take photos in costume, can cause dangerous congestion when multiplied by thousands of people.”
Virtual Alternatives
The ward has allocated 68 million yen (about 456,000 USD) for this year’s Halloween countermeasures, down slightly from last year’s 75.5 million yen (about 507,000 USD). Most of the budget will go toward public safety and crowd management, with smaller amounts for garbage cleanup and signage.
As in past years, Shibuya will also offer alternative celebrations in virtual spaces such as “Virtual Shibuya,” “Virtual Miyashita Park,” “Fortnite Shibuya,” and “Roblox.”
Fascinating!