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Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward is preparing a new set of measures for the upcoming Halloween season as the famous entertainment district gets ready for another period of increased visitors.
The ward announced its plans on September 30, 2026, encouraging people to enjoy Halloween without creating problems for local residents, businesses and other visitors. This year’s campaign uses the message “GOOD BYE BAD HALLOWEEN,” reflecting Shibuya’s continued efforts to reduce littering, street drinking, overcrowding and other public nuisances.
The measures are particularly important around Shibuya Station and the Hachiko statue, an area that has traditionally attracted large numbers of people during Halloween.
Shibuya Wants a Different Kind of Halloween
Shibuya has become internationally known for its Halloween atmosphere. In previous years, large crowds of people wearing costumes gathered around the station and nearby streets.
While Halloween has become a popular event for visitors to Tokyo, large street gatherings have also created challenges for the local community.
Crowded streets can make it difficult for pedestrians and residents to move around normally. Large numbers of people drinking alcohol outdoors can also create additional problems, including discarded cans and bottles, noise and other forms of disruption.
The Shibuya Ward government is therefore continuing its approach of discouraging unorganized street celebrations.
The new campaign asks visitors to think about how their behavior affects other people. Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe also emphasized that even activities such as stopping in the street to take photographs or leaving rubbish because there is no nearby trash bin can become a nuisance.
The message behind the 2026 campaign is simple: people can enjoy Halloween, but they are expected to respect the city and the people who live and work there. (テレ朝NEWS)
Hachiko Area to Face Restrictions
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One of the most recognizable locations in Shibuya is the Hachiko statue outside Shibuya Station.
The statue is one of Tokyo’s best-known meeting points and normally attracts both residents and tourists throughout the year. During Halloween, however, the area can become particularly crowded.
As part of the 2026 measures, Shibuya will again take steps to control access around the Hachiko statue during the Halloween period.
Visitors planning to meet friends or take photographs in the area should therefore expect changes compared with an ordinary day.
The restrictions are designed to help prevent the area immediately around the statue from becoming a major gathering point.
For tourists, this means that the familiar Hachiko meeting spot may not be available in the same way during the Halloween period.
Alcohol Sales to Be Restricted
Alcohol consumption on the streets has been another major issue associated with large Halloween gatherings in Shibuya.
The ward plans to once again ask local retailers to refrain from selling alcohol during the designated Halloween period.
The aim is to reduce the amount of street drinking and help prevent large groups from gathering specifically for alcohol consumption.
This does not mean that Halloween celebrations throughout Tokyo are being cancelled. Instead, Shibuya is introducing measures focused on the areas where large crowds have historically caused problems.
Visitors who want to enjoy Halloween in Tokyo should therefore be aware that rules and restrictions can vary depending on the location.
Electric Kick Scooters Face Additional Restrictions
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Another measure concerns electric kick scooters.
Shibuya Ward has again asked operators of electric kick scooter services, including services such as LUUP, to restrict usage around Shibuya Station during the Halloween period.
The restriction is intended to improve safety in an area where pedestrian numbers can increase significantly.
When large crowds are walking across streets and gathering around station entrances, additional vehicles or scooters can make movement more difficult.
Limiting scooter use during the busiest period is therefore part of the ward’s wider effort to manage pedestrian safety and reduce congestion.
Visitors who normally use an electric scooter in central Shibuya should check the latest information from the relevant service before travelling during Halloween.
¥2,000 Fine for Littering
One of the most important changes affecting visitors is Shibuya’s new littering penalty.
Since June 1, 2026, people caught littering can be charged an administrative fine of ¥2,000.
The rule applies across Shibuya Ward, rather than only around Shibuya Station.
According to the ward, patrol officers can issue the penalty when they directly observe someone littering. The rule applies to everyone, including visitors and foreign tourists.
Shibuya says the purpose of the measure is to discourage littering and create a cleaner urban environment. (Shibuya City)
The ward’s published figures show that 963 littering penalties were issued between June and August 2026.
The monthly figures were 325 cases in June, 183 in July and 455 in August. The ward notes that these figures are preliminary and may be subject to change. (Shibuya City)
With Halloween expected to bring larger crowds, Shibuya plans to increase the number of patrol staff working on the night.
This means visitors should not assume that littering rules will be ignored simply because the area is busy.
More Patrol Officers During Halloween
Crowd management will be another major part of this year’s preparations.
Shibuya already uses patrol personnel throughout the year to monitor littering and other issues. The ward says patrol staff can operate across the entire ward, with up to 60 patrol personnel per day under its current system.
During Halloween, additional staff will be deployed to help monitor the situation.
The increased presence is intended to discourage people from breaking local rules and to allow officials to respond more quickly when problems occur. (Shibuya City)
For visitors, the increased patrol presence means that Halloween night in Shibuya may feel more controlled than the spontaneous street celebrations associated with the area in the past.
Multilingual Information for Visitors
Shibuya is also trying to make sure that international visitors understand the local rules.
The ward plans to use posters and awareness videos containing information in multiple languages, including Chinese and Korean.
This is particularly relevant for Shibuya because the district attracts visitors from around the world.
Clear multilingual information can help tourists understand restrictions before they enter crowded areas.
For international visitors who do not speak Japanese, checking official information before travelling can also help avoid misunderstandings.
Why Shibuya Is Changing Its Halloween Approach
The changes are part of a longer effort by Shibuya Ward to manage the impact of large Halloween gatherings.
The district is a major commercial and transportation hub, not a dedicated festival venue. Millions of people use the area throughout the year for shopping, work, entertainment and travel.
When exceptionally large crowds gather in the streets, normal city activities can become more difficult.
The ward’s current approach is therefore focused on preventing the kind of uncontrolled street gathering that can affect residents and businesses.
The 2026 slogan, “GOOD BYE BAD HALLOWEEN,” communicates that the ward is not simply asking people to stop celebrating Halloween. Instead, it is asking visitors to change the way they celebrate in public spaces.
What Visitors Should Know
Anyone planning to visit Shibuya around Halloween should prepare for a different experience from an ordinary October evening.
The area around Hachiko may have access restrictions, alcohol sales may be limited, and electric kick scooter services may have restrictions around the station.
Visitors should also remember that littering can result in a ¥2,000 penalty.
It is also important to avoid blocking busy pedestrian routes simply to take photographs. A short photo stop might seem harmless, but when hundreds of people do the same thing in a crowded area, it can create significant congestion.
Visitors should follow instructions from local officials and security staff and use designated areas whenever possible.
Anyone travelling with friends should also arrange alternative meeting points in case access around Hachiko is restricted.
Halloween in Tokyo Is Still Possible
The new measures do not mean that Halloween has disappeared from Tokyo.
Tokyo continues to offer many ways to enjoy the season, including themed events, entertainment venues, restaurants, shops and private celebrations.
What is changing is the approach to large-scale street gatherings in central Shibuya.
For tourists, this could mean that Halloween in Shibuya feels more organized and less focused on spontaneous crowds in the streets.
The ward’s campaign also reflects a broader challenge faced by popular tourist destinations around the world: finding a balance between tourism, entertainment and the everyday lives of local communities.
A Cleaner and Safer Shibuya
Shibuya’s 2026 Halloween measures combine several different strategies.
Restrictions around the Hachiko statue are intended to manage one of the area’s most popular gathering points. Requests to limit alcohol sales are aimed at reducing street drinking, while electric scooter restrictions are designed to help manage movement around crowded streets.
At the same time, the ¥2,000 littering penalty and increased patrols provide a stronger enforcement mechanism for keeping public spaces clean.
The ward’s multilingual campaign is also intended to make the rules easier for international visitors to understand.
For people visiting Tokyo during Halloween, the main message from Shibuya is clear: enjoy the atmosphere, take photographs and experience the city, but respect public spaces and the people who live there.
As Halloween approaches at the end of October, Shibuya will once again become one of Tokyo’s most watched areas. This year, however, visitors can expect stronger crowd-management measures and closer enforcement of local rules.
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