Halloween is just around the corner, and you can feel the excitement in the air. Tokyo has taken to the celebration in a big way in recent years, and in retrospect it makes perfect sense, since Halloween has provided an opportunity to do three things Japan absolutely loves:
1. Dress up in costumes
-
Eat sweets
- Engage in a massive amount of drinking
The third item on that list may or may not be part of the Halloween festivities in your neck of the woods, but in Tokyo the booze has flowed freely at the Halloween celebrations which take place in the capital’s Shibuya district . A multi-night, unofficial party, revelers roam the streets around Shibuya Station snapping photos and knocking back adult beverages all night long not just on Halloween itself, but on the weekend before Oct 31 as well.
But in recent years, things have been taking increasingly ugly turns, with several high-profile incidents of vandalism and drunken mayhem, including tipping over a truck in 2018. The rowdiness has even begun to affect the neighborhood’s international image, as one visiting foreigner who was arrested for vandalism last year told the police: “I’d heard that Halloween in Japan is crazy, and that every year people do things like this. I thought I wouldn’t get hauled in even if I got drunk and went crazy in Shibuya.”
So this year, Shibuya is saying enough is enough, and the local government is instituting a ban on public alcohol consumption in a wide area that stretches across several blocks, and which traditionally sees the highest concentration of partiers.
▼ Drinking will be banned in the pink area.
The map’s Japanese text denotes:
- Tokyu Hands (Shibuya branch)
- Jinnan Post Office
- Tokyu Department Store (main branch)
- Shibuya Loft
- Bunkamura-dori Street
- Dogenzaka Street
- Statue of Hachiko
- JR Shibuya Station
- Shibuya Mark City
- National Route 246
- Shuto Kosoku expressway
In addition to the specifically mentioned landmarks, the alcohol ban area also includes the famous Shibuya Scramble intersection, Center-gai shopping street, and intersection in front of the iconic Shibuya 109 shopping tower. The ban will be in effect on Oct 25, 26, 27, and 31, starting at 6 p.m. and continuing until 5 o’clock the next morning (with the exception of Oct 27, when the ban will be in effect from 6 p.m. to midnight).
Note that while public consumption of alcohol is prohibited on those nights, Shibuya’s numerous restaurants, pubs, and bars will still be allowed to serve as much booze as they want to thirsty customers, so it’s not like you’ll have to stay sober all night long, just that you can’t try to shake that status while out on the streets.
Source: Shibuya Ward official website via IT Media
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Shibuya mayor fed up with lawless Tokyo Halloween street party, promises stronger police response
-- Foreigner investigated for truck-flipping thought it’d be OK since “Japan is crazy at Halloween”
-- Japanese police requests train stations in Shibuya to shut exits during New Year countdown
© SoraNews24
43 Comments
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Attilathehungry
I dunno, Stranger. I think a lot of people would think it is weird for thousands of adults to play dress up and hang around on public streets getting hammered. Nothing to do with loosening up and having fun. Try doing this on the streets of Los Angeles or New York.
If you want to have a Halloween party, feel free to do it indoors in a proper venue. Don't litter the streets and public transport.
Strangerland
I guess so. Very few normal people are so uptight they would think it’s weird for people to loosen up and have fun.
Whomever told you that clearly wasn’t in touch with reality, where Halloween parties are held by adults all over the world.
Attilathehungry
Am I the only one who thinks it's faintly weird for adults to play dress up on Halloween and get stinking drunk in the middle of the city? I was under the impression that Halloween was a childrens' special day, not an excuse for immature adults to look stupid.
Brian Wheway
I have just seen the area all in pink, oh boy! the pub and restaurants owners are going to be annoyed! just think how much revenue they will loose!
WilliB
Good luck enforcing that around Shibuya. The place was a zoo last year.
Gaijinjland
Yeah, they mentioned this last year. Old news.
Ex_Res
@showchinmono - From the strike of midnight of Year 2000 Roppongi started going downhill. Now as you rightly point out the same is happening for Shibuya. Halloween's first, then New Years day... these party like atmospheres are simply not the Japanese way of doing things, so that's presumably why they start to clamp down.
I think that Roppongi was going downhill well before the year 2000.
I think that you are right, Shibuya is going the same way.
..... and Shinjuku just gets worse and worse. (although I like Shun Okubo).
mmwkdw
@showchinmono - From the strike of midnight of Year 2000 Roppongi started going downhill. Now as you rightly point out the same is happening for Shibuya. Halloween's first, then New Years day... these party like atmospheres are simply not the Japanese way of doing things, so that's presumably why they start to clamp down.
Abigail
What about the ones dressed up as cops and say it's ok do it. Based on the article it sounds like the restaurants, bars and pubs are behind the pressure with the amount of customers not visiting them and going to Lawsons or Family Mart for booze. Now how convenient go to pub, bar and restaurant drink all you want at a cost of course much higher than Lawsons. and of course the 10% tax.
showchinmono
What's so good with Shibuya NOW? that I don't get. No difference from Kabuki-cho, Roppongi.
Yes I know it used to be. about 30~40years ago.
Vince Black
Brian have you only just arrived in Japan...?
Heres the best way to avoid this ridiculous "law".
"Sorry mate, can't read Japanese. I'll chuck it away and I swear I don't have anymore. Thanks."
Brian Wheway
I don't know who the stunning lady is in the main picture is, but she can knock on my door at any time!! is every body ready for trick or treat ? some years ago (around this time of year) I brought the mother in law a new sweeping brush, I think she saw the funny side.
Thunderbird2
After the near riot last year I'm not surprised they've clamped down.
shogun36
Well. SWAT better gear up, and handcuffs better be a plenty. Just make sure you make examples of whoever does wrong. No mercy, start making arrests.
I mean this kind of nonsense drives women away. Without women around, there's no point for these Halloween celebrations. At that point, it's just a bunch of drunk dudes making a mess.
But it's just like "Japan" to focus on just one area. You can ban Shibuya, but then what about Shinjuku? What about Ikebukuro? What about Roppongi? etc etc........
This should be fun.
girl_in_tokyo
Honestly, this is just so predictable.
Everyone ignores the ban.
Rowdy times as usual.
Vadalism and groping occur; some arrests made.
Complaints and outrage from local residents and shop owners
Next year, they discontinue the Shibuya Halloween party altogether.Himalayan
Why will 27th be allowed to sell alcohol?
serendipitous1
No mention of penalties for breaking this new rule. Will those caught be forced to chug down whatever drink they've got in their hand and give the empty can/bottle to the police officer?!
Yubaru
Cops have no control over this, as there are no laws on the books, and it would be impossible to have Shibuya stop the convenience stores stop selling alcohol either, as the convenience store owners would have the right to sue them for infringement in their businesses.
They could request their cooperation, but it would be totally up to the owners on how to deal with it.
quercetum
Go through the trouble of hiding your poison but in the end you’re holding a thermos drunk as a skunk. The police will catch on.
Cricky
I can only suggest that grumpy old people avoid driving their toy cars through a crowd of people that have been told not to drink, or have too much fun. It only leads to huge looped footage on morning TV shows and a pile of inhibitions left in the trash.
Aly Rustom
I agree with those who think the ban will not be enforced.
Norman Goodman
The hope may be that everyone spends so much time hiding the drinking they forget to cause trouble.
But anyway I think you should have said "some" people. Most are too sheepish to disobey.
Hubert Gulletchip
Anytime an authority tells people they can't do something, the people will find a way to do it anyway.
Derek Grebe
I can't wait to watch the Oyaji Legion of duffers in hi-viz try to enforce this against tens of thousands of revellers hell-bent on having a good time. "No Do-rinku! No Do-rinku!" "Happy Halloween, mate. Hic, glug."
Once again Japan triumphs with the strategy of "Be seen to be trying to do something" rather than actually doing anything.
Norman Goodman
Every festival day has some incidents. This is just getting the xenophobia treatment.
Do the hustle
There is no penalty for this ban. It is more of a suggestion. The police have no power to enforce it. They can only ‘urge’ people not to drink in those areas.
Concerned Citizen
Very unfortunate for the vast majority sensible participants. Poor local administrators didn't have much choice, I think.
Serrano
I like her scythe with the skulls :D
Vodka in pocari or Aquarius.
Jack in coke.
Rum in coke.
Ban evaded.
Now, now, Chip Star, you aren't suggesting we deceive the police, are you? :D
papigiulio
It's okay Tokyoites, you are welcome to our Halloween party in Osaka.
1738Kwaaa!!
"The rowdiness has even begun to affect the neighborhood’s international image, as one visiting foreigner who was arrested for vandalism last year told the police: “I’d heard that Halloween in Japan is crazy, and that every year people do things like this."
This is a pure example of lazy, naive, blunt reporting. Disgusting too trying to blame "foreigners" for it too.
Am shocked !!
GW
….. be interesting to see this pulled off, only way to have a hope would be to BAN alcohol sales from combini, etc, are the powers that be going to do that I wonder.....
Strangerland
Or a thing and two things Japan absolutely loves.
BackpackingNepal
Nice...if only these Halloween idiots have guts to celebrate in the big dark jungle during those nights....Only few would come out alive next morning.
Also, Japan should have their own 'Yurei Yokai' day, that on Jan 31st.
Chip Star
Get in line!
Yubaru
On a lighter note, wouldn't mind having a "witch" like that come and haunt my dreams!
Chip Star
The bad apples got the public drinking banned, which means you are praising the bad apples in your support of the drinking ban. Smooth.
GrungeHamster
Good thing Japanese laws and justice are a joke.
Yubaru
Shibuya can "ban" it all it wants, enforcement is something totally different!
I can just see it, a bunch of folks, dressed up with "crossing guard" vests patrolling the streets of Shibuya, and stopping people who are drinking and "scolding" them about the new "ban". ROFLMAO!
oldman_13
Good. The bad apples always have to ruin it for everyone else.
Chip Star
Vodka in pocari or Aquarius.
Jack in coke.
Rum in coke.
Ban evaded.