Where to Enjoy Halloween 2017 in Japan For Anime and Cosplay Fans

Halloween has become one of fall’s highlights in Japan. Its popularity has been increasing year after year and it has recently become a day when cosplayers can showcase their cosplay skills. In this article, we’re going to show you where anime fans can enjoy Halloween events in Japan.

Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2017

http://ikebukurocosplay.jp/

Date: Saturday & Sunday 28-29 October 11:00 – 18:00
Venue: Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park
Access: 5-minute walk from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line), 15-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station. (JR, Tokyo Metro, Seibu Railways, Tobu Railways)

The festival’s featured event is ‘Ike-Hallo Cosplay Parade’. It’ll be an exciting large-scale event with 250 cosplayers marching from Sunshine Street to Sunshine 60 Street. Apart from the parade, there are many cosplay events from family-friendly ‘Family Halloween!’ to ‘Cosplay Karaoke’ and ‘Cosplay Arm Wrestling’.

You can enjoy shopping in your cosplay costume as the festival is co-hosted by Toshima Shopping District Federation.

AGF2017 Animate Girls’ Festival 2017

https://www.animate.co.jp/ex/agf/

Date: Friday 3 (National Holiday) and Saturday 4 November, 10:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30)
Venue: Sunshine City
Access: 3-minute walk from Higashi Ikebukuro Station (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho line), 8-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station (JR, Tokyo Metro, Seibu Railways, Tobu Railways)

‘Animate Girls’ Festival’ is for girls who enjoy otome games, anime, BL, and cosplay. It offers wide varieties of merch and food at the venue. A cosplay event called acosta! ～AGF2017 Special～ will be held in conjunction with the festival. Along with Ike-Hallo, you can enjoy big cosplay events in Ikebukuro for two weekends in a row.

Shibuhallo

http://www.shibuhallo.com/

Date: From Friday 27 to Sunday 29 October
Venue: Around Shibuya scramble crossing

The iconic Halloween festival in front of Shibuya scramble crossing will be back again this year. Around two to three million cosplayers will gather for arguably the world’s biggest Halloween festival. In the past, we’ve seen cosplayers of characters from anime and manga including Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, and Samurai X (Rurouni Kenshin) to Hollywood blockbuster movies, such as Batman, Ninja Turtles, and more. Even an icon from FaceBook and the mascot of the Suica IC card have appeared. It’s an anything-goes cosplay festival with international festival goers.

Eiganomachi Chofu ‘Aki’Hanabi 2017 HalloweeN Cosplay Festival

http://cos-lab.com/event03.html

Date: Saturday 28 October 13:00 – 19:30
Venue: Halloween pop-up site in Fuda
Access: 20-minute walk from Fuda Station, 25-minute walk from Chofu Station on the Keio Line.
NB: Please be aware that this event is a part of ‘Chofu Fireworks Display’ which has three venues including Fuda.

‘Chofu Fireworks Display’ has a more than 35 year-long history, and in 2017, it will offer the rare opportunity of enjoying Halloween cosplay while watching fireworks. About 8000 fireworks will be launched for children, families, couples, and cosplayers. It’ll be a great chance to post Halloween costumes and fireworks on Instagram.

Disney’s Halloween 2017

http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/special/halloween2017/

Date: Now until 31 October
Venue: Tokyo Disney Resort
Access: JR Maihama station (JR Keiyo line, Musashino line), 25 minutes by bus from Urayasu station (Tokyo Metro Tozai line)

The special event ‘Disney’s Halloween’ is taking place in Tokyo Disney Resort until the end of October. ‘Halloween Pop’n Live’, a fun parade filled with varieties of music and performances with the Disney Friends together with ghosts and skeletons, is parading twice a day.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of ‘Disney’s Halloween’, guests are welcome to come wearing Disney characters’ costumes during the event. Only Disney’s designated characters are eligible and there are other restrictions.

Please check their official website for the details: http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/event/detail/str_id:tdl_halloween2017/en/

Puro Halloween Party

https://www.puroland.jp/2017_halloween/

Date: Now until 31 October
Venue: Sanrio Puroland (Hello Kitty Land Tokyo)
Access: Tama Center Station (Keiou line), Odakyu Tama Center Station (Odakyu line), Tama Monorail Tama Center Station

‘Cosplay in the day, scream at the Night’ is the catchphrase for Halloween in Sanrio Puroland in 2017. Enjoy a Halloween party with cute Sanrio characters. You can take pictures with the characters in Halloween costumes. There is a special cosplay room for girls who want to try a Halloween makeover. Join Halloween Ghost Ranger Parade which is taking place at Chienoki in the evening to get rid of ghosts!

Ultra Halloween Party

http://at-raku.com/attractions/halloween2017/

Date: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October 11:00-12:00 and 14:00-15:00
Venue: Tokyo Dome City
Access: Korakuen Station (Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line), Suidobashi Station (JR Chuo-Sobu line, Toei Mita line)

Halloween for Kaiju fans. Kaiju and aliens from the Ultraman series will march with children in the Tokyo Dome city. It’s a child-friendly event and rare opportunity to see Bultan and Eleking.

Nagoya Cosplay Halloween

http://cnet.cosplay.ne.jp/nhc2017.html

Date: 29 October 10:00-18:00
Venue: Choenji Kaikan Hall
Access: 8-minute walk from Sakae station (Meijo line), 5-minute walk from Fushimi station (Higashiyama line)

Cosplayers can change their clothes at Choenji Kaikan and walk around a large area including Minami Otsu pedestrian area, Oases 21, Hisaya Odori park, and Yaba park. There will be two events on the same day and in the same area, ‘Sakae Halloween Parade’ and ‘Tokai TV Thanksgiving Halloween for Everyone’. At ‘Ramen Girls’ Festival’ in Yaba park, you can try delicious ramen in your cosplay costume. If you are living around Nagoya and you are an anime fan, you have no excuse not to visit this event.

Hakata Halloween Cosplay Parade and Contest 2017

https://canalcity.co.jp/news/event/618

Date: Sunday 29 October
Venue: Canal City Hakata
Access: 7-minute walk from Gion Station (Kukou line), 10-minute walk from JR Hakata station

This year marks the 11th anniversary of Hakata Halloween Costume Parade, which becomes one of the fall features in Hakata. Kyushu University’s brass band is expected to add more excitement to the parade. Jibanyan from Yokai Watch will appear on stage at Sun Plaza Underground Mall from 17:00 and take part in the ‘Yokai Watch Dance Stage’.