Japan's Jimi Halloween, a celebration of all things mundane - in pictures - The Guardian

Shibuya Tightens Security and Bans Public Drinking as Halloween Crowds Return

As Tokyo embraces Halloween crowds, the famous Shibuya district is enforcing strict security measures to manage visitors. Local authorities are deploying extra security personnel, asking local shops not to sell alcohol, and maintaining bans on public drinking near Shibuya Station to curb the disruptive behaviors that have plagued the world-famous intersection in recent years, The Guardian reported.

The Bottom Line:

Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe estimates that 70 to 80 percent of the Halloween crowds consist of international travelers visiting the busy Tokyo neighborhood, according to CNN.
Public drinking near Shibuya Station has been strictly prohibited between 6:00 PM and 5:00 AM under regulations introduced ahead of the 2024 celebrations, as reported by AOL.com.
Crowd numbers have dropped significantly from previous peaks of 60,000 down to roughly 20,000 in recent years following targeted municipal campaigns and restrictions.

The Shift From Community Festival to Global Spectacle

What began a decade ago as a promoted community gathering known as “ShibuHallo” has evolved into an international event drawing hundreds of thousands of daily commuters and tourists to Shibuya Crossing. According to CNN, the rapid expansion brought severe logistical challenges, including public urination, noise complaints, broken glass in the streets, and building damage. The situation escalated dramatically in 2018 when unruly revelers overturned a small truck during the festivities, as noted by AOL.com.

Japan’s Jimi Halloween is back with costumes more mundane than ever! Thread of some of my favorites from 2026 🧵

— https://x.com/Johnny_suputama/status/2116480587611734379

Following the deadly crowd crush in Seoul, South Korea, on October 29, 2022, that claimed 159 lives, municipal leaders grew increasingly alarmed about crowd density around Shibuya Station. Mayor Ken Hasebe publicly urged visitors to avoid gathering in the district for Halloween, citing the risk of a similar tragedy. In response to these growing safety concerns, the local government has steadily increased restrictions over successive years, including erecting physical barriers around the iconic Hachiko statue and asking nearby retailers to suspend alcohol sales.

Municipal Crackdowns Across Tokyo and Beyond

Shibuya is not alone in its efforts to rein in disruptive celebrations. Other Japanese municipalities, including Shinjuku in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, are implementing stronger measures against street drinking and unauthorized public gatherings. In Nagoya, authorities have restricted nighttime access to sections of a downtown commercial complex following previous reports of fights and thefts. Meanwhile, Fukuoka officials began restricting access to Kego Park in the Tenjin entertainment district after 5:00 PM.

Japan's Jimi Halloween, a celebration of all things mundane - in pictures - The Guardian — Photo: AOL.com

To discourage problematic behavior, Shibuya launched the “Goodbye Bad Halloween” campaign, which utilizes billboards and additional patrols to warn visitors against littering, smoking on the street, and blocking traffic for costume photoshoots. Officials have also instituted a 2,000 yen fine for littering. Mayor Hasebe noted that these cumulative steps have helped reduce offenses, expressing hope that the district’s Halloween fever is gradually subsiding toward more orderly community events.

Jimi Halloween Offers a Subdued Alternative

Amid the strict policing of Tokyo’s entertainment districts, an alternative celebration known as “Jimi Halloween” has gained widespread popularity over the last 12 years. Originating from a group of adults at Daily Portal Z who felt uncomfortable wearing flashy witch or zombie costumes, Jimi Halloween embraces mundane, everyday situations, according to Upworthy. Participants dress up in subdued, highly relatable scenarios, such as a customer struggling to open a plastic bag for bananas at the supermarket, an office worker acting as a stock photo of a woman eating salad, or a person opening a shaken soda bottle.

Jimi halloween costumes — Photo: Upworthy

This counter-movement provides residents with a creative outlet to participate in the holiday without contributing to the chaotic street scenes in Shibuya. As municipal leaders continue to push for indoor gatherings and neighborhood-level celebrations, Jimi Halloween highlights a distinctly local shift away from large-scale public disruption toward understated humor.