Halloween in Hiroshima

Sep 26, 2024

Halloween in Hiroshima

Halloween is one of the popular western celebrations that Japan has embraced in recent years, in part due to the increase in the country’s American expat population. As might be expected, Japan puts its own unique slant on proceedings. You won’t see trick or treaters out knocking on people’s doors and there aren’t too many shops filling the windows and walls with spooky decorations.

Halloween in Japan is more about parties and dressing up. The two biggest occasions occur at Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Osaka, both of which have big schedules of events. In other parts of Japan, you can expect street parties and events in theme parks where revelers dress up not just in horror-themed attire but also as popular fictional characters. You may also see Halloween Trains on subway networks, where partygoers in fancy costumes fill carriages and hold their own impromptu events.

Hiroshima doesn’t have a Halloween schedule as detailed as bigger cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, but you can still find plenty if you want to enter into the festive spirit. Here’s what to expect.

Halloween Events and Parties in Hiroshima

There are two main public Halloween events in Hiroshima. One is along the Yokogawa Hondori (shopping street) that has held a two-day celebration for the past decade. Usually taking place across the Halloween weekend, it’s scheduled for October 26-27 this year. There are activities from early afternoon, including zombie face-painting and trick or treating in shops. Things really get going after dark when the zombie night gets into full swing. Expect live performances and plenty of dancing.

The other big event is at Hiroshima Castle that usually hosts a trick or treat evening on October 31 for families. Kids are encouraged to attend in fancy dress while adults and older children are positioned around the castle grounds to give out candies. This was a popular annual event but has been more sporadic since COVID-19.

Where to Buy Costumes and Provisions

Fancy dress is the key part of Japanese Halloween, in fact this includes many party occasions in the country. In addition to zombies and other horror movie standards, people also dress up as Manga and Anime cartoon characters as well as other figures from film and TV. Popular stores for sourcing costumes in Hiroshima include Don Quijote, Tokyu Hands, Loft and Daiso.

If you are planning on hosting your own Halloween party and want to buy snacks, sweets and drinks, many grocery stores, sweet shops and bakeries sell themed candies, cakes and drinks, for example cookies or donuts emblazoned with pumpkins or cobwebs.

Halloween-themed Cafes and Restaurants

Sadly, the best option for a Halloween-based menu has now shut down. The Lock Up was a chain of jail-themed eateries across Japan but unfortunately closed the last of its outlets in 2022. The Hiroshima branch was based in an old “haunted house” and had a horror-themed menu, making it perfect for Halloween grub.

Beyond this you can check out KFC, where Japanese outlets like to make a big deal out of Halloween and Christmas, and Mister Donut where those with a sweet tooth can enjoy festively-decorated donuts and cookies.

Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons