Halloween events planned throughout Japan

Friday, Oct. 23, 2009

Halloween events planned throughout Japan

By ERIKO ARITA
Staff writer

Halloween events are taking place in many cities in Japan.

Boo!: Hundreds turn out for Kawasaki's 2008 Halloween parade.

Tokyo's Omotesando will hold a parade titled "Hello Halloween Pumpkin Parade 2009." In the parade, 1,000 children in various costumes will march and show off their fancy outfits.

Passes for joining the parade have sold out, but it will still be fun to see the children all dressed up.

The parade starts at 1 p.m. on Omotesando street and finishes at 2:15 p.m. Omotesando street is near Omotesando Station on the Ginza and Hanzomon subway lines and five minutes from JR Harajuku Station.

At Space O in Omotesando Hills, professional photographers will take pictures of children in costumes aged 12 and under, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 25. For more information, visit www.harajuku-halloween.com

According to Kiddy Land, a toy company helping to organize the events, the first Halloween parade in Japan was held by the company in Omotesando in 1983.

In Yokohama, Motomachi Shopping Street will hold a Halloween event on Oct. 30. Children in costumes can visit the shops on the street and give them a traditional "Trick or Treat!" The shops will start giving out sweets to children around 4 p.m. on that day. Motomachi Shopping Street is connected to Motomachi Chukagai Station on the Minatomirai Line or it is a two-minute-walk from Ishikawacho Station on the JR Keihintohoku Line.

In Kawasaki, a lot of Halloween- themed events will take place from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1. A market selling Halloween goods will open Oct. 24-25 and 3,000 people in costumes are set to parade on Oct. 31. For more information, visit lacittadella.co.jp/halloween

In Kyoto's Kitayama area, a Halloween party will be held Oct. 23 and a costume parade will take place on Oct. 25.

There will also be a workshop on making jack-o'-lanterns Oct. 23-24. The venues of the events are close to Kitayama Station on the Karasuma Subway Line. For more information, visit www.kitayama-halloween.com/