Shibuya Halloween 2016: Photographing Japan’s Biggest Party

Shibuya Halloween 2016 was one of the largest unofficial street parties in Tokyo’s history, drawing an estimated 70,000 costumed revelers to the Scramble Crossing. Unlike modern years with strict drinking bans and heavy policing, 2016 represented the peak of the event’s “wild” era, characterized by massive crowds, elaborate cosplay, and spontaneous celebration.

My first Shibuya Halloween in 2016. When I stepped out of the station, I was shocked. I had never seen the sheer scale of such a crowd. It was a true “people overload,” with a costumed sea of humanity flooding the world’s most famous pedestrian crossing. Many were cute and sexy, and some looked scary. Then there was everyone else. Great costumes were everywhere. I even saw a few guys wearing underwear on their heads! Bizarre, but true.

Discovering the Shibuya Halloween Phenomenon

Have you ever heard of Shibuya Halloween? Back in 2016, I certainly hadn’t. A student of mine, who knew I loved photography, mentioned the massive street party. Intrigued, and with my trusty Ricoh GR II in my bag, I decided to see it for myself.

The massive crowds at Shibuya Crossing in 2016

I bolted to Shibuya once work was over. The train got there around 10 p.m. Once out of the station, the size of the crowd shocked me. I had never seen so many people. A sea of people stretched from the Hachiko Statue to Starbucks and beyond.

The Halloween Shibuya 2016 vibe

Considering how packed it was, it wasn’t out of control or overly noisy. People wandered the streets, looking at other people looking at them. Everyone was looking at the famous Shibuya Crossing. They wanted to see how many bodies could cram onto it until the lights changed to green. Near the Hachiko statue, a few asked others to take photos together, but that was about it.

The event wasn’t wild. There was no crazy partying, which I guess is a good thing. It’s like dressing up to have quiet fun in a crowded place. Does that make sense? Anyway, I honestly had no idea how big Halloween 2016 would be.

Photographing the friendly faces of Halloween

One thing that truly surprised me was the openness of the crowd. As it was my first time asking strangers for photos, I was a little hesitant. However, everyone I approached was incredibly friendly and accommodating, and not a single person refused a picture. This left me with a very positive feeling about the event.

In retrospect, I wish I had taken my DSLR. It had far better low-light capability, but I had to work with what I had. Thankfully, the photos were good enough.

My experience at Shibuya’s most iconic Halloween

Halloween wasn’t my thing when I was younger. But I’m glad I went in 2016. It made me more interested. Changes have happened since this first visit, but those can’t be avoided. I might even go in a costume in the future! When will I make the jump and find a suitable outfit? That is a mystery. To get more of this wonderful Shibuya event, check out [Shibuya Halloween 2017: A Party That Became Too Big].

Have you been to a Shibuya Halloween? Share your experience in the comments below.