Shibuya Halloween 2017: A Party That Grew Too Big
Shibuya Halloween 2017 was an experience on an entirely different scale. While I didn’t go to the main event that year I went to the “prequel”. What’s that I hear you ask? Well the event goes for a whole week! I went on the 29th and the 30th. I’m not sure how many people were there, but it felt like one of the world’s biggest street parties. This monster-sized event completely took over the district.
The origins of the Shibuya Halloween phenomenon
“Took over” is the key phrase here, because the Shibuya Halloween phenomenon was never an official, city-planned festival. It was a spontaneous gathering that grew year after year, eventually reaching a scale that brought massive challenges. Even back in 2017, the signs were there: a heavy police presence with a plan was needed for crowd control. Local businesses voiced concerns, and the sheer amount of garbage left behind became a significant problem.
Crowd control at Shibuya Crossing 2017: A photographer’s perspective
The sheer number of people packed into one place was incredible. I’d expected Hachiko’s statue and the famous Shibuya Crossing to be the epicenters, but the reality was that people were everywhere. The entire area, from Shibuya 109 to Bunkamura, was a slow-moving sea of humanity. Down in the narrow Senta-Gai, the crowd was packed to the rafters. Garden snails probably moved faster. Being a photographer stuck in the middle, unable to move, was a unique kind of frustration.
Iconic Costumes: From Japanese Cosplay to a Papal visit
Some people looked rather sexy and cute. There were the weird and bizarre, through to those who were genuinely scary. Then there was everyone in between. Many people had put a lot of time and effort into their costumes. My favorite was the Pope and his cardinals. If I remember correctly, the guys came all the way from the Philippines for the event.
Photography & social media: The night Shibuya went viral
Halloween in Shibuya is the one event of the year that pulls people out of their comfort zones. You don’t often see Japanese people talk to strangers in the street. But here it happens all the time. People asked to take photos together if they saw someone with a crowd-stopping outfit. Then it was a quick chat about it; move on.
Yes, many go there to photograph the event, but not all. I’m sure some go there to get photographed. They look for attention. I’ve heard a few models and YouTubers got their breaks this way. Many people were taking photos or doing video. How many of them went viral?
The end of an era: Why Shibuya Halloween is different today
As I reedit, rewrite and republish this article again in 2026, I cast my mind back on the event. Despite how packed Shibuya was, the crowd never felt out of control. It was noisy, certainly, but not wild. Whatever you could have said about Halloween 2017, we know one thing. It was fun and one of the world’s biggest street parties.
But those freewheeling parties of the late 2010s are now a thing of the past. The event made changes to Shibuya that were far reaching. A ban on drinking during the event was eventually implemented and that has now become year round. Now, the public consumption of alcohol is now forbidden around the station and Miyashita Park between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The 2017 event was not just a fun party, but as a historical snapshot of a phenomenon that became too big to handle. Still, it is another example of “how fun things used to be”. By the way, if you like cosplay, check out Shibuya Halloween 2016: Photographing Japan’s Biggest Party.
As you probably know, Shibuya City has rules for Halloween. You might want to read them before dressing up in October.
My photography gear for this event
- Camera body: Fujifilm X-T2
- Lens: Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
- Flash: Godox V860II
Date of Photos: 29 October 2017
