Halloween in Japan

Out of all Asian countries, Japan is the place where Halloween is embraced the most. At around the turn of the millennium, Tōkyo Disneyland held its first Halloween event. Ever since then, Halloween has gone on to become frighteningly popular in Japan.

Halloween is a unique chance for kids in Japan to dress up and attend parties. But young adults are the ones who seize this opportunity the most, putting on detailed costumes and partying. This especially applies to Japan’s cosplay (costume play) scene.

Dressing up is undoubtedly the Halloween tradition that got the most attention in Japan. Costumes can range anywhere from typical ones like witches, vampires, zombies or ghosts to pop culture-themed. These often portray characters from manga, anime or movies.

Credit: Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival

Other traditions, like trick-or-treating, did not catch on, as it is considered impolite to knock on strangers’ doors. Add to this that many Japanese live in alarm secured apartment complexes, meaning you literally won’t be in for a treat. The carving of jack-o-lanterns from pumpkins though is commonly seen in Japan on Halloween.

There are lots of Halloween themed events taking place throughout September and October in theme parks and in the cities. Stores come up with wicked Halloween editions for their products. Parties on public squares, in parks or even on the train are common. The Halloween party at Tōkyo’s famous Shibuya ward street crossing is most well known.

Halloween in South Korea

While not as popular as in Japan, Halloween is an important date for South Korea’s party crowd. In South Korea, expats and English language teachers brought over the concept of Halloween and made it a trend.

During Halloween in South Korea children will dress up, attend Halloween parties at community centers or schools, and get to trick-or-treat there. The K-Pop scene also participates in the festivities at Halloween parties where the idols showcase their elaborate costumes. Many K-Pop stars will also release behind-the-stage videos of them in spooktacular costumes, showing off their dance routine.

South Korea has a lot to offer when it comes to Halloween events. Dubbed as South Korea’s own Disneyland, Everland theme park holds many Halloween themed events and parades in September and October. But the nation’s capital Seoul also has many nerve-racking opportunities to get your dose of thrill.

The Seoul Zombie Run is a special event where you run a 3 km course, while trying to protect your three lives from a horde of terrifying zombies. Of course Seoul also doesn’t lack in partying. The Itaewon district, which boasts a large expat community, sees many costumed party-goers every Halloween.

Halloween in Taiwan

As many expatriates living in Taiwan didn’t want to go without their traditional holidays from back home, they simply started celebrating them in Taiwan. This made Halloween more and more popular over the years, particularly with kids. In Taiwan, Halloween is also called Wànshèngjié (萬聖節) which translates to “Million Spirits Festival”.

Halloween in Taiwan is mostly geared towards families. The Taipei Zoo holds its annual “Zoolloween” event, which combines spooky events with raising awareness for animals. Another popular event is the Halloween parade in Taipei’s Tianmu district. If you are looking to turn the night into day, Taipei’s bars and clubs present ample opportunity for partying. Many of them also have special offers and events for costumed customers.

Credit: Taipei Zoo Facebook