Updated with Halloween 2024 photos!
Halloween in Japan is a unique fusion of Western festivities and Japanese cultural influences. As October unfolds, the city where I currently reside, Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, begins to showcase its Halloween spirit with decorations popping up in storefronts, shopping arcades, and buildings across the city. Though the build-up lasts for months, the spectacle peaks on October 31st, when the streets come alive with creative costumes.
On Halloween night, the areas around Sendai Station and the central shopping districts become hubs for costumed revelers. From common store-bought to homemade whimsical interpretations of classic Halloween or pop culture characters, the costumes highlight playful creativity. Japan, after all, is the origin of cosplay!
As a photographer, I find that the juxtaposition of Sendai’s cityscape with vibrant, imaginative costumes provides a unique chance to capture Halloween in Japan from a more intimate and artistic perspective. While Sendai may not match the high-energy Halloween celebrations of Tokyo, it offers a more relaxed, community-focused atmosphere where locals and visitors take pride in their participation and have fun together.
The photos below were taken in either film or digital format. Can you tell which is which?
