With Shibuya’s crackdown on public drinking – which is now in effect all year round – Shinjuku is following suit by banning public drinking over Halloween from October 31 to November 1.
Shinjuku’s Kabukicho area is known for attracting large crowds during holidays and festivals like Halloween. Unfortunately, the vibrant party atmosphere also leads to overcrowding and littering. To help ease the chaos, Shinjuku's Halloween ban will restrict street drinking around the areas of Kabukicho 1-chome and Shinjuku 3-chome from 5pm October 31 to 5am November 1.
Liquor stores are also urged to stop selling alcohol during the prohibition period. Additionally, approximately 100 staff members and security guards will be deployed to keep an eye on the crowds.
Looking ahead, Shinjuku is considering introducing penalties for causing public disturbance. The city will also be working in cooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and national government to implement broader measures to help combat overtourism. This includes controlling the flow of people during certain seasons and times of day as well as having better guidance in place for local attractions.
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