Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.30.43 PM

Last weekend in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, thousands of hardcore cosplayers and Halloween lovers descended on the streets of Kawasaki City to take part in the Kawasaki Halloween Parade 2013, the 17th of its kind and Japan’s largest public parade dedicated to the Western festival.

The 1.5 km course was flanked by food stalls and specially decorated shops catering to the tourists and locals vying to get the best shots of the coolest outfits, and despite the somewhat inclement weather last weekend, thousands turned up to witness and take part in the event, proving once and for all that Halloween has most definitely found a permanent home in Japan.

We weren’t able to make it over to Kanagawa Prefecture to check out the parade for ourselves, but thankfully Japan’s smartphone-loving Twitter army came to the rescue and supplied us with dozens of great pictures, so let’s sit back, relax, and enjoy the parade in photo form!

▼ Shoulder-to-shoulder ghouls, ghosts and sexy vampires.

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.18.32 PM

Photo: KAZU

▼ Predator came out to scare some kids.

DSC_0787

Photo: stk_aktk

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.34.41 PM

Photo: Jasmine_Makoto

▼ The “No More!” anti-piracy guys had a baby with an Instagram camera

kawa 2

Photo: Hazelhasi

▼ Keepin’ it classic

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.19.37 PM

Photo: Akijok

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 5.34.30 PM

Photo: Saorikalavinka

▼ And there were of course plenty of masked heroes to meet!

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.28.31 PM

Photo: 9923kawab

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.20.06 PM

Photo: _Je3_

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.28.58 PM

Photo: Syun_ta_x

▼ Is this the Free! team we see here!? Either way this is amazing.

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.30.23 PM

Photo: Komayo_j_u_r

▼ This Mario Kart group’s outfits are simply inspired.

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.30.43 PM

Photo: Komayo_j_u_r

▼ Hayao Miyazaki inhabits a handful of his own creations. Now that’s scary!

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.31.44 PM

Photo: yoneemon

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 5.00.31 PM

Photo: mao_block

▼ Cute Japanese Alice and pals.

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.32.41 PM

Photo: a_seara45

▼ We didn’t expect to see you guys here!

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.19.11 PM

Photo: Simpsons333

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.33.36 PM

Photo: Mask_jpn

▼ Good to see the pups getting involved too!

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.33.57 PM

Photo: Mask_jpn

▼　It looks like these girls only eat right legs…

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.34.10 PM

Photo: Mask_jpn

▼ “Halloween is fun,” writes this Twitter user. Yes, yes it is.

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.35.06 PM

Photo: tattoo724

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.36.44 PM

Photo: Momocky1989

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.37.30 PM

Photo: DarkKnightArmer

▼ Why go as a comic book character when you can go as the entire comic book?

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.38.04 PM

Photo: Chipdele0904

▼ It’s a giant Umaibou corn snack!

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.38.24 PM

Photo: Slotgonta

▼ The Attack on Titan crew even showed up!

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.39.07 PM

Photo: vhsic_mkll

▼ And here’s a nice close-up shot

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.43.16 PM

Photo: Maejimaeji

▼ A battle-hardened stormtrooper

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.39.24 PM

Photo: h_tsukago

▼ Ol’ Spidey’s looking a bit bored without anyone to fight

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.39.43 PM

Photo: Kusumin_rei

▼ Over-protective boyfriends?

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.40.16 PM

Photo: Moon_913

▼ The gang from Castle in the Sky looking smiley!

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.41.59 PM

Photo: hanagasakutoki

▼ Killer(s) bee

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.42.20 PM

Photo: hanagasakutoki

▼ Zombie military police.

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.40.44 PM

Photo: Macoto_kato

▼ At least someone remembered to keep Halloween scary!

Screen Shot 2013-10-29 at 3.42.51 PM

Photo: Oidonbx

Just two more days until it’s officially halloween, boys and girls. We hope you’ve been making the most of the chance to get creepy!