It’s been almost one week since Halloween has come and gone, but one holiday story is still making Japanese internet users smile.
While trick-or-treating has yet to catch on in Japan, the Shibuya district of Tokyo has become THE gathering place in recent years for Halloween revelers to show off their painstakingly crafted costumes (or half-assed disguises, in Mr. Sato’s case). In fact, the famous scramble intersection area right outside of Shibuya Station is so happening on Halloween nowadays that it’s actually causing headaches for some who just want to go about their regular business as usual.
Take Twitter user @kaepon1219, for instance. After a long day at the office last week, he could barely fight his way outside of the craziness of Shibuya to catch a cab…and then only to discover that he couldn’t escape Halloween, no matter what.
疲れて帰ろうとしたら、渋谷ハロウィン大変なことなってて、バス動かないし歩いても前進まないし、泣きそうになりながらやっと渋谷抜け出してタクシー拾ったら運転手さん一番ハロウィンだった。 pic.twitter.com/CmlEnHZpwC
— 楓博光@未来の "技" 術者を "育" てる (@kaepon1219) October 31, 2017
“When I was exhausted and trying to go home, the Shibuya area was jam-packed with people. The buses weren’t running and you couldn’t make any progress walking. I was ready to cry in despair but finally made my way out of Shibuya and grabbed a taxi, only to find that my driver was more into the Halloween spirit than anyone else.”
His tweet and pictures of the taxi-driver-turned-Gene Simmons (of KISS) went viral overnight, prompting him to post an amusing follow-up message the next day:
昨日のハロウィンタクシーツイートが1万RT超えてる・・・!!こういうの初めてで普通に焦る。
— 楓博光@未来の "技" 術者を "育" てる (@kaepon1219) November 1, 2017
ちなみにあのタクシー、上司からは頼むからやめてくれって言われてるらしい。
でも単なるメイクですで押し通してるらしい。
ただ、さすがに気遣って渋谷六本木界隈以外は回送にしてるらしいww
“Yesterday’s Halloween taxi tweet has been retweeted over 10,000 times…! This is the first time this has happened for me and I’m overwhelmed.
By the way, about that taxi driver–it seems that his boss has been pleading with him to stop dressing up, but he keeps doing it because it’s just simple makeup. However, he is careful to only send him pickup requests from people in Shibuya or Roppongi [another youth district], LOL.”
In other words, if you’re tired of Halloween messing up your daily commute, be sure to avoid Shibuya near the end of October…but why not get some free candy from the biggest yakuza organization in Japan instead?
Source, featured image: Twitter/@kaepon1219

Cosplaying taxis with monster drivers to offer free rides to cosplayers in Shibuya this Halloween
Saitama is home to the best strawberries in Japan that you’ve probably never even heard of
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Japan has only one airport named after a samurai, so let’s check out Kochi Ryoma【Photos】
Skyscraper sized Pokémon cards to appear in Tokyo all year long in Tocho projection mapping event
Boro the Caterpillar anime now showing at the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo 【SoraReview】
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
Five Okinawan foods that have changed our reporter’s view on local cuisine forever
Say hello to Japan’s new generation of adults, fresh from Kitakyushu’s 2023 seijinshiki ceremony
What’s on the all-you-can-drink menu at Denny’s Japan? 【Family Restaurant Drink Bar Showdown】
Osaka establishes first designated smoking area in Dotonbori canal district to fight “overtourism”
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Is Sapporio’s Snow Festival awesome enough to be worth visiting even if you hate the snow? [Pics]
Japan has trams that say “sorry” while they ride around town…but why?
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Japan’s new “Cunte” contact lenses aren’t pronounced like you’re probably thinking they are
Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Gate and Yamanote Line stairway locations change next month
Yakuzen ramen restaurant in Tokyo is very different to a yakuza ramen restaurant
Starbucks Japan adds new sakura Frappuccino and cherry blossom drinks to the menu
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says