Halloween took a while to become popular in Japan, but since it has been embraced, the country has taken to it with enthusiasm. Halloween items and decorations can be found everywhere in the leadup to the holiday, and costume parades and street parties mark the occasion in cities throughout Japan. 

Celebrating the holiday has become a tradition at Azabu Gardens, but the property took a much more modest approach to Halloween in the wake of Covid-19. However, this year marked a return to the spirit of pre-pandemic events. On October 31 from 5 to 7pm, the Azabu Garden community celebrated the spookiest time of the year. 

The space was decked out in Halloween finery, with balloons, banners, pumpkins, bats, skeletons, spider webs, and more. Adding to the ambience was a playlist of lively children’s Halloween hits piped in on a stereo. During the evening, about 80 adults and more than 100 children dropped by. 

Costumes and Community

Of course, one of the highlights of the event were all the costumes, some of which were handmade. Elsa and Anna from the Frozen series were popular for the girls and Spider-Man, the Minions, and Harry Potter characters were a frequent choice for the boys. Some children came as zombies, wearing frightfully realistic makeup. One particularly cute costume was worn by a girl who was dressed up like a cat. Adults got into the spirit of the event, and one of the standouts was a pair of parents dressed up like sushi. And Azabu Gardens staff members also wore their Halloween finest. To capture the fantastic costumes and unforgettable moments, there was a photo spot set up at the event, and photos were shared with residents. 

The party wasn’t just limited to those who live at Azabu Gardens—neighborhood children and adults who are friends of the residents were also there. As most of the nearby apartment buildings didn’t have trick-or-treating events, the party was a hit with local kids.

This year’s Halloween party marked a happy return to celebrations, and everyone who attended, from children to adults, had a frightfully good time.