The mayor of Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward, which in recent years has become a hub for boisterous Halloween celebrations that see massive crowds pack the area, has a message for any would-be revelers this year: don’t come.
“Shibuya isn’t a venue for Halloween events,” Mayor Ken Hasebe said during a news conference on Tuesday. “Please don’t gather around Shibuya Station for Halloween purposes (during this period).”
Shibuya’s famous scramble crossing has become the go-to spot for younger generations — both local residents and tourists — with thousands of costumed partiers congregating, at times making it almost impossible to move.