TOKYO - Tokyo's Shibuya district was crowded with costumed revelers on October 31 as Halloween fell on a Saturday for the first time in six years, prompting the Metropolitan Police Department to deploy hundreds of officers and impose traffic restrictions around the area's famous scramble crossing.
Large numbers of people dressed in Halloween costumes gathered around Shibuya Station, with crowds growing steadily throughout the day. Police introduced traffic controls at key intersections, including Shibuya's scramble crossing, where officers known as "DJ Police" used loudspeakers to direct pedestrians and urge them to keep moving rather than stopping in the middle of the crossing.
Authorities also enforced a ban on drinking alcohol in public streets and called on local businesses to voluntarily suspend alcohol sales as part of measures aimed at preventing disorder and maintaining public safety during one of Tokyo's busiest annual nightlife events.
The Saturday timing appeared to be drawing particularly large numbers of visitors, many of whom arrived in elaborate costumes to celebrate with friends.
"I thought it would be lively because it's Saturday, and just as expected, more and more people have been arriving," one visitor said.
Others were enthusiastic about dressing up and enjoying the festivities. Two participants wearing Cinderella and Snow White costumes said they had come to Shibuya to have fun, adding that they hoped to enjoy Halloween while making sure they did not become separated in the crowds.
The Metropolitan Police Department deployed several hundred officers across the district to monitor pedestrian movements, enforce traffic restrictions and respond to potential disturbances.
With Halloween celebrations continuing into the evening, police maintained heightened security around Shibuya Station and the surrounding entertainment district, where large gatherings of costumed visitors have become a defining feature of the annual event.
Source: TBS
