Halloween came to Japan in 2000 when Tokyo Disneyland hosted its first Halloween event, followed quickly by similar celebrations at Sanrio Puroland and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. Since then, this American holiday has exploded in popularity across the country, but there are a few differences in the way the Japanese celebrate the season.
While costumes and parties are still abundant on October 31 and sweet treats are still part of the holiday, haunted attractions are harder to come by and no one goes door to door trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Still, many Japanese stores get into the spirit by selling colorful decorations and desserts—some made with purple sweet potatoes. McDonald's in Tokyo gets into the act by offering a black burger.
Halloween in Japan is mostly geared toward adults who want to dress in costume, but despite its newfound popularity, not everyone in Japan celebrates the holiday. Some Japanese see Halloween only as an opportunity for foreigners to dress in silly costumes and turn public trains into big parties, thereby disrupting commutes.