Re.Nova Kitayama is letting the zombies loose for five days around Halloween and early November! During the afternoon, visitors can catch Victor of the Amazing Circus, featuring a sinister circus troupe, or join a dog costume parade led by clowns. Both people and pets are welcome to dress up for the occasion.

Things get a lot scarier after dark, when around 30–50 zombies begin roaming the grounds. Along with horror performances, visitors can try Zombie Dark Buster, an interactive shooting attraction, or challenge the Yami no Drive, a haunted house built inside an actual scrapped car. The latter is especially intense and requires participants to sign a waiver before entering, so it's not for the faint of heart!

The venue's restaurant, Re.member, is also getting into the Halloween spirit with special dishes, including cheese fondue and squid ink pasta. Note that tickets are sold onsite, cash only.

Kyoto City Hall's front plaza hosts a free cultural festival on Halloween, with stage performances, food stalls, workshops, and plenty of activities for both adults and children. There's also a costume contest and two chances for kids to enjoy some trick or treating.

Performances include traditional bamboo screen entertainment, shamisen music, calligraphy, and a kimono fashion show. The children's costume contest begins at 1:25 PM, while trick or treat activities are scheduled for 12:35 PM and 3:10 PM, so there's plenty to check out throughout the afternoon!

Daimaru Kyoto has plenty of Halloween fun planned for the final week of October, including seasonal sweets, photo spots, and special performances. On October 31, balloon artist MARIN takes over the sixth floor for two shows at 1 PM and 3 PM, creating colorful balloon figures right in front of the audience.

The first 50 spectators at each performance can even take home a pumpkin balloon, and a costume parade follows each show. There's also a special gift for eligible shoppers who join the parade (purchase conditions apply, see website for details).

If you're visiting earlier in the week, the sixth floor will have a Halloween photo spot from October 29–31, and a separate Halloween bubble show by performer Shabota Awao on October 25, with afternoon and evening performances on the rooftop.

Ready to take on some zombies? AEON Mall KYOTO is hosting a free Halloween attraction where visitors can grab a laser gun and fight off approaching zombies inside a darkened, enclosed activity area. With live actors, lighting, and sound effects, there are plenty of scares along the way!

There are two sessions, each lasting approximately 45 minutes. Keep in mind that the attraction includes loud sounds and scenes that may frighten younger visitors, (although participants are free to leave during a session if things get too scary!)

Kyoto's Takao district celebrates Halloween with a supernatural twist, inviting visitors to explore the mountain area while encountering yokai, the strange creatures and spirits of Japanese folklore.

One of the main activities is a puzzle hunt that takes participants between different locations around Takao, solving clues with a shared puzzle kit and the LINE app. There's also a riverside workshop where visitors can paint their own yokai masks, along with a Yokai Teahouse where they can meet costumed characters.

If you need a break between activities, the teahouse has seating along the Kiyotaki River, with themed drinks like Kappa's Swamp Soda and Japanese sweets. Kids of junior high school age and younger who bring a handmade yokai mask can even get a free drink! Costumes are optional but encouraged, and both adults and children are welcome to join the mask workshop.

The Sewaritei district of Yodogawa Riverside Park in Yawata is also getting into the Halloween spirit, with a festival for both adults and children that includes a costume contest, Halloween photo displays, food stalls, and traditional Japanese festival games.

Visitors are encouraged to come in costume, although dressing up is not required. Admission is free, with separate fees for food and some activities, and there's plenty of outdoor space to enjoy the festivities along the riverside.

The event is about a 10-minute walk from Keihan Iwashimizu Hachimangu Station, and is scheduled to go on even in the event of light rain (although it may be canceled if the weather gets too bad).

ASOBIYUKU Kyoto Rurikei Onsen has Halloween activities running through November 3, with seasonal food, costumes, pumpkin hunts, and games taking place around the resort. Younger visitors can enjoy trick or treating, while the pumpkin hunt sends participants searching for pumpkins hidden around the grounds.

Things get even more interesting in the last five days, with scheduled Ghost Busters missions, fire and magic performances, and a late night horror program around the resort's illuminated grounds! Visitors can also join the Halloween photo contest by submitting photos or videos taken at ASOBIYUKU or GRAX.

Note that some nighttime programs and accommodation plans have separate participation conditions, so be sure to check the details before visiting.

VIVA SQUARE KYOTO, located inside Umekoji Park, is bringing back its Halloween activities with playground attractions, craft workshops, and live performances. During the day, kids can make their own monster designs, learn juggling and other skills from street performers on selected dates, or have fun on attractions like paddle boats, slides, and trampolines.

For those looking for something a little scarier, Halloween Night takes place on October 31, November 1, and November 3. The main attraction is a darkened inflatable dome where participants must search for a vaccine as part of a horror mission. It's recommended for ages 9 and older, with a separate fee for the experience.

(Just keep in mind that daytime and nighttime activities require separate admission!)

Furukawacho Shopping Street is celebrating Halloween with its autumn lantern festival on October 24. Along with Halloween decorations and activities, this year's event features a bread festival, handmade market, and special products from shops along the covered arcade.

Browse baked goods and crafts while exploring the shopping street, or check out the separate activity area at Shirakawa Life Academia with games and activities for children. A Halloween parade is also part of the festivities, so feel free to come dressed up!

ENTERTAINMENT HUB KYOTO, a multistory entertainment complex near Kyoto Station, is getting into the Halloween spirit with decorations throughout its restaurants, bars, karaoke areas, and rooftop terrace.

On the first floor, Mexican live music restaurant Casa de Amigos is serving seasonal drinks and a Halloween Brownie Sundae made with chocolate brownie, vanilla ice cream, citrus fruit, and raspberry sauce. Guests can also enjoy live Mexican music while dining, although performance times haven't been specified.

The Halloween decorations continue upstairs at OM Art & Music on the eighth floor and the rooftop OM Sky Terrace, where there's also a photo spot overlooking Kyoto Tower. Whether you're dropping by for a meal, drinks, karaoke, or a visit to the rooftop, there's plenty to check out throughout the building.

Looking to meet some new people while celebrating Halloween? Welcome Japan is hosting an international Halloween party at Cheeky Pub House, where visitors can chat, play games, and enjoy drinks with people from Japan and overseas. Both English and Japanese speakers are welcome, and you can join whether you're coming alone or with friends.

There'll be Halloween themed chocolate treats and games like UNO and Jenga to help everyone get acquainted. Costumes and Halloween accessories are encouraged but aren't required, so feel free to come as you are! Several ticket options are available, including advance purchase and student discounts, with drinks sold separately.

If dancing is more your Halloween style, Latin Bar El Coyote in central Kyoto is throwing a party featuring salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, reggaeton, and other Latin music. DJ Yoanny will be providing the music for the night, and guests are encouraged to come in costume. Dressing up also gets you discounted admission, which includes one drink. The same discount is available to qualifying LINE members, so be sure to check them out on the app before arriving!

Club METRO's long running DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER party is back with a special Halloween edition called DEMONS XXX. Expect a night of gothic horror, elaborate costumes, drag performances, and plenty of dance music, with DJs LaLa and kor providing the music and guest performer Bluerett joining the lineup.

The performances aren't limited to the stage, either, with the show extending onto the dance floor. And if you've been looking for an excuse to put together an especially elaborate Halloween costume, this might be your chance! Guests who go all out may even qualify for an entrance discount, (although the organizers haven't specified a fixed amount at the time of publishing).

WORLD KYOTO is celebrating Halloween with two parties on October 30 and 31, each featuring a different lineup of DJs and performers.

On October 30, WORLD HALLOWEEN 2026 brings DJ and producer Taku Takahashi of m-flo to the club, alongside resident DJ K.Motoyoshi and other performers. There'll also be music across the venue's different rooms, including a guest live performance by FUJI and a selection of Japanese sake at FUJIYAMA.

The following night, Hospital of Terror takes over with CYBERJAPAN DANCERS, guest DJ KANAE, and a special appearance by ちぃたん☆. More DJs and performers will be appearing throughout the venue, including a separate live performance by gembu.

Both nights offer free admission for ladies in full Halloween costume, although an 800 yen drink purchase is still required. Entry is restricted to guests aged 20 and over.

Chourakukan is hosting a special Halloween evening tea party for two nights inside its historic Western style mansion near Maruyama Park. Guests are encouraged to dress up for the occasion, with a changing room and cloakroom available.

The evening begins with a seasonal course featuring pumpkin potage and homemade roast pork, followed by Halloween sweets and savory dishes served on a three tier wagon. The menu includes black sesame and blackcurrant mousse decorated with a spiderweb, pumpkin Mont Blanc tart, roast duck, and smoked autumn mackerel. And for dessert, there's a Baked Alaska made with banana and kinako ice cream, finished with blue flames right before your eyes!

After dining, guests can spend some time taking photographs around the mansion, including the Rococo style Geihin no Ma reception room, which opens specially for the event. Sparkling wine, tea, coffee, and nonalcoholic drinks are also included.

Chocolate lovers might want to check out Hilton Kyoto's autumn chocolate buffet, which gets a special Halloween makeover from October 19. The dessert selection features pumpkins, mushrooms, forest creatures, and other spooky designs, all made using approximately 25 varieties of Valrhona chocolate, including dark, milk, blond, and flavored chocolates.

The Halloween menu includes pumpkin mousse with caramel and miso, a dark chocolate teddy bear, raspberry chocolate mousse, white sesame soufflé cheesecake with green apple jelly, and a mushroom shaped mousse with pecan and porcini praline.

There's also a live dessert station where guests can choose from six different chocolate mousses and toppings, along with chocolate ice cream served in monaka wafers. Savory dishes are included in the buffet, too.

Fauchon Hotel Kyoto's Halloween afternoon tea mixes gothic imagery with the French brand's signature pink colors at Salon de Thé Fauchon, with a special October menu that features spooky sweets inspired by ghosts, witches, and other Halloween creepies!

The selection includes pumpkin cannelés, pear and vanilla marshmallow ghosts, a blackcurrant and cherry roll cake with chestnut cream, and a miniature parfait made with chocolate brownie, raspberry cream, Fauchon tea ice cream, and a chocolate spiderweb.

There's also a savory selection featuring mushroom tartlets, pumpkin cake, roast beef and purple cabbage sandwiches, and beetroot potage. The two hour session begins with a special welcome tea, followed by a choice of Fauchon teas, coffee, and fruit juices.

Black cats, skeletons, witches, and other spooky characters are taking over the dessert stand at Hotel Nikko Princess Kyoto's Dark Halloween Afternoon Tea!

The sweets include black cocoa pudding shaped like a black cat, a black sesame skeleton muffin, a witch inspired chestnut pie, cross shaped cookies, and churros made to look like magic wands. There's plenty on the savory side, too, including pumpkin and bacon roll sandwiches, pumpkin mousse with grilled Tamba chicken, pickles, and vegetables with bagna cauda.

The afternoon tea is served at the hotel's Cafe and Dining Amber Court, with coffee, several varieties of black tea, caffeine free tea, and herbal tea available. Just remember to make your reservation by the previous day!

Kyoto Avanti's underground restaurant district is hosting a Halloween food and drink event on October 29 and 30, where participating restaurants will prepare special bar menus with whiskey, other alcoholic drinks, and soft drinks, too!

Visitors purchase tickets at the event counter and use them to sample different foods and drinks from participating spots throughout the basement floor. Tickets are sold in sets of five for 1,000 yen, so it’s the perfect chance to try a few different things from places you may not have tried before.

There'll also be balloon performances and Halloween face painting, which costs one ticket per design. And if you come in costume, you can receive a complimentary welcome drink from the selected drinks at the event's bar counter!

Want to try making your own Halloween sweets? Traditional Kyoto confectionery Shichijo Kanshundo is offering a special October workshop at Kyoto Tower Sando, where participants can make seasonal wagashi featuring Halloween designs alongside other autumn motifs.

During the workshop, you'll make four traditional Japanese sweets, including Halloween themed nerikiri, a cosmos flower nerikiri, and a fragrant olive inspired kinton. Nerikiri is a soft confection made with sweet bean paste and dough that can be shaped into detailed seasonal designs.

Once your sweets are finished, you'll prepare matcha to enjoy with one of your creations, while the remaining three can be taken home. The workshop lasts approximately 60–90 minutes and takes place at Kyoto Tower Sando, directly across from Kyoto Station.

Same day bookings may be possible, although reserving ahead is recommended to allow time for preparation.

While Kyoto is known for its temples, traditional streets, and autumn scenery, Halloween brings a little something different to the city at the end of October. It's a fun time to get out, see what people have planned, and perhaps even try something you wouldn't normally do on a trip to Kyoto!

Many Halloween events only run for a day or two, so be sure to check the latest event info before heading out. And whether you're putting together a costume or simply tagging along for the fun, bring something warm for the evening, and have a great Halloween in Kyoto!