By SHO HATSUMI/ Staff Writer
October 31, 2025 at 16:40 JST
Shibuya Ward has fenced off the Hachiko statue in front of Shibuya Station for the third consecutive year to deter massive throngs of Halloween revelers. (Sho Hatsumi)
It's year three of no treats or trickery for Hachiko as about 20 workers began installing fencing and banners around the popular meeting spot outside Shibuya Station just after 6 a.m. on Oct. 30.
The ward is taking measures to tamp down on Halloween overcrowding and mischief again, with banners around the statue declaring that, “The area around the Hachiko statue is closed” and “Halloween activities that cause trouble for others are prohibited.”
The coverings are scheduled to be removed early in the morning on Nov. 1.
Past issues with drunken crowds and trashed streets led Shibuya Ward to push back on the district's reputation as a party spot during the holiday with anti-gathering measures such as the fencing and an ordinance banning public drinking.
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