National Japan Halloween Party Guide 2009

By Japanzine Staff

tokyo

 
Geronimo Shot Bar & Mogambo (Roppongi)
Costume parties kick off at 20:00 at these two bars, which are across from the street each other. Both are offering Jaeger-Red Bull cocktails at ¥500 all night long!
www.geronimoshotbar.com


Naka-dori (Marunouchi)
As well as a children's Halloween costume parade on October 30th and 31st, Naka-dori will be decorated with hanging pumpkin baskets from October 13th through to the end of the month. The Halloween Kids' Parade starts outside the Shin-Tokyo Building at 15:00 on the 30th, and again at 10:00 and 14:00 on the 31st. Should be cute!
www.marunouchi.com/nakadori/halloween2009


Bar Coyote (Shinjuku)
The annual J&F Halloween Party is all set for Friday, October 23rd. This one always attracts a strong international crowd, so make sure you're there from 18:30 through to 21:45 for this all-you-can-eat-and-drink bash. Admission is ¥3,000.
www.guesth.com/keitai/inter_party_e.htm


alife (Nishi-Azabu)
Metropolis magazine is throwing the "Halloween Glitterball '09" at alife on Wednesday, October 28th. The evening begins at 19:00; there's a costume contest planned, and you can count on all-you-can-drink until 23:30. A crowd of more than 2,000 people attended last year's Glitterball, but this time out there's only space for 1,500. Tickets cost ¥4,000. See the website for more details.
archive.metropolis.co.jp/glitterball_h09


Outback Steakhouse (Shinagawa)
Servers will be in costume at dinner time on October 30th and 31st, while customers will receive a free special dessert. Customers in costume will also receive a free beer or glass of wine!
 
 
Outback Steakhouse (Roppongi)
At dinner time on October 30th and 31st, customers in costume will receive a free drink. Plus: kids can participate in the "all-you-can-grab-candy" event.

nagoya

Shooters (Fushimi)
The good people at Shooters are offering something for everyone all weekend long. On Saturday, you can join the Nagoya-Life crew for their Costume Party from 18:00-21:00. Afterwards, stick around for the always crazy WIZARD Halloween party featuring DJs, a Drag Queen floor show, the twisted SFX makeup of David Mazzuchi, and all you can eat and drink for four hours. At 11:30 the next day, November 1st, you can bring the kiddies out for their yearly costume parade and trick-or-treating.
www.shooters-nagoya.com


Moricoro Park (on the site of the 2005 Expo)
An event labeled as an "International Exchange and Cosplay", I'm expecting this one to have a lot of J-flavor.  With games and events happening from 10:00 to 17:00, this one is probably ideal for the kids. Local heroes Semi-On will play from 16:00. And it's FREE!


Misfits (Imaike)
Offering what must be the best deal of the night, you can get a three-hour nomihoudai for only ¥1,000 if you turn up in costume... or naked (true!). The fun kicks off at 20:00.
www.misfitsnagoya.com


Red Rock (Sakae)
On Friday, Nagoya Friends are kicking things off early with their annual Halloween party from 18:30-21:00.  There'll be a costume contest with some great prizes for the winners. ¥3,000 gets you all you can eat and drink for two-and-a-half hours. On Saturday, starting at 20:00, the Rock is offering free admission to its Costume Party, complete with Halloween Quiz and ¥10,000 in bar credit to be won.
www.theredrock.jp


Vabel (central Nagoya)
The ever-popular DJ Ogawa and DJ Tohru will be spinning house on the ground floor, while Yokohama's hip-hop-princess, DJ Mayumi, will be spinning on the top. There will also be belly dancers and specials all night long. Get there before 21:00 to save ¥1,000 on the entry price.


Club iD (Sakae)
Always known for having one of the most packed Halloween parties in town, iD is offering two days of dancing, drinking and contests, starting on the 30th. Price for entry is ¥TBC.


Outback Steakhouse (Sakae)
Servers will be wearing costume at dinnertime on October 30th through November 1st, and any customers who turn up in a costume will receive a free drink.

osaka

Elixir (Nishi-ku)
Our good friends at Elixir are throwing a Halloween party from 21:00 on October 31st. Everyone who turns up at this bash will be treated to a free glass of Sangria and a "Special Halloween Shot"... wonder what that could be!
www.elixircafebar.com


WAX69 (Chuo-ku)
Something pumpkin-shaped will be going down at everyone's favorite Cali surf bar, but at the time of writing the proprietors aren't quite sure what that something will be! Best keep your eye on the "Wax 69" facebook group for updates.


Pure (Shinsaibashi)
There's a Why Not!?-sponsored Halloween Costume Party happening here from 18:30-21:30 on the 31st. It costs ¥2,500 for Why Not!? members and ¥3,000 for everyone else.
www.whynotjapan.com


Sam & Dave (Umeda)
The Halloween Party at Sam & Dave Umeda runs from 20:00-05:00 on the 31st and features a costume contest with a ¥50,000 prize for the winner. Admission costs ¥3,000 (w/ two drinks) for men, and ¥2,000 (also w/ two drinks) for ladies. 
www.samanddave.jp


Sam & Dave 5 (Nagahoribashi)
The Nagahoribashi Sam & Dave venue has the same offer of a ¥50,000 prize for the winner of its costume contest. The party rolls from 22:00-07:00 on the 31st. Admission costs ¥2,000 (w/ one drink) for men, and ¥2,000 (w/ two drinks) for ladies.
www.samanddave.jp


Sam & Dave 02 (Shinsaibashi)
The hip-hop/R&B/reggae-flavored Halloween Night at Sam & Dave Shinsaibashi runs from 21:00-05:00. Admission costs ¥3,000 (w/ two drinks) for men, and ¥2,000 (also w/ two drinks) for ladies. 
www.samanddave.jp


Outback Steakhouse (Umeda)
Any customers who arrive in costume at dinner time on October 31st will receive a free drink. Plus: Kids will be served pumpkin ice cream for free.

kobe

Halloween at the Hobgoblin! (Sannomiya)
Get down Hobgoblin on Saturday, October 31st, where there's a FREE shot for anyone who turns up wearing a costume! Plus, all Famous Hobgoblin Pints are only ¥500 all night long!

Polo Dog (Sannomiya)
Polo Dog's Halloween Party gets going at 19:00 on October 31st. There's a costume contest with Polo Dog vouchers for the winners, and drinks are ¥400 all night. No cover charge, either!


Midnight Express (Sannomiya)
The Halloween Bash here kicks off at 21:30 on the 31st and runs till late, with live music and DJs keeping the party moving. Wear a costume and get one free shot! (No cover charge here, either.)


Pirates Den (Sannomiya)
Get down to the Pirates Den at 21:00 on October 31st for an African Dance Party (¥2,500 plus one drink) with live African music, followed at 23:30 by a no-cover-charge Halloween Party... A curious match-up, but there you are! Oh and wear a costume to get a free tequila shot!

kyoto

UrBANGUILD
The "Zombie Prom 2009" at UrBANGUILD, Kyoto's premier avant-garde venue, takes place from 18:30-02:00 on Friday, October 30th. Origami ガールズ - a two-piece rock band comprising Yukari from Osaka (bass/vocals) and Meka from Florida via Kyoto (on guitar/vocals) - are headlining the event, and promise to "entertain all ghouls" and "hit on cute boys, dead or undead". There will also be a zombie costume contest, art installations, experimental instrumentalists (probably the most frightening aspect of the whole ordeal), creepy DJs and much, much more. Admission costs ¥1,500 or ¥2,000, depending on whether you're in costume.   
www.urbanguild.net


Sam & Dave Kyoto
There's free face paint on offer at the Sam & Dave Halloween Party in Kyoto, which runs from 21:00-05:00 on the 31st. Admission costs ¥3,000 (w/ two drinks) for men, and ¥2,000 (also w/ two drinks) for the ladies. 
www.samanddave.jp


WORLD
This highly rated Kyoto club has three "World Halloween Party" nights lined up on October 29th through 31st. From 22:00 on Thursday 29th, there's a Halloween Contest complete with make-up and goods booths and sounds from DJ Dog (¥2,500 w/ one drink); and on the nights of Friday 30th and Saturday 31st you've got the Essential and House Beat nights respectively (both ¥3,000 w/ one drink). DJ Sugiurumn will be playing on the 31st, and the events doubles as his birthday party. 
www.world-kyoto.com


McLoughlin's
There's a Halloween Costume Party hitting McLoughlin's (down on Kiyamachi, just north of Sanjo) from 18:30-21:30 on the 31st. This one has a buffet and you get one free drink, though admission is ¥2,000 and you need to get dressed up in some scary garb (you'll have to pay ¥2,500 if you're not in costume). Reservations must be placed by October 29th. Email for more details. 
www.inetworkjapan.com

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