October in Japan looks a little different than it does in Canada. While Canadians bundle up and patrol the neighbourhood for candy, Japan turns Halloween into a full-blown spectacle with lights, music and incredible costumes. Japan has reimagined Halloween as something uniquely its own. It’s cosplay meets street festival meets “how did that person even make that outfit?” and it’s glorious.
👻 Tricks But No Treats
Here’s the first big difference: in Japan, there’s no trick-or-treating. Instead, most of the fun is found out on city streets where thousands of people dress up in costumes to celebrate, take photos, and show off their creative sides.
Crowds turn entire districts into wild, neon-lit parades. It’s loud, creative, and very bold. Halloween is less about jump scares and more about style. Instead of terrifying, it’s cool, cute, and creative. People show up dressed as everything from anime icons to classic monsters, each outfit telling its own story: superheroes, video game icons, spooky villains, and even perfectly replicated zombie ramen chefs (okay, maybe we’re manifesting that one).
There’s something inspiring about how Japan has transformed this Western holiday into their own global tradition celebrating artistry and playfulness, while adding their own local flavour!
🧄 The Vampire Slayer Has Entered the Chat
Speaking of local flavour, at Crafty Ramen, there's one ramen bowl that comes out to play this time of year, a cult-favourite if you will, The Vampire Slayer.
This garlic-packed bowl is the perfect potion to fuel up before a night out trick-or-treating. Loaded with garlic in all it's glorious forms–pickled, fried, chives and more–it’s savoury, unapologetically powerful and topped with a garlic chilli bomb that's sure to keep the vampire's away. 🧛🏻
🌙 A Celebration of Creativity Everywhere
From crowded neon-lit streets of Tokyo, to filling up buckets of delicious candy in Canada, Halloween is a night full of costumes, traditions, fun and even food! However you celebrate, get creative and have fun! Happy Halloween! 🧡👻🍜
Craving a taste of that savoury, warm comfort now? Try Crafty Ramen’s Vampire Slayer ramen available at Noodle Shop locations for a limited time.