Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival

As a major center for Japan’s anime culture, Ikebukuro has gone for a slightly more Japanese approach to this imported annual festival.

What happens?

Expect to see more people dressed up as their favorite manga or anime character rather than the more gruesome costumes that you’ll see elsewhere.

Tickets 2025

It’s free to see cosplayers outside of the special event venue.

If you want to enter the area, dress up, or take photographs you’ll need a special ticket. Tickets go on sale on September 5 this year.

For cosplayers

There’s a variety of ticketing options.

• The Premium 3-Day Ticket costs ¥10,000 (discounted from ¥11,440) and covers IkeHallo Night on October 24 plus both festival days on October 25 and 26. It includes perks like early changing room access, luggage storage across days, hospitality and charging areas, priority cosplay repair dock, and rides on the exclusive IKEBUS.
• An IkeHallo Night Ticket is ¥3,480 and valid for October 24 from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m.. It’s adults only (18+) and includes evening cosplay and photo sessions.
• The Premium Ticket is ¥3,980 per day for October 25 or 26, with the same perks as the 3-Day Ticket, including early entry and special facilities.
• A General Ticket is ¥2,980 per day for October 25 or 26 and includes standard admission with changing rooms open from 11 a.m.
• Finally, the Kids Ticket is ¥500 per day for October 25 or 26, with free entry for Toshima Ward elementary students (with ID) and all preschoolers. It comes with access to kids’ changing rooms and free costume rental (limited sizes and availability).

For photographers

Cosplay rules

As is standard for most cosplay events, organizers are very particular about not arriving to the area or leaving it in cosplay, so you’ll have to change in the provided dressing room.

You have to register first,  after which you’ll usually get a badge, stamp, wristband, or whatnot to signify that you changed in the dressing room and can therefore participate in the event.

You may also only be allowed to roam about in designated areas; some restaurants and shops may not want cosplayers to enter in costume, so organizers will usually list which establishments allow cosplayers to enter.