Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2025 Details

Date: 2025 October 18 08:31

Posted by Joe

The good folks from Dwango the company behind social media video site Niconico have sent us details of their Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival. Set to run in Ikebukuro, Tokyo from Friday 24th until Sunday 26th October 2025 it's one of Japan's largest events with over 20,000 cosplayers.

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Press release as follows:

Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2025

One of Japan's Largest Halloween Event with Over 20,000 Cosplayers
~to Be Held in Ikebukuro, Tokyo During Oct.24-26~


Tokyo, JP (September 26, 2025) - Dwango Co., Ltd. (https://dwango.co.jp/english/index.html), Sunshine City Corporation, Animate Ltd., and HACOSTA inc. will together host the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2025 which will take place in Ikebukuro Tokyo, Japan during October 24 (Fri.) - 26 (Sun.).

What is Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival?


The Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival, first held in 2014, has grown into one of Japan's largest Halloween events. The festival takes place in the roads east of Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo, an area increasingly recognized as a hub of subculture and youth creativity. Each year, over 20,000 cosplayers gather from across Japan and abroad, and the number of attendees continues to rise. Last year's three-day festival drew a record-breaking approximately 161,000 visitors.

A hallmark of the event is that cosplayers are free to explore the streets in their costumes, creating a lively, immersive atmosphere. Throughout the main roads, parks, and shops near the station's east exit, a wide range of activities are offered for everyone - from first-time cosplayers to solo visitors, and anime and manga fans alike. Highlights include cosplay fashion shows, stage performances, and the iconic cosplay parade. For those unable to attend in person, the festival will also be streamed live worldwide via Niconico Live Streaming, allowing fans around the globe to join in the excitement.

Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival - Event Highlights

Main Stage Events


Niconico Cospllection, held at the main stage in Naka-Ikebukuro Park, will feature a wide array of cosplay-themed activities. Highlights include cosplay stage performances, cosplay fashion shows, a "Parent & Child Cosplay" showcase, and a new program titled "Welcome, Cosplay Couples!" which features couples who met through cosplay, offering something for both participants and spectators to enjoy.

Cosplay Parade


A cosplay parade featuring hundreds of participants will take place on the streets of Ikebukuro, creating a vibrant and immersive experience for visitors. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, October 25, and details for participation will be announced at a later date.

IKEHALO Night


On the first day, Friday, October 24, IKEHALO Night will be held at Sunshine City, Ikebukuro, offering a unique evening experience with photo sessions that take advantage of the nighttime scenery, as well as opportunities for cosplayers to socialize, creating a different atmosphere from daytime events. Additional details and updates for each program will be announced at a later date.

Please note: Participation in "IKEHALO Night" is limited to adults aged 18 and over (high school students are not permitted).

Cosplay Gathering


In this program, cosplayers matching a particular theme will all gather in one location to enjoy networking and taking photos - all cosplayers in the area are free to join (themes will be announced at a later date).

Cosplay Prop Area


This area offers handmade cosplay props crafted by skilled modelers from around Japan. Visitors can pose and take photos with weapons and items from anime/manga/games. All visitors (cosplayers/non-cosplayers alike) are free to try out.

Event Outline

• Event Name: Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2025 Powered by dwango


• Dates: IKEHALO Night > October 24th (Fri.) 16:30 - 22:30 JST
  Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2025 > October 25th (Sat.) ~ 26th (Sun.) 10:00 - 18:00 JST


• Venue: IKEHALO Night: Ikebukuro Sunshine City
  Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2025: Ikebukuro Area


• Host: Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival Executive Committee


• Co-host: Toshima-ku / Toshima Shopping District / Sunshine City


• Support: Toshima City Tourism Association / The Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toshima Branch


• Management and Production: Animate Ltd. / Dwango Co., Ltd. / Hacosta Inc.


• Sponsors:
  [Gold Sponsors] Zootopia 2
  [Silver Sponsors] Canon Marketing Japan Inc. / WeAreFLAI / Proxima Beta Pte. Ltd / Wuthering Waves / DAIICHIKOSHO CO.,LTD. / Kakaku.com, Inc. / VANTAN Inc.
  [Cloakroom Sponsors] Zenyaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. / MORINAGA & CO., LTD.
  [Sponsors] KADOKAWA DWANGO Educational Institute / Uruma Halloween Cosplay Festival 2025


• Cooperation: acosta! / COSPLAY MODE / World Cosplay Summit / Vantan / Ikebukuro Inbound Promotion Alliance / Hareza Ikebukuro Area Management Association / COSPA inc. / Niconico


• Official Website: https://ikebukurocosplay.jp/en/


• Ticket Purchase Page: https://eplus.tickets/en/sf/ibt/event/ikebukurocosplay2025

Ticket Information

Participation Fee:

- Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2025
Premium Ticket : 3,980 yen/day
General Ticket : 2,980 yen/day

- IKEHALO Night Ticket : 3,480 yen
*both cosplayers and photographers are required to purchase tickets to participate.

Five Exclusive Benefits of the Premium Ticket

1.) Extended changing room access from 8:45 AM to 6:00 PM (general tickets start at 11:00 AM).
2.) Access to a hospitality area.
3.) Use of a streaming space and charging stations.
4.) Priority access to the Cosplay Dock (cosplay repair/support area).
5.) Access to the special "IKEHALO IKEBUS" shuttle service.

Source: Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival