Get crafty with Halloween treats, the Japanese way

Halloween-themed decorations add a spooky touch to a Japanese bento, with food shaped into festive designs using cookie cutters and rice ball molds. | YUKO TAMURA

Oct 21, 2026

In Japan, children are unlikely to go door to door shouting, トリック・オア・トリート (torikku oa torīto, trick or treat) on ハロウィーン (harowīn, Halloween).

That doesn’t mean they don’t want お菓子 (o-kashi, candy, sweets and snacks).

Japanese children are more likely to celebrate ハロウィーン at school- or city-organized events. There are still お菓子 to share, 仮装 (kasō, costumes) and perhaps even shouts of お菓子をくれなきゃいたずらするぞ！ (O-kashi o kurenakya itazura suru zo!, Give me candy or I’ll play a trick on you!) Showing up at strangers’ doors, however, isn’t typically part of the custom here.

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