The annual Bakeneko Parade in Kagurazaka is one of the more curious Halloween-related events in Tokyo. Everyone is welcome; all you have to do is dress up as a cat and bring a feline attitude.
It’s recommended that you register for a passport (¥500 for adults, free for children) in front of Park Luxe Kagurazaka from 10am to 3.30pm to get all the perks. They include using the changing rooms for free, receiving discounts from stores and restaurants, and collecting exclusive cat stamps from the neighbourhood. Elementary school students and younger kids will even receive free snacks from participating stores.
Don’t worry if you don’t have an outfit. You can get a quick cat makeup done for ¥1,000 (¥500 for children) before the parade (numbered tickets for the makeup are distributed at 9.30am). Better yet, make a reservation online now to rent a cat kimono for ¥2,750 (limited to 12 people). The parade will pass along Kagurazaka O-dori toward Iidabashi Station, and back again when it hits the big crossing.
After the parade, get a portrait taken by a professional photographer for ¥2,000 (reservations required via Instagram). Or, participate in a samurai experience for ¥1,000 (limited to eight people).