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Following the Shibuya Ward Council’s passage of an amendment to expand street drinking regulations, the Shinjuku Ward Council has today approved a similar ordinance. This new regulation will prohibit public drinking around Shinjuku Station and Kabukicho during Halloween each year.
According to Japanese media reports, the ban will cover the area from Shinjuku 3-chome to Kabukicho 1-chome and will be enforced from October 31 to November 1 annually. During this period, shops within the designated area will be requested to voluntarily stop selling alcohol. The Shinjuku Ward government will determine the specific zones and times for the street drinking ban and will publish the details on its official website.
As Shibuya Ward strengthens its street drinking regulations, more young people have started gathering in nearby Shinjuku, leading to an increase in disturbances. Consequently, Shinjuku Ward began evaluating the need for a drinking ban. On June 17, the Shibuya Ward Council passed an amendment to extend the outdoor nighttime drinking ban, which previously applied only to Halloween and New Year’s Eve, to year-round. Starting this October, drinking will be prohibited around Shibuya Station from 6 PM to 5 AM the next day.
During the enforcement period, patrol teams will guide violators rather than imposing fines or penalties. The expanded ban will include areas around the Shibuya Ward government office and the east side of Shibuya Station.