Trick or Treating in Itami
Costumed kids take to the streets of central Itami on organized trick-or-treat routes, visiting local shops for candy in a safe, family-focused Halloween adventure.
Here’s something surprisingly difficult to find in Japan: old-fashioned neighborhood trick-or-treating. At Itami Halloween Park & Tour, on the afternoon of October 31, costumed children set out from Sankenji-mae Plaza and follow organized routes through central Itami, stopping at participating local shops and calling out “Trick or Treat!” for candy along the way. Volunteer guides accompany the groups, while parents or guardians join their children for the walk.
And while Itami sits just across the prefectural border in Hyogo, it’s practically next door to Osaka. JR Itami Station is a short train ride from Osaka Station, so families living in or visiting Osaka can easily make the trip for a real trick-or-treat experience. In 2026, there’s an even better reason to make a day of it: after the daytime costumes and candy, the separately organized Itami City Fireworks Festival launches 3,500 fireworks over the Inagawa at 18:30. The two events aren’t officially connected, but together they make for a pretty spectacular Halloween day trip.
The Tour is deliberately organized with families and safety in mind. Children choose from five routes, averaging around 1.5 kilometers, with groups departing between 10:00 and 14:00. Participating children must be at least two years old, able to walk independently, dressed in costume and accompanied by a parent or guardian. Advance registration and payment are required, with volunteer guides leading groups between participating businesses.
Back at Sankenji-mae Plaza, the Halloween Park gives families somewhere to continue the fun. The complete 2026 program has not yet been announced, but previous editions have brought together food and market stalls, workshops, live music, children’s performances, a stamp rally and Halloween fashion show. The Park is the event’s home base; the streets and shops of Itami are where the trick-or-treat adventure happens.
Itami Halloween began in 2021 as a trial trick-or-treat tour, with the Park added the following year. By 2025, around 200 children and their parents participated in the tours, while more than 2,000 people visited the overall event. The idea has remained refreshingly simple as it has grown: use Halloween to give children some fun, introduce families to local businesses and turn the city itself into part of the experience.
For the kids, though, none of that needs much explanation. Put on a costume, walk the neighborhood, say the magic words and see what ends up in the candy bag. And this Halloween, when the trick-or-treating is finished, stick around a little longer—because after dark, Itami is trading candy for fireworks.
Real Trick-or-Treating – Costumed kids visit participating Itami shops and collect Halloween candy.
Five City Routes – Guided walks take families through the streets and businesses of central Itami.
Halloween Park – Sankenji-mae Plaza provides a festive home base with activities, entertainment and stalls.
Easy from Osaka – Just across the Hyogo border, Itami is an easy family day trip from central Osaka.
Fireworks After Dark – On Halloween 2026, the separately organized Itami fireworks begin at 18:30.
Photos: Itami Halloween Park & Tour, Japan Scenes
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN OSAKA?
Discover events, exhibitions, festivals, concerts, culture & more.
THE SCENE: FAQ’s
ACCESS
Venue: Sankenji-mae Plaza
Address: Chuo 2-chome, Itami, Hyogo
Trains:
JR Takarazuka Line → Itami Station → approximately 5 minutes on foot
Hankyu Itami Line → Itami Station → approximately 5 minutes on foot
Subways:
Metro Midosuji Line → Umeda ↔ JR Osaka Station → JR Takarazuka Line → Itami Station
Despite being across the prefectural border in Hyogo, Itami is an easy trip from central Osaka. Families living in or visiting Osaka can reach JR Itami on a short train ride from Osaka Station and walk to the Halloween activities from there.
SCHEDULE
Saturday, October 31, 2026
10:00–14:00 – Trick-or-Treat Tour groups depart from Sankenji-mae Plaza. Five routes are planned, averaging approximately 1.5 km and reaching up to around 2 km. Exact 2026 route assignments and departure times are scheduled to be announced in late September.
Halloween Park: Final 2026 hours have not yet been announced. In 2025, the Park ran 10:00–16:00, with food and market stalls, workshops, activity booths, live music, a costume fashion show, photo opportunities and a stamp rally. The 2025 stage program ran from 10:00 through a final 15:00 performance.
18:30 – The separately organized Itami City Fireworks Festival begins along the Inagawa. It isn’t part of Itami Halloween Park & Tour, but in 2026 both events fall on October 31, making it possible to enjoy trick-or-treating during the day and fireworks after dark.
The Halloween event is held in rain but cancelled in severe weather. If cancellation is necessary, organizers plan to announce it around noon on the preceding day.
TICKETS
The Halloween Park is open to the public, while children participating in the Trick-or-Treat Tour must register and pay in advance. The 2026 Tour fee has not yet been announced. In 2025, participation cost ¥1,000 per child, with approximately 200 places available.
For 2026, registration is scheduled to open October 1 and close when capacity is reached or around October 10, whichever comes first. Payment will be made through the ticketing site when registering. Each child may participate in one route.
Children participating in the Tour must be:
- Age 2 through elementary-school age
- Able to walk independently
- Wearing a costume
- Accompanied by a parent or guardian
Parents are welcome to dress up too. Babies accompanying the family who do not participate or receive candy do not require registration/payment. Once a Tour registration has been purchased, cancellations and refunds are not accepted.
As a guide to what families can expect, 2025 Tour groups visited approximately 10 participating shops and businesses, calling out “Trick or Treat!” and receiving candy at each stop. Final 2026 routes and participating businesses are due to be announced later in September.
Official Registration Information:
https://itamihalloween.com/tour/tour2026/
THE EXPERIENCE
This is one of the relatively rare opportunities around Osaka for children to experience recognizable, neighborhood-style trick-or-treating rather than simply attending a Halloween-themed festival.
- Real Trick-or-Treating – Costumed children walk through town and collect candy from participating local businesses.
- Guided Routes – Volunteer guides accompany each group along organized routes through central Itami.
- Halloween Park – Sankenji-mae Plaza provides a public home base with entertainment and activities.
- Family Focused – Parents accompany their children throughout the Tour, with safety built into the organized route system.
- Fireworks Finale – In 2026, families can follow the daytime Halloween outing with the separately organized Itami fireworks at 18:30.
The fun is refreshingly simple: dress the kids up, head into town and let them actually say “Trick or Treat!” instead of merely posing beside Halloween decorations.
INFO & TIPS
Costumes Are Required for the Tour
Children collecting candy must wear a costume. Parents and guardians don’t have to dress up, although the organizers actively encourage them to join in.
Expect a Real Walk
Routes average around 1.5 km and can reach approximately 2 km. Participating children therefore need to be able to walk independently. Families bringing a stroller for a non-participating sibling must choose one of the stroller-compatible routes identified by the organizers.
Candy Allergies
The organizers specifically warn that allergy accommodations are not provided for the candy distributed during the Tour. Parents of children with food allergies should check treats themselves before allowing children to eat them.
Don’t Expect to Race Ahead
This is an organized group Tour rather than independent trick-or-treating. Children wait until their group has assembled at each participating business before calling out together and receiving candy, and families are asked to follow the volunteer guide’s directions.
What Happens at the Park?
The full 2026 program is still coming. In 2025, Sankenji-mae Plaza offered food and merchandise stalls, workshops, experience booths, live music, a Halloween fashion show, a photo spot and a children’s stamp rally. Stage viewing was free.
2025 Price Guide
Until 2026 pricing is released, last year’s figures give families a useful idea of cost. The Trick-or-Treat Tour was ¥1,000 per participating child. The separate children’s Halloween fashion show cost ¥500 per child and included a posed runway photograph. Whether the fashion show returns, and at what price, has not yet been announced for 2026.
Make a Halloween Day of It
The separately organized Itami City Fireworks Festival starts at 18:30 on October 31. It isn’t connected to Halloween Park & Tour, but the shared date creates an unusually good family day trip: trick-or-treat in central Itami, have something to eat, then head toward the Inagawa for fireworks after dark.
2026 Update Watch
Final Tour routes and time slots are scheduled for late September, with registration expected to open October 1. We’ll update this page when those remaining details are released.
Organizer: Itami Halloween Tour Executive Committee
Office: echo fields Co., Ltd., Nishidai Building 3F, 1-6-7 Nishidai, Itami, Hyogo
Official Site:
https://itamihalloween.com/
2026 Tour Information:
https://itamihalloween.com/tour/tour2026/
