While the red carpet opening for the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival is a star-studded affair, the weekend’s highlight is the guest appearance of legendary actor Koji Yakusho, who introduces his latest gritty gangster thriller, The Blood of Wolves.

With the annual costume parade, dancing pumpkins, and collaboration with the underground hit zombie film One Cut of the Dead, Japan’s original Halloween blowout is expected to be more spine-chilling than ever.

Made socially acceptable by Pixar’s film Coco, Mexico’s Day of the Dead festival, whose origins’ date back to the Aztec empire, honors the deceased with macabre parades and festivals. Tokyo’s impressive copycat affair showcases skeletal Calavera dancing, mariachi music, tacos and cempasuchil cocktails.

From world-class musicians to up-and-coming stars and amateur enthusiasts, the world of jazz is encompassed in this lively event taking over 70 Asagaya venues, cafés and shops.

Incapacitated after a careless fall in 1992, Masahisa Fukase died in 2012 without ever resuming his photography career. Only now have his groundbreaking color works received international recognition. The late photographer headlines a host of photo exhibitions to be displayed throughout Tokyo over the ensuing two months.

Rather than ghosts and goblins more than 10,000 Halloween pranksters dress up as Mashu Kyrelight, Sailor Scouts and Hatsune Miku (more on her later).

Slurp up oodles of steaming noodles steeped in everything from Hokkaido’s tangy miso broth to Kyushu’s thick, creamy and meaty tonkotsu soup.

In conjunction with the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival, come lounge at Hibiya Step Square and watch free movies on a massive outdoor screen.

Head to Hamarikyu Gardens to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Tokyo’s naming day with a slew of high-tech attractions, including an appearance from Vocaloid virtual star  Hatsune Miku.