Obake Family Day: Spirits of the Misty Sea

Embark on an eerie expedition by land and by sea to reach new frontiers filled with friendly Japanese ghosts and goblins. Discover a spooky world of unparalleled adventure at Japan Society’s Obake Family Day! Come dressed in your Halloween costume and join our dragon-led parade of 100 ghouls!

Activities:

Mysterious Lake Puppet Performance

Three performances: 11:30 AM, 12:45 PM & 1:50 PM

In Japan, there is a mysterious forest. Believe it or not, every 7 years, a huge lake appears in one night then disappears within several days. Even with advanced scientific technologies, nobody knows the reason…In this magical realism play, an American boy journeys to Japan and is personally transformed by encountering friendly “Yokai” spirits and a dragon named Nushi. The show is filled with unconventional puppets, original songs, and Taiko drumming!

Haunted Adventure Tour

11 AM—3 PM

Arm yourself with amulets at Dragon’s Gate, sail through the treacherous Umibozu Sea, and escape Mount Tengu by outdoing a trickster obake! Children will listen to scary stories and encounter live obake characters in their spooky environments on this interactive quest that ends in finding real treasure!

Port of Call Amusement Hall

11 AM—3 PM

Make a stopover at this port of call designed to provide amusements to those long at sea! This seaport is well known for its Aki Matsuri games. Visitors beware—all the games are filled with a startling array of weird ghouls and scallywags! Ghost & goblin infused wanage, shateki or senbonbiki, anyone?

Tengu’s Magic Fan-Making

11 AM—3 PM

Make your own enchanted 11-feather Tengu fan and wave it around as you wander the building to perform magical feats and protect yourself from all the obake you encounter!

Hyakki Yagyo Coloring Wall

11 AM—3 PM

On one night every year, Japan’s ghosts and supernatural creatures converge to form a night parade to travel to an unknown destination. Dream up and draw your own ghoul or fantastic creature to add to this coloring wall.

Flashing Firefly-Making and Lucky Eyeball Charms

11 AM—3 PM

Create your own light-up finger puppet before you see Mysterious Lake so you can be part of the show’s interactive glowing firefly scene! Then create your own cute eye charm inspired by Nushi the Dragon’s protective eye.

Fun Face Painting

11 AM—3 PM

Don’t have a costume ready? Want to enhance the costumes you do have? Get your face painted and transform into the character of your choice!

Grand Finale: Parade of 100 Ghouls

2:40—3 PM

This special procession, led by Mysterious Lake obake puppets and accompanied by the beat of Taiko drums, is the culminating activity for Obake Family Day. All families are encouraged to join in this march inspired by Japan’s traditional mythical Night Parade of 100 Demons!