First step of your discovery: understand the rules and best practices before smoking in Japan.

Introduction to smoking areas in Japan

Japan enforces strict regulations on smoking in public spaces, very different from what you might encounter in many other countries. If you're used to smoking freely in the street, you'll be surprised to find that your tobacco habit can quickly result in a fine if you don't respect the designated areas.

1. Official smoking areas

In most major cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, etc.), you'll find:

• Smoking areas: small cabins or enclosures, equipped with ashtrays.
• Covered break points: particularly in tourist areas and near train stations.

Why?
The municipality ensures sidewalk cleanliness and pedestrian safety. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to 300,000 yen.

2. Indoor locations

Restaurants and cafes

• 🚭 Non-smoking: the norm is moving towards total prohibition.
• 🚧 Separate smoking rooms: present in some traditional establishments or large restaurants.

Public transportation

• 🚆 Trains, subways, buses: absolutely no smoking inside and in immediate vicinity.

Hotels and inns

• 🏨 Smoking rooms: increasingly rare, book in advance.
• 🚭 Common areas: generally non-smoking, except for dedicated areas.

Bars and karaoke

• 🍺 Bars: many still offer smoking corners, but rules vary by prefecture.
• 🎤 Karaoke: often equipped with efficient ventilation systems.

Shops and shopping centers

• 🏪 Strictly non-smoking in aisles and storefronts.
• 🚬 Smoking areas sometimes installed away from or outside the premises.

3. Practical tips

1. Look for signs or pictograms to find the nearest area.
2. Ask: locals or staff will know the exact location.
3. Plan ahead: schedule regular breaks in smoking-friendly areas to avoid being caught off guard.

Tip: download a map app containing smoking area locations like Smokimap before your arrival to save time and avoid mistakes.