Smoking in Japan: where you can and cannot smoke

The basic rule

Since 2020, a revised national law (the Health Promotion Act) makes indoor spaces smoke-free as a general rule. Heated tobacco is also covered in many places.

Smoking is allowed only in places that the law permits, such as a designated smoking room.

Different places, different rules

• Schools, hospitals and government buildings: no smoking indoors, and generally not outdoors either, except in a specified outdoor area.
• Restaurants, offices, hotel public areas and other shared facilities: no smoking indoors, except in a designated smoking room.
• Some smoking rooms are for heated tobacco only. In a heated tobacco room you can eat and drink, but not in a room for smoking tobacco only.
• Hotel guest rooms and private homes are handled differently, so ask your hotel about smoking rooms when you book.

Look for the signs

A place with a smoking room must show a sign at the main entrance and at the smoking room door. In Tokyo, restaurants must also show their smoking status at the shop front. Look at the sign before you sit down.

Outdoors

Outdoor smoking rules are set by each city or ward, and many have designated smoking areas. If you cannot find a sign, look for an ashtray area or ask a local shop.

Even where smoking is allowed, think about the people around you.

Age limit

People under 20 cannot enter smoking rooms. Tokyo's ordinance specially protects under-20s and employees from second-hand smoke.

FAQ

Sources

• Tokyo Metropolitan Government: Measures Against Second-Hand Smoke, Handbook for Facility Managers (English)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government: Revised Health Promotion Act and Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance (English leaflet)

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