Many clients arrive expecting Japan to be relaxed about smoking, because it once was. Since the revised Health Promotion Act took full effect in April 2020, it is not. Smoking indoors is banned in most public places, many city streets are no-smoking zones, and a smoker who lights up on the pavement outside a station can be fined in some wards. None of this is hard to manage, but it has to be in the pre-departure briefing, not discovered on day two.
What the law does
- Indoors, smoking is the exception. Restaurants, hotels' public areas, offices, stations and most other indoor public places are smoke-free. Smoking is allowed only in designated smoking rooms, and no food or drink is served in them.
- Heated tobacco is regulated too. Heated tobacco products follow similar rules. Some venues have rooms reserved for heated tobacco, where eating and drinking can be allowed. Clients should not assume a device counts as "not smoking".
- Small, long-established bars can be exempt. Some small bars and restaurants that existed before the law may still permit smoking, with a sign at the entrance. Under-20s may not enter smoking areas, and that includes the guide if they are under 20.
- Tokyo goes further. The Tokyo metropolitan ordinance is stricter than the national law for restaurants with employees. Rules in other prefectures and cities vary, and further tightening has been discussed nationally, so we confirm the current position for each itinerary.
The streets are the surprise
Many wards in Tokyo, and districts in Osaka, Kyoto and other cities, ban smoking while walking or on designated streets, with painted signs on the pavement and on-the-spot fines in some areas. Smokers are expected to use the public smoking areas near stations and in shopping districts. For a group this means two practical things: tell smokers where the areas are near each hotel, and build the time to reach one into long coach days.
Hotels and ryokan
- Non-smoking rooms are the norm. Many city hotels are now entirely non-smoking, including balconies. Where smoking rooms exist, they are few and must be requested at booking, not at check-in.
- Ryokan vary. Some have a smoking area in the garden or near the entrance. Smoking in a tatami room is rarely allowed, and the cleaning charge for smoke damage can be significant.
- Rooming lists should flag smokers. We note smokers on the rooming list so that the hotel can offer a smoking room or tell us where the nearest smoking area is.
E-cigarettes and imports
Nicotine-containing e-liquids are regulated in Japan and are not sold in ordinary shops, and bringing them in is subject to import limits. Clients who rely on vapes should check the current personal import rules before they travel rather than rely on buying supplies here. Batteries for devices follow the airline rules covered in our power banks and batteries guide.
How we plan for it
We ask about smokers at the quotation stage, request smoking rooms early where they exist, mark smoking areas on the tour leader's notes for each stop, and brief the group before departure. Our duty-of-care note and first-time travel tips cover the rest of the pre-departure briefing, and our tourist rules and taxes guide covers the other rules visitors meet.
FAQ
Can you smoke in restaurants in Japan? In most restaurants, no. Since April 2020 indoor smoking in public places is banned except in designated smoking rooms, where food and drink are not served. Some small, long-established bars may still allow smoking and must show a sign at the entrance.
Can you smoke on the street in Japan? Often not. Many wards in Tokyo and districts in other cities ban smoking on the street, with fines in some areas. Smokers should use the marked public smoking areas.
Are smoking hotel rooms available in Japan? Some hotels still have a few, but many are entirely non-smoking. Smoking rooms must be requested at booking and cannot be guaranteed for a whole group.
Have smokers in your next group? Write to b2b@explera.jp, message the trade desk on WhatsApp at +66 93 656 8090, or register on the B2B portal. Proposals within 24 hours. IATA TIDS 96215733, ASTA member 900408341.
