Smoking Areas in Arashiyama: 2026 Guide (Kyoto street-smoking rules and the reality in Arashiyama)

About this guide and disclaimer

This is a third-party guide compiled from Kyoto City's official site (https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/) — its "Ordinance on the Prohibition of Street Smoking, etc." and public smoking-area guidance — the "Kyoto City Beautification Promotion Ordinance" (http://www.bika-kyo.jp/), and facility official guidance, reflecting the situation as of July 2026. The locations and operation of smoking places, and the boundaries of the intensive street-smoking control zones (fine zones), may change without notice. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Kyoto City official site and each facility's official guidance.

Kyoto City's street-smoking rules (city-wide restraint; the fine zone does not include Arashiyama)

Under the "Kyoto City Ordinance on the Prohibition of Street Smoking, etc." (in force since June 1, 2007), Kyoto City provides that people should refrain from smoking in outdoor public places throughout the city (a duty of effort). On top of that, it separately designates "intensive street-smoking control zones" where a violation carries a ¥1,000 fine, and as of July 2026 these fine zones are only three areas — central Kyoto, the Kyoto Station area, and the Kiyomizu-Gion area (the zone names were revised on March 1, 2023). Arashiyama (including Saga and the area around Togetsukyo Bridge) is not included in this fine-collecting zone. So it is not the case that "smoking on the street in Arashiyama incurs a ¥1,000 fine," but the city-wide request to refrain from smoking still extends to Arashiyama. Please note that "no fine" does not mean you may smoke freely (Sources: Kyoto City "Ordinance on the Prohibition of Street Smoking, etc." guidance https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/bunshi/page/0000291969.html; public smoking areas and fine zones https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/bunshi/page/0000027498.html).

In addition, Arashiyama is a beautification-promotion zone under the "Kyoto City Beautification Promotion Ordinance," where littering — including cigarette butts — is banned. For the sake of the people around you and the landscape and environment, please refrain from smoking while walking and from throwing away butts; smoke in a designated place such as a facility's smoking space, and always take your butts home or dispose of them in an ashtray.

• People are asked to refrain from smoking in outdoor public places throughout the city (a duty of effort)
• The ¥1,000-fine "intensive street-smoking control zones" are only three areas — central Kyoto, the Kyoto Station area, and the Kiyomizu-Gion area
• Arashiyama is not included in the fine-collecting zone (but is covered by the city-wide request to refrain)
• Arashiyama is a beautification-promotion zone under the "Kyoto City Beautification Promotion Ordinance" = littering cigarette butts is banned
• Smoke in a smoking space inside a facility or shop, and always take your butts home

There is no city-run smoking area in Arashiyama

Kyoto City provides public smoking areas in some parts of the city, but they are mainly in central Kyoto, the Kyoto Station area and the Kiyomizu-Gion area, and as of July 2026 the city's guidance shows no city-run smoking area around Arashiyama, Saga or Togetsukyo Bridge. So if you want to smoke in Arashiyama, it is practical to check whether a commercial facility, restaurant or café you visit has a smoking space (confirm on each facility's guidance), or to find a nearby smoking area on the MottoSuitai map. Smoking on outdoor roads or on sightseeing-area sidewalks is covered by the city-wide request to refrain and the litter ban, so please avoid it out of consideration for those around you.

The smoking situation around Togetsukyo Bridge, the Bamboo Grove and the Arashiyama stations

The Arashiyama area has three nearby stations — Randen (Keifuku) Arashiyama Station, JR Saga-Arashiyama Station and Hankyu Arashiyama Station — and sights such as Togetsukyo Bridge, the Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji are within walking distance. As for individual smoking areas around these stations and sightseeing spots, there is word-of-mouth from private sources, but as of July 2026 there is little information whose location can be officially confirmed, so this guide does not assert specific places. The smoking situation at stations differs by railway operator, and station premises, platforms and trains are in principle non-smoking. Because where you can smoke changes easily, please check the latest guidance for each station and facility.

As for the grounds of temples and shrines such as Tenryu-ji, we cannot confirm any official statement on whether smoking is allowed. For the sake of preserving cultural properties and the natural environment, please do not smoke on temple/shrine grounds and follow each facility's rules and staff guidance. Outdoor sightseeing areas such as around Togetsukyo Bridge and the Bamboo Grove are also covered by the city-wide request to refrain from smoking and the litter ban. In crowded sightseeing spots, be mindful of the risk of burns and second-hand smoke from walking while smoking, and use a designated place such as a facility's smoking space.

Heated tobacco and e-cigarettes

Since April 2020, the revised Health Promotion Act has made indoor spaces in principle non-smoking, and restaurants etc. are in principle indoor non-smoking. Not only for cigarettes but also for heated tobacco and e-cigarettes, the basic rule is to use a smoking room indoors and, outdoors, to be mindful of the city-wide request to refrain and use a facility's smoking space or a designated place. Although Arashiyama is not a fine zone, consideration for second-hand smoke and littering is required just the same as with cigarettes. Use any tobacco in a place where you can be considerate of the people around you.

Find smoking areas around Arashiyama with MottoSuitai

If you want to find smoking areas in Arashiyama or elsewhere in Kyoto City, you can list nearby smoking areas from MottoSuitai's map. You can check a list of smoking areas in the Arashiyama area at smoking areas in the Arashiyama area. For the city-wide street-smoking rules and the details of the fine zones, see the Kyoto City smoking guide, and for the smoking situation around Kyoto Station, see the Kyoto Station smoking guide.

Before you go: always check official information

This third-party guide was compiled from the Kyoto City official site's "Ordinance on the Prohibition of Street Smoking, etc." and public smoking-area guidance, the "Kyoto City Beautification Promotion Ordinance" guidance, and facility official guidance available as of July 2026. The locations and operation of smoking places and the boundaries of the intensive street-smoking control zones (fine zones) may change. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Kyoto City official site (https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/) and each facility's official guidance.