Smoking Areas at Fuji-Q Highland & Lake Kawaguchi: 2026 Guide (the two in-park smoking areas and the Fujiyoshida / Fujikawaguchiko rules)

About this guide and disclaimer

This is a third-party guide compiled from announcements on the Fuji-Q Highland official site (https://www.fujiq.jp/) and the Highland Resort Hotel & Spa official site (https://www.highlandresort.co.jp/), plus the text of the Fujiyoshida City and Fujikawaguchiko Town ordinances, reflecting the situation as of July 2026. The locations, counts and operation of smoking areas may change without notice. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the official sites and on-site signage. This article does not encourage smoking; it assumes smoking only in designated places and observance of good manners.

Smoking areas inside Fuji-Q Highland (the two in the official announcement)

According to the Fuji-Q Highland official announcement "About smoking areas on the grounds" (posted 28 December 2025), two smoking areas have been set up in the park. The locations given in the official announcement are as follows.

• Near the First Entrance: go down the passage on the Takabisha boarding side and it is on your right (Fuji-Q Highland official announcement)
• Near FUJI BerriQs SKATE PLAZA: beside the toilets behind the SKATE PLAZA (Fuji-Q Highland official announcement)

The above reflects the official announcement as of 28 December 2025. In-park operation can change, so when you visit, check the latest news on the official site as well as in-park signage and staff guidance. This article does not assert the location of any smoking area not stated in the official announcement. Note also that park map images are copyrighted works and are therefore not reproduced in this article.

The park is entirely non-smoking apart from the smoking areas — notes for queues and around attractions

Fuji-Q Highland officially states that "apart from the smoking areas, the Fuji-Q Highland grounds are entirely non-smoking." In other words, you cannot smoke at all in attraction queues, dining areas, walkways, outdoor benches and so on — only at the designated smoking areas. Queues for the thrill rides can be long, so if you need to leave the line to go to a smoking area, follow the instructions of the staff.

Because admission to Fuji-Q Highland is free, the area sees many families and visitors with small children. Out of consideration for second-hand smoke, take care that smoke does not drift outside the smoking area, and always put your butts in the ashtray provided. In Japan, smoking by people under 20 is prohibited by law, and this includes heated tobacco and e-cigarettes.

Highland Resort Hotel & Spa (all rooms non-smoking; a 24-hour smoking area on the first floor)

Highland Resort Hotel & Spa, adjacent to Fuji-Q Highland, states in its official announcement "About all rooms being non-smoking" that "all of our guest rooms are non-smoking." For guests who smoke, the hotel officially lists the "hotel first floor smoking area (24 hours)."

The same official page uses the phrase "smoking in the room (including heated e-cigarettes)," indicating that heated tobacco is also covered by the prohibition in guest rooms. It also clearly states that violations may result in a claim for compensation covering the period the room cannot be sold and the cost of restoring it. When staying, please use the first-floor smoking area. As for the date the all-non-smoking policy began, we could not confirm it on the official page, so this article does not assert it.

Fujiyoshida City rules (the ordinance for a fresh, litter-free town)

Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi, where Fuji-Q Highland is located, has the "Fujiyoshida City Ordinance on Promoting a Fresh Town Free of Scattered Litter" (promulgated 30 June 2000, in force from 1 October 2000). Article 2, item 1 includes "cigarette butts" in the definition of "litter," and Article 5, paragraph 3 states that "residents and others shall endeavour, when smoking outdoors, to smoke in a place where an ashtray stand is installed, or to use a portable ashtray."

This provision does not prohibit smoking itself; it is a duty of effort to either use a place with an ashtray stand or carry a portable ashtray when smoking outdoors. The ordinance does include a fine of up to 50,000 yen in Article 12, but that is a penalty for violating an order under Article 9, paragraph 2 — it is not an administrative fine imposed on street smoking as such. For details, please check the text of the ordinance and Fujiyoshida City official information.

• Ordinance: Fujiyoshida City Ordinance on Promoting a Fresh Town Free of Scattered Litter
• Promulgated 30 June 2000 (Heisei 12); in force from 1 October 2000
• Article 5(3): when smoking outdoors, endeavour to smoke where an ashtray stand is installed, or use a portable ashtray (duty of effort)
• There is no provision prohibiting smoking itself
• Article 12: a fine of up to 50,000 yen (for violating an order under Article 9(2))

Fujikawaguchiko Town rules (Article 5 of the ordinance to protect and nurture the natural environment)

Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi, where Kawaguchiko Station and the lakeside are located, has the "Fujikawaguchiko Town Ordinance to Protect and Nurture the Natural Environment" (promulgated and in force from 15 November 2003, Ordinance No. 117). Article 5 states that "residents and others shall not smoke tobacco in public places without using an ashtray location or a collection container etc." In other words, in public places smoking is not permitted except where an ashtray is installed or a collection container is used.

Article 2, item 8 of the same ordinance defines "littering" as "discarding cigarette butts, empty cans or other waste anywhere other than a collection container." We could not confirm any penalty provision (fine or administrative fine) in the text, but Article 19, paragraphs 2 to 4 provide for guidance and recommendation by the mayor, an order where a recommendation is not followed, and publication of the name of the person or business where an order is not followed. Regardless of penalties, please cooperate by smoking where an ashtray is provided, to protect the scenery of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi.

• Ordinance: Fujikawaguchiko Town Ordinance to Protect and Nurture the Natural Environment (Ordinance No. 117)
• Promulgated and in force: 15 November 2003 (Heisei 15)
• Article 5: in public places, do not smoke without using an ashtray location or collection container etc.
• Article 2(8): "littering" = discarding butts, cans or other waste anywhere other than a collection container
• No penalty provision confirmed in the text; Article 19 provides guidance, recommendation, orders and publication

Smoking around Kawaguchiko, Mt. Fuji and Fuji-Q Highland Stations

For Kawaguchiko Station (Fujikawaguchiko Town) and Mt. Fuji Station and Fuji-Q Highland Station (Fujiyoshida City), we could not confirm official primary information on whether smoking areas exist inside or in front of the stations, or where they are. This article does not assert the location of smoking areas we cannot confirm. Under the revised Health Promotion Act, indoor areas of stations are in principle non-smoking. If you want to smoke near a station, check station signage or on-site signs for whether a smoking place exists.

As noted above, in Fujikawaguchiko Town — where Kawaguchiko Station is — smoking in public places is limited to ashtray locations and the like; and in Fujiyoshida City — where Mt. Fuji Station and Fuji-Q Highland Station are — smoking outdoors carries a duty of effort to use a place with an ashtray stand or a portable ashtray. Avoid smoking while walking in station plazas or at bus stops, and use places that have an ashtray and signage.

Heated tobacco and e-cigarettes

Under the revised Health Promotion Act, fully in force since 1 April 2020, indoor spaces are in principle non-smoking. There are transitional measures for heated tobacco, and in some cases a "heated-tobacco-only smoking room" where eating and drinking are allowed may be set up — but whether you can actually use one should be confirmed from each facility's notices and signage.

We could not confirm any specific statement about heated tobacco or e-cigarettes in the Fuji-Q Highland official announcement "About smoking areas on the grounds." This article does not assert how they are treated inside the park. On the other hand, Highland Resort Hotel & Spa officially states "including heated e-cigarettes" regarding smoking in guest rooms. Where you cannot confirm, the safe approach is to use heated tobacco and e-cigarettes the same way as cigarettes: at the designated smoking areas. We could not confirm explicit statements about heated tobacco in the text of the Fujiyoshida City and Fujikawaguchiko Town ordinances either, so we do not assert their treatment.

Notes for international visitors coming for Mt. Fuji sightseeing

Fuji-Q Highland and the Lake Kawaguchi area draw many international travellers as a base for Mt. Fuji sightseeing. In Japan, smoking by people under 20 is prohibited by law, and this includes heated tobacco and e-cigarettes. Rules for street and outdoor smoking also differ by municipality. The content of the ordinances differs even between Fujiyoshida City and Fujikawaguchiko Town, so note that the rules change as you move between them.

• Smoking by people under 20 is prohibited by law (including heated tobacco and e-cigarettes)
• Indoors is in principle non-smoking under the revised Health Promotion Act (fully in force 1 April 2020)
• Outdoor smoking rules differ by municipality (Fujiyoshida City and Fujikawaguchiko Town differ in content)
• Discarding butts is defined as "littering" in the ordinances
• To protect the natural environment around Mt. Fuji, smoke where an ashtray is provided

On the Mt. Fuji climbing routes and inside natural parks, facilities and site managers may set their own rules. If you are planning to hike or trek, check each manager's official information in advance. This article does not assert the smoking rules on the climbing routes, as we have not confirmed primary information about them.

Find smoking areas in the Fuji Five Lakes area with MottoSuitai

If you want to find smoking areas around Fuji-Q Highland or Lake Kawaguchi, you can list nearby smoking areas from MottoSuitai's map. For the Kofu Station area, also in Yamanashi, see the Kofu Station smoking guide; and for planning a theme-park trip as a smoker, see the theme-park trip smoking guide as well.

Before you go: always check official information

This third-party guide was compiled from announcements on the Fuji-Q Highland and Highland Resort Hotel & Spa official sites, and from the text of the Fujiyoshida City and Fujikawaguchiko Town ordinances, as published as of July 2026. The locations, counts and operating hours of smoking areas, and the content of the ordinances, may change. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Fuji-Q Highland official site (https://www.fujiq.jp/), the Highland Resort Hotel & Spa official site (https://www.highlandresort.co.jp/), and Fujiyoshida City and Fujikawaguchiko Town official information.