Smoking Areas in Hakodate: Complete 2026 Guide (Station, Bay Area, Goryokaku, Mount Hakodate)
Table of contents
- 1.About this guide and disclaimer
- 2.Hakodate City's smoking rules (Ordinance on the Prevention of Littering and manners)
- 3.Smoking areas around Hakodate Station and the morning market
- 4.Smoking areas in the Bay Area (around Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse)
- 5.Smoking around Goryokaku (Goryokaku Park and Goryokaku Tower)
- 6.Smoking around Mount Hakodate (ropeway and summit)
- 7.Heated tobacco and e-cigarettes
- 8.Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai
- 9.Before you go: always check official information
About this guide and disclaimer
This is a third-party guide compiled, to the extent it could be verified, from Hakodate City's official site (https://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/) ordinance guidance and each facility's official guidance, reflecting the situation as of July 2026. Smoking-area locations, counts and operation may change without notice, and some facilities do not publish locations officially. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the city and facility official guidance and on-site signage.
Hakodate City's smoking rules (Ordinance on the Prevention of Littering and manners)
In Hakodate City, the "Hakodate City Ordinance on the Prevention of Littering" (enacted 1993) prohibits scattering litter such as empty cans and cigarette butts (littering). This ordinance aims at environmental beautification, and measures for violations are mainly guidance and recommendations; no fine or penalty could be confirmed. Nor could a street-smoking ban ordinance with fines covering an entire area — like those of Tokyo's 23 wards — be confirmed for Hakodate City. Even so, littering cigarette butts falls under the ordinance, and consideration for second-hand smoke is also expected. Always smoke in smoking areas or smoking spaces, and take your butts home or dispose of them in an ashtray (source: Hakodate City official site https://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/docs/2023121200041/).
- The "Hakodate City Ordinance on the Prevention of Littering" (enacted 1993) prohibits littering butts, etc.
- Measures are mainly guidance and recommendations; no fine or penalty could be confirmed
- No area-wide street-smoking ban ordinance with fines could be confirmed
- As courtesy and for second-hand smoke prevention, use smoking areas / spaces
- Take your butts home or put them in an ashtray
Smoking areas around Hakodate Station and the morning market
Hakodate Station is a terminal served by JR lines such as the Hakodate Main Line, with the Hakodate Morning Market spread out in front and streetcar and bus stops gathered nearby — a gateway for sightseeing. Smoking areas may be provided at the station and nearby facilities, but no officially published primary information on their locations could be confirmed. When you smoke, check the smoking-area location via in-station and facility signage and on-site signs, and avoid smoking on the street or in crowded places. You can also find the nearest smoking area on the MottoSuitai map.
Smoking areas in the Bay Area (around Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse)
The Hakodate Bay Area is a popular area gathering tourist facilities, shops and restaurants, including the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse. Indoor spaces are in principle non-smoking under the revised Health Promotion Act, and whether a store has a smoking room varies by store. For outdoor smoking areas too, no officially published primary information on their locations could be confirmed. When you smoke, check the smoking space via each facility's guidance and on-site signs, and refrain from smoking in crowded places such as promenades or near store entrances.
Smoking around Goryokaku (Goryokaku Park and Goryokaku Tower)
Goryokaku Park is designated a national Special Historic Site, and its grounds are said to be non-smoking (check the latest handling on the Hakodate City official site). Avoid smoking inside the park and use nearby smoking areas. Goryokaku Tower states an in-building non-smoking policy on its official site (source: Goryokaku Tower official https://www.goryokaku-tower.co.jp/en/facility/). Whether there is an outdoor smoking space, please check on-site and on the facility's official site. For the environmental preservation of Goryokaku Park as a Special Historic Site, please refrain from smoking anywhere other than a designated smoking area.
Smoking around Mount Hakodate (ropeway and summit)
Mount Hakodate is known for its night view and is accessible by ropeway or hiking trail. The ropeway's base and summit stations and observation facilities are in principle non-smoking indoors. No official primary information on whether smoking areas exist or where they are could be confirmed. Because the summit and observation deck draw many people, consideration for second-hand smoke is especially required. When you smoke, check the smoking space via each facility's guidance and on-site signs, and avoid smoking anywhere other than a designated place.
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. For heated tobacco and e-cigarettes too, the basic rule is to use a smoking room indoors and a smoking area / space outdoors. No official information showing Hakodate City's specific handling of heated tobacco could be confirmed. For second-hand smoke prevention, use any tobacco in a designated smoking area or smoking room, and take care not to litter your butts.
Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai
If you want to find smoking areas in Hakodate — around Hakodate Station, the Bay Area, Goryokaku or Mount Hakodate — you can list nearby smoking areas from MottoSuitai's map. For a list of smoking areas in the Hakodate area, see smoking areas in the Hakodate area, and for around the station, see smoking areas in the Hakodate Station area. If you are traveling within Hokkaido, the Sapporo smoking guide may also help.
Before you go: always check official information
This third-party guide was compiled from Hakodate City's official ordinance guidance and each facility's official guidance, to the extent verifiable, as of July 2026. No street-smoking ban ordinance with fines could be confirmed for Hakodate City, but littering butts falls under the "Hakodate City Ordinance on the Prevention of Littering." Smoking-area locations, counts, operation, and facility policies may change, and some facilities do not publish locations officially. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Hakodate City official site (https://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/) and each facility's official guidance.
How to find a smoking area in Hakodate while minding your manners: 4 steps
In Hakodate City, where no street-smoking ban ordinance with fines could be confirmed, how to find a smoking area while following the ordinance (no littering butts) and good manners.
- 1
Step 1
Understand the rules in Hakodate City
No street-smoking ban ordinance with fines could be confirmed for Hakodate City, but littering butts is prohibited under the "Ordinance on the Prevention of Littering." Don't forget consideration for second-hand smoke.
- 2
Step 2
Check smoking areas via facilities and the map
Check the nearest smoking area / space via station, commercial and tourist facility guidance and on-site signs, the Hakodate City official site, and the MottoSuitai map.
- 3
Step 3
Avoid Special Historic Sites and non-smoking zones
The grounds of Goryokaku Park, a national Special Historic Site, are said to be non-smoking. Do not smoke inside the park or in facility non-smoking zones; move to a designated smoking area.
- 4
Step 4
Use cigarettes/heated/e-cigarettes only in smoking areas
Use any tobacco in a smoking room indoors or a smoking area / space outdoors, and take your butts home or put them in an ashtray. Be considerate of second-hand smoke.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Can I smoke on the street around Hakodate Station?
A.No street-smoking ban ordinance with fines could be confirmed for Hakodate City, but littering cigarette butts is prohibited under the "Hakodate City Ordinance on the Prevention of Littering." As a matter of courtesy and second-hand smoke prevention, use smoking areas or smoking spaces at the station and facilities rather than the street.
Q.Is there a fine or penalty for smoking in Hakodate City?
A.No street-smoking ban ordinance with a fine or penalty could be confirmed for Hakodate City. However, the "Hakodate City Ordinance on the Prevention of Littering" prohibits littering butts, etc., which is subject to guidance and recommendations. Check the latest handling on the Hakodate City official site.
Q.Can I smoke at Goryokaku Park or Goryokaku Tower?
A.Goryokaku Park is a national Special Historic Site and its grounds are said to be non-smoking (check the latest on the Hakodate City official site). Goryokaku Tower also states an in-building non-smoking policy on its official site. Check whether an outdoor smoking space exists on-site and on the facility official site, and refrain from smoking anywhere other than a designated place.
Q.Are there smoking areas in the Bay Area (around Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse)?
A.No officially published primary information on outdoor smoking areas in the Bay Area could be confirmed. Indoor spaces are in principle non-smoking, and whether a store has a smoking room varies. Check the smoking space via each facility's guidance and on-site signs, and refrain from smoking in crowded places.
Q.Where can I use heated tobacco or e-cigarettes?
A.Because indoor spaces are in principle non-smoking, use a smoking room indoors and a smoking area / space outdoors. No official information showing Hakodate City's specific handling of heated tobacco could be confirmed. For second-hand smoke prevention, use them in designated places.
Q.Where can I check the latest smoking-area locations?
A.On the Hakodate City official site (https://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/), each facility's official guidance, and on-site signs. You can also find nearby smoking areas on the MottoSuitai map. Locations and operation change, so always check the latest information.