Smoking Areas around Hiroshima Station: Complete 2026 Guide (a smoking-restricted district, ¥1,000 fine)
Table of contents
- 1.About this guide and disclaimer
- 2.Hiroshima City's smoking-restricted districts (anti-littering ordinance)
- 3.Smoking areas around / inside Hiroshima Station
- 4.Shinkansen smoking rules and Hiroshima Station
- 5.The city center (Kamiyacho, Hatchobori, Peace Memorial Park area)
- 6.Heated tobacco and e-cigarettes
- 7.Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai
- 8.Before you go: always check official information
About this guide and disclaimer
This is a third-party guide compiled from Hiroshima City's official site (https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/) — its smoking-restricted-district and smoking-booth guidance — JR West press releases, and facility official guidance, reflecting the situation as of July 2026. Smoking-area locations, counts and operation may change without notice. When you actually go, always confirm the latest locations on the city and facility official guidance.
Hiroshima City's smoking-restricted districts (anti-littering ordinance)
By its "Ordinance for the Prevention of Littering etc." (in effect since October 1, 2003), Hiroshima City designates the Hiroshima Station area, Kamiyacho/Hatchobori, the Hiroshima Castle area, Central Park and the Peace Memorial Park as smoking-restricted districts. In outdoor public places within these districts, smoking is banned except at places with ashtrays installed by the manager, and violations carry a ¥1,000 fine. The city officially states that heated tobacco is also subject to the fine, as it counts as manufactured tobacco under the Tobacco Business Act. District boundaries and operation can change, so check the latest on Hiroshima City's official site (https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/living/gomi-kankyo/1021281/1037470/1046343.html).
- The Hiroshima Station area, Kamiyacho/Hatchobori, Hiroshima Castle area, Central Park and Peace Memorial Park are smoking-restricted districts
- Outdoor smoking in these districts is banned except at places with installed ashtrays
- Violations carry a ¥1,000 fine (heated tobacco is also covered)
- The Peace Memorial Park has been entirely non-smoking outdoors since April 1, 2018 (nowhere to smoke)
- Smoke at station/facility smoking rooms or the city's public smoking booths
Smoking areas around / inside Hiroshima Station
Since the area around Hiroshima Station is a smoking-restricted district, street smoking is banned except at places with installed ashtrays. Hiroshima City's public smoking booths are located in the city center of Naka Ward (Kamiyacho/Hatchobori direction); there are no city-run booths around Hiroshima Station (Minami Ward) itself, based on the city's official list as of July 2026. As for the station buildings minamoa and ekie, no smoking-area guidance could be confirmed on their official sites — check with the information desk or in-building signage for whether smoking spaces exist. For the Shinkansen, according to various guides, a smoking room is provided on the Shinkansen platform (inside the gates). Operation changes, so check JR West's guidance for the latest.
Shinkansen smoking rules and Hiroshima Station
What was fully abolished on March 16, 2024 was the smoking rooms *inside the trains* of the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen. At the same time, JR West closed the platform smoking corners at some Sanyo Shinkansen stations — but Hiroshima Station was not among them (source: JR West press release https://www.westjr.co.jp/press/article/items/231017_00_press_shinkansen.pdf). According to various guides, Hiroshima Station's Shinkansen platform has a smoking room (inside the gates; a valid ticket is needed). Operation may change, so check with JR West or station staff before use. Conventional-line platforms and trains are non-smoking.
The city center (Kamiyacho, Hatchobori, Peace Memorial Park area)
Hiroshima City installs public smoking booths in the center of Naka Ward. The city's official list shows six locations: south side of Hiroshima Gate Park Plaza, Kyoguchimon Park, Fukuromachi Park, Kokutaiji Park, north side of the Shoyo tennis courts, and the green space south of the Peace Memorial Park (as of July 2026; the number can change; source: https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/living/gomi-kankyo/1021281/1037470/1024206.html). The Peace Memorial Park itself has been entirely non-smoking outdoors since April 1, 2018 — there is nowhere to smoke inside the park (the south green-space booth is outside the park). Also, on August 3, 2025, Hiroshima Electric Railway's tram "Ekimae-Ohashi route" opened, with trams now running directly into the 2nd floor of the Hiroshima Station building, improving access toward Kamiyacho/Hatchobori (source: https://www.hiroden.co.jp/topics/2025/pdf/0803-tramdia/release.pdf).
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. Under Hiroshima City's ordinance, heated tobacco is also officially subject to the fine within smoking-restricted districts, the same as cigarettes. Indoors, use smoking rooms; outdoors, use places with installed ashtrays or the public smoking booths. For second-hand smoke prevention, use any tobacco in smoking areas or smoking rooms.
Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai
If you want to find smoking areas around Hiroshima Station or in Hiroshima City, you can list nearby smoking areas from MottoSuitai's map. For a list of smoking areas in the Hiroshima Station area, see smoking areas in the Hiroshima Station area. Also see our guides on Shinkansen smoking rules — which changed significantly in 2024 — and street-smoking fines by municipality.
Before you go: always check official information
This is a third-party guide compiled from Hiroshima City's official smoking-restricted-district and smoking-booth guidance, JR West press releases, and facility official guidance, as published as of July 2026. Smoking-area locations, counts and operation, and district boundaries may change. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on Hiroshima City's official site (https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/) and each facility's official guidance.
4 steps to find smoking areas around Hiroshima Station while avoiding the restricted-district fine
How to find smoking areas around Hiroshima Station, which sits in a smoking-restricted district, while avoiding the ¥1,000 fine.
- 1
Step 1
Understand that this is a smoking-restricted district
The Hiroshima Station area, Kamiyacho/Hatchobori and the Peace Memorial Park are smoking-restricted districts. Outdoor smoking except at places with installed ashtrays carries a ¥1,000 fine, including heated tobacco.
- 2
Step 2
Check station and facility smoking rooms
Check the Shinkansen platform smoking room (inside the gates; confirm with JR West) and the city's public smoking booths in the center on Hiroshima City official guidance or MottoSuitai's map.
- 3
Step 3
Do not smoke on the street — move to a smoking area
Do not smoke on streets within the restricted districts; always move to a smoking area or booth first. The Peace Memorial Park is entirely non-smoking.
- 4
Step 4
Use smoking areas for cigarettes, heated tobacco and e-cigarettes alike
For any type of tobacco, use smoking rooms indoors and places with installed ashtrays or public booths outdoors, and be considerate about second-hand smoke.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Can I smoke on the street around Hiroshima Station?
A.The area around Hiroshima Station is a designated smoking-restricted district: in outdoor public places, smoking is banned except at places with installed ashtrays, and violations carry a ¥1,000 fine. Use smoking rooms in the station or facilities.
Q.What is the penalty for violating the smoking-restricted district rules?
A.Hiroshima City's ordinance sets a ¥1,000 fine for violations within smoking-restricted districts. The city officially states that heated tobacco is also covered. Check the latest enforcement on Hiroshima City's official site.
Q.Is there a smoking room on the Hiroshima Station Shinkansen platform?
A.The March 2024 abolition covered the smoking rooms inside Shinkansen trains, and Hiroshima was not among the stations where JR West closed platform smoking corners. According to various guides, a smoking room is provided on the Shinkansen platform (inside the gates). Operation changes, so check with JR West.
Q.Can I smoke in the Peace Memorial Park?
A.No. The Peace Memorial Park has been entirely non-smoking outdoors since April 1, 2018, and there is nowhere to smoke inside the park. Use the city's public smoking booths (such as the green space south of the park, outside it) or indoor smoking rooms.
Q.Can I use heated tobacco around Hiroshima Station?
A.Under Hiroshima City's ordinance, heated tobacco is also subject to the fine within smoking-restricted districts. Indoors, use smoking rooms; outdoors, use places with installed ashtrays or public smoking booths.
Q.Where can I check the latest smoking area locations?
A.On Hiroshima City's official site (https://www.city.hiroshima.lg.jp/) — the smoking-restricted-district and smoking-booth guidance. You can also find smoking areas around Hiroshima Station on MottoSuitai's map.