Japan vs Indonesia Smoking Rules 2026: Seven Differences That Catch Visitors Out
Table of contents
The age line: 21 versus 20
PP No. 28 of 2024, Article 434(1), prohibits selling tobacco to anyone under 21 years old and to pregnant women (source: Indonesian Ministry of Health https://kemkes.go.id/id/tekan-konsumsi-perokok-anak-dan-remaja). In Japan, smoking under the age of 20 is prohibited by statute (source: e-Gov https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/), and the revised Health Promotion Act bars anyone under 20 from entering a smoking area at all, even when they have no intention of smoking, and including staff (source: https://jyudokitsuen.mhlw.go.jp/point/).
Four kinds of smoking room
- Designated smoking room (喫煙専用室): smoking allowed, no food or drink.
- Heated-tobacco-only smoking room (加熱式たばこ専用喫煙室): heated tobacco only, food and drink allowed.
- Smoking-permitted room (喫煙可能室): smoking and dining allowed, but only at qualifying small eateries that already existed — a transitional measure.
- Smoking-purpose room (喫煙目的室): smoking allowed with food and drink except staple meals, only at smoking-purpose establishments.
- All four bar entry to anyone under 20 (source: https://jyudokitsuen.mhlw.go.jp/smoking_room/).
This is why some Japanese restaurants still allow smoking while others do not: only the last two categories permit it, and the "smoking-permitted room" is a transitional measure limited to small eateries that were already trading. You cannot tell from the size or the atmosphere of a venue — check the sign at the entrance and the venue's own information.
The street layer
Article 14(3) of the Local Autonomy Act caps ordinance fines at 50,000 yen (source: e-Gov https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/322AC0000000067), but in practice 1,000 to 2,000 yen is typical. Chiyoda City in Tokyo applies 2,000 yen across the whole ward except the Imperial Palace grounds, covering both cigarettes and heated tobacco (source: https://www.city.chiyoda.lg.jp/koho/machizukuri/sekatsu/jore/jore.html). Osaka City has banned street smoking city-wide since 27 January 2025 with a 1,000 yen fine (source: https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/kankyo/page/0000503379.html), and Kyoto City charges 1,000 yen inside its designated enforcement zones (source: https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/bunshi/page/0000027498.html). A fuller list is in our guide to street smoking fines by municipality, and the enforcement steps are covered in what happens if you are asked to pay. Find a legal spot first on the MottoSuitai map.
Vapes and heated tobacco
Indonesia's PP No. 28 of 2024 treats electronic cigarettes in line with conventional cigarettes, applying retail restrictions, advertising restrictions and age verification for online sales (source: https://kemkes.go.id/id/tekan-konsumsi-perokok-anak-dan-remaja). Japan instead gives heated tobacco its own room category within the Health Promotion Act — the heated-tobacco-only smoking room, which differs from an ordinary smoking room in that food and drink are permitted (source: https://jyudokitsuen.mhlw.go.jp/smoking_room/). Municipal street ordinances vary: some include heated tobacco in the definition of smoking, some do not.
A note on scope
This is a third-party summary as of August 2026, drawing on the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Japan's MHLW and e-Gov. Indonesian KTR detail is also set by regional regulations (Peraturan Daerah), so penalty amounts there are not stated here — check https://peraturan.go.id/ and your local government. Nothing here is legal advice or an assessment of any individual venue. Smoking under 20 is prohibited in Japan, and this article does not encourage smoking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Does Japan have anything equivalent to Kawasan Tanpa Rokok?
A.Not directly. Japan classifies buildings instead: Type-1 facilities such as schools, hospitals and government offices are smoke-free across the entire premises, while Type-2 facilities are smoke-free indoors unless a compliant smoking room exists (source: https://jyudokitsuen.mhlw.go.jp/). Outdoor street smoking is regulated separately by each municipality.
Q.What is the minimum age in each country?
A.Indonesia prohibits selling tobacco to anyone under 21 and to pregnant women under PP No. 28 of 2024, Article 434(1) (source: https://kemkes.go.id/id/tekan-konsumsi-perokok-anak-dan-remaja). Japan prohibits smoking under 20 by statute and bars under-20s from entering smoking areas entirely.
Q.How much is a street smoking fine in Japan?
A.It varies by municipality. The statutory ceiling is 50,000 yen under Article 14(3) of the Local Autonomy Act (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/322AC0000000067), but 1,000 to 2,000 yen is typical: 2,000 yen in Chiyoda, 1,000 yen in Osaka and Kyoto. Check the official site for the area you are visiting.
Q.Can I smoke in a Japanese restaurant?
A.Generally no. Only two legal categories allow it — a "smoking-permitted room" at a qualifying small eatery that already existed, and a "smoking-purpose room" at a smoking-purpose establishment (source: https://jyudokitsuen.mhlw.go.jp/smoking_room/). Always check the sign at the entrance.