Smoking Rules in Kumamoto 2026 — The Kamitori, Shimotori and Shinshigai Arcades Are a No-Street-Smoking Zone (JPY 1,000 Fine)
Table of contents
The rule that matters most: do not light up in the arcades
Kumamoto's downtown is a connected run of three covered shopping arcades — Kamitori, Shimotori and Shinshigai. The natural walking route from the Torichosuji tram stop to Kumamoto Castle or the Sakuramachi bus terminal passes straight through them, which makes it easy to enter the restricted zone without noticing. The simplest way to stay compliant is to treat the arcades as a single rule: once you are under the roof, do not light up. The roof is also why smoke and odour linger there more than on an open street.
- Ordinance in force since 1 July 2007 (source: https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kankyo/kiji003852/index.html)
- No-street-smoking zone: inside the Kamitori, Shimotori and Shinshigai arcades, designated 1 August 2007
- Fine: JPY 1,000, in effect since 1 April 2008
- Littering is regulated, including discarded heated-tobacco sticks
- Per the city, heated tobacco that does not use fire is currently outside the scope of the ordinance, but the city still asks people to smoke at designated places such as smoking areas
The city publishes a smoking-facility map for the same area
Kumamoto City maintains a map of smoking facilities in the city centre that anyone can use, covering the no-street-smoking area of the central shopping arcades. It lists facilities set up with city support alongside cooperating shops that provide a smoking corner (source: https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kiji00351655/index.html). We do not reproduce individual names, addresses or opening hours here, because the city's material is updated and the page notes that some locations may be unavailable on shop holidays. Open the city's page for the current version before you set out.
The same page asks visitors not to smoke while walking or to discard butts, and notes that smoking in large groups raises the risk of unwanted second-hand smoke. In other words, the existence of a smoking facility is not permission to smoke elsewhere.
To see which smoking spots are currently registered near the castle, open the Kumamoto Castle area smoking-spot map, or search anywhere in Japan from the MottoSuitai map. See also the municipality-by-municipality street-smoking rules, the guide to smoking-area signs, and the general guide for visitors to Japan. Nearby in Kyushu: Yufuin.
Heated tobacco: the ordinance and the national Act differ
Kumamoto City states that heated tobacco which does not use fire is currently outside the scope of the ordinance, while in the same guidance asking people to smoke at designated places such as smoking areas and noting that littering is regulated (source: https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kankyo/kiji003852/index.html). Do not read that as "heated tobacco may be used anywhere in Kumamoto". The revised Health Promotion Act does regulate heated tobacco, and indoor areas of facilities used by many people remain non-smoking as a rule (source: https://jyudokitsuen.mhlw.go.jp/smoking_room/). The arcades are crowded and covered, so use the designated places. The ordinance's treatment may be revised — check the city's page for the current position.
Device-specific rules are covered in IQOS, glo and Ploom in Japan and vape and e-cigarette rules.
Around Kumamoto Castle
Kumamoto Castle and the surrounding sightseeing area sit at the end of the arcade walk. We do not state the smoking policy of individual sites such as the castle grounds or Sakura-no-Baba Josaien — each has its own rules, so check the site's own guidance and the signage on arrival. What is certain is that the arcades you pass through on the way are a designated no-street-smoking zone with a JPY 1,000 fine.
Official sources
■ Kumamoto City — ordinance on street smoking and littering: https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kankyo/kiji003852/index.html ■ Kumamoto City — city-centre smoking facility map: https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kiji00351655/index.html ■ MHLW passive smoking portal: https://jyudokitsuen.mhlw.go.jp/
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.How much is the fine for street smoking in Kumamoto?
A.According to Kumamoto City, the fine under its ordinance on the prohibition of street smoking and littering is JPY 1,000, in effect since 1 April 2008. The no-street-smoking zone is inside the Kamitori, Shimotori and Shinshigai arcades, designated on 1 August 2007 (source: https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kankyo/kiji003852/index.html). Zones and amounts can be revised, so check the city page for the current position.
Q.Is there anywhere to smoke inside the arcades?
A.Kumamoto City publishes a map of smoking facilities in the city centre open to anyone, covering the no-street-smoking area of the central shopping arcades and listing city-supported facilities alongside cooperating shops (source: https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kiji00351655/index.html). We do not reproduce individual names or hours here; the city's page also notes that some locations may be unavailable on shop holidays. Check the current version before you go.
Q.Can I use heated tobacco in the arcades?
A.Kumamoto City states that heated tobacco which does not use fire is currently outside the scope of the ordinance, while also asking people to smoke at designated places and noting that littering is regulated (source: https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kankyo/kiji003852/index.html). Heated tobacco is regulated under the revised Health Promotion Act (source: https://jyudokitsuen.mhlw.go.jp/smoking_room/). The arcades are covered and crowded, so use a designated place.
Q.Can I smoke at Kumamoto Castle?
A.We do not state the policy of individual sites such as the castle grounds or Sakura-no-Baba Josaien; each sets its own rules, so check the site's official guidance and the signage on arrival. The arcades on the walking route there are a designated no-street-smoking zone with a JPY 1,000 fine (source: https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kankyo/kiji003852/index.html).