Smoking Areas in Higashiyama, Gion and Shijo-Kawaramachi (Kyoto): 2026 Guide — ¥1,000 fine in enforcement zones

Higashiyama and Gion are included: Kyoto City street-smoking rules and the ¥1,000 fine

This is a third-party guide compiled from Kyoto City's official site (https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/) — its guidance on the prohibition of street smoking and on public smoking places — reflecting the situation as of July 2026. The extent of the enhancement zones and the location and operation of public smoking places may change without notice. When you visit, always confirm the latest information on Kyoto City official sources and each temple, shrine or facility.

Kyoto City's smoking rules have two layers. The first is aimed at the whole city: Kyoto City calls on everyone to "stop smoking in outdoor public places (streets, parks and so on) throughout the city." The second is the "Street Smoking Countermeasure Enhancement Zone," designated in especially busy places, where a ¥1,000 administrative fine is collected from anyone who smokes on the street. The name of this zone was revised on 1 March 2023 (Reiwa 5); before that it was known by a different name.

The ordinance is formally titled the "Kyoto City Ordinance on the Prohibition of Street Smoking," enacted on 1 June 2007 (Heisei 19). Sources: Kyoto City guidance on the Ordinance on the Prohibition of Street Smoking and Kyoto City, "Street Smoking Countermeasure Enhancement Zones and public smoking places".

• Ordinance: Kyoto City Ordinance on the Prohibition of Street Smoking (enacted 1 June 2007)
• City-wide: Kyoto City asks everyone to refrain from smoking in outdoor public places (streets, parks etc.)
• Enhancement zones: smoking on the street inside them incurs a ¥1,000 fine
• The zone name was revised on 1 March 2023
• The zones are the "city centre," the "Kyoto Station area" and the "Kiyomizu/Gion area"
• Contact: Kyoto City Citizens' Affairs Bureau, Living Safety Promotion Section (075-222-3193)

The Kiyomizu/Gion area and the city centre: how the enhancement zones map onto them

Kyoto City publishes three Street Smoking Countermeasure Enhancement Zones: the "city centre," the "Kyoto Station area" and the "Kiyomizu/Gion area." The approach roads leading to Kiyomizu-dera and the Gion district centred on Yasaka Shrine correspond to the "Kiyomizu/Gion area," while the entertainment districts of Shijo-Kawaramachi, Kiyamachi and Shinkyogoku correspond to the "city centre." In other words, a typical Kyoto walking route that combines Higashiyama sightseeing with shopping and dining around Shijo-Kawaramachi passes almost entirely through enhancement zones.

For the precise extent of the zones, please check the zone map published on the Kyoto City official page. This article does not assert street-level boundaries that the official page does not state in text. Guessing that "this street is probably not included" and smoking while walking can still result in a fine. Rather than worrying about whether you are inside or outside a zone, it is far safer to simply decide not to smoke outdoors at all while you are walking through Higashiyama, Gion and Shijo-Kawaramachi.

• The three enhancement zones are the "city centre," the "Kyoto Station area" and the "Kiyomizu/Gion area" (Kyoto City official)
• The approach to Kiyomizu-dera and Gion around Yasaka Shrine correspond to the "Kiyomizu/Gion area"
• Shijo-Kawaramachi, Kiyamachi and Shinkyogoku correspond to the "city centre"
• Check the exact boundaries on the Kyoto City official zone map (this article does not assert them)
• Arcaded shopping streets are still treated as outdoor public places

Public smoking places in the Kiyomizu/Gion area

Kyoto City has set up "public smoking places" inside the enhancement zones and in front of major stations. According to the Kyoto City official page, the Kiyomizu/Gion area has two public smoking places in the Kiyomizu district plus one around Kodai-ji. They sit along the walking route that descends from Kiyomizu-dera towards Kodai-ji and the Yasaka Pagoda (Hokan-ji), which makes them useful reference points when you walk Kiyomizu-zaka, Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka.

For the exact addresses and opening hours of each public smoking place, the Kyoto City official page presents the information mainly as map images, and we could not confirm the details in text. This article does not assert individual addresses or hours. When you head there, please check the map on the Kyoto City official page or the signage on site. During peak seasons (cherry blossom in spring, autumn leaves) public smoking places also get crowded, so allow time for a queue.

• Kiyomizu district: two public smoking places (Kyoto City official)
• Around Kodai-ji: a public smoking place (Kyoto City official)
• Check exact addresses and hours on the Kyoto City official map or on-site signage
• The approach roads such as Kiyomizu-zaka, Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka correspond to an enhancement zone, so street smoking is subject to the fine
• The narrow stone-paved slopes get crowded, and a lit cigarette risks burning other pedestrians

Public smoking places around Shijo-Kawaramachi, Kiyamachi and Shinkyogoku

For the city centre around Shijo-Kawaramachi, the Kyoto City official page lists public smoking places in the Nishi-Kiyamachi district and the Shinkyogoku Park district. Nishi-Kiyamachi is the dining area along the Takase River, and Shinkyogoku Park is a park close to the Shinkyogoku shopping street. Both are relatively easy to reach from the route that runs from Hankyu Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station or Keihan Gion-Shijo Station towards Gion and Yasaka Shrine.

Note that the walkways of Shijo-dori, Kawaramachi-dori, the Shinkyogoku and Teramachi-Kyogoku shopping streets and Nishiki Market are all outdoor public places. An arcade roof does not make them indoors. Smoking while eating and walking is especially risky in a crowded passage, where you can burn another visitor, so please avoid it. Smoke at a public smoking place, or in a smoking room provided by a restaurant or commercial facility.

• Nishi-Kiyamachi district: public smoking place (Kyoto City official)
• Shinkyogoku Park district: public smoking place (Kyoto City official)
• The walkways of Shijo-dori, Kawaramachi-dori, Shinkyogoku, Teramachi-Kyogoku and Nishiki Market are outdoor public places
• An arcade roof does not make a street "indoors"
• The Kyoto Station area separately has seven public smoking places listed (Kyoto City official)

On temple and shrine grounds: follow the rules each one sets

Higashiyama and Gion are home to many temples and shrines, including Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka Shrine, Kodai-ji, Chion-in and Kennin-ji. Whether you may smoke on those grounds is determined not by the Kyoto City ordinance but by the rules each temple or shrine sets. This article does not assert whether smoking is permitted on the grounds of any individual site. When you visit, follow each place's official site, the notice board at the entrance and the signage on the grounds.

As a general matter, temples and shrines with wooden buildings and important cultural properties place a high priority on fire prevention. Visitors also include many children, older people and people who need to be careful about their health. Make it a habit to check the signage before you take out any smoking device on the grounds. Never dispose of a butt in a bin or planting on the grounds — it can start a fire. We recommend carrying a portable ashtray.

Also note that, regardless of whether temple or shrine grounds count as "indoors" or "outdoors," the approach roads and the streets in front of the gates may correspond to a Kyoto City enhancement zone. Lighting up the moment you step out of the grounds can also lead to a fine, so please take care.

How the fine is collected in practice

According to the Kyoto City official page, street-smoking patrol officers carry their officer ID on their chest, and when they collect a fine they issue a receipt or similar document issued by Kyoto City. Patrols focus on the busy enhancement zones — precisely the areas where visitors concentrate, such as the approach to Kiyomizu-dera, Gion and Shijo-Kawaramachi.

The fine applies in the same way to visitors from abroad who do not read Japanese. There is no mechanism that waives it because you "did not know." Once you arrive in Kyoto, it is reassuring to check on a map in advance where the public smoking places closest to your accommodation or nearest station are.

• Street-smoking patrol officers carry their officer ID on their chest (Kyoto City official)
• When collecting a fine they issue a receipt or similar issued by Kyoto City (Kyoto City official)
• Patrols focus on the busy enhancement zones
• The fine is ¥1,000 and applies to visitors from abroad in the same way
• Contact: Kyoto City Citizens' Affairs Bureau, Living Safety Promotion Section (075-222-3193)

Heated tobacco and e-cigarettes

Indoors, the revised Health Promotion Act, fully in force since April 2020, makes premises non-smoking in principle, and restaurants are in principle indoor non-smoking. For heated tobacco, facilities that provide a heated-tobacco-only smoking room allow use inside that room, which is categorised differently from a smoking-only room for cigarettes. When you use a restaurant in Higashiyama, Gion or Shijo-Kawaramachi, check the notice at the entrance (all seats non-smoking / smoking-only room available / heated-tobacco-only smoking room available, and so on).

As for the outdoor Kyoto City ordinance, we could not confirm on the Kyoto City official page any explicit statement about whether heated tobacco is included in or excluded from its scope. This article does not assert whether heated tobacco may be used inside an enhancement zone. If you are unsure, please contact the Kyoto City Citizens' Affairs Bureau, Living Safety Promotion Section (075-222-3193). In practical terms, even heated tobacco imposes a burden on the people around you when used on a crowded approach road or shopping street. Whether cigarettes, heated tobacco or e-cigarettes, please use a public smoking place or an in-facility smoking room.

Note also that in Japan smoking by anyone under 20 is prohibited by law. Under the revised Health Promotion Act, places where smoking is permitted must display a notice, and no one under 20 may enter — customers or staff.

Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai

If you want to find smoking areas around Higashiyama, Gion or Shijo-Kawaramachi, you can list nearby smoking areas from MottoSuitai's map. For the rules across Kyoto City and the situation in other areas such as Arashiyama, see the Kyoto smoking guide; for the area around Kyoto Station, your gateway by shinkansen and conventional lines, see the Kyoto Station smoking guide; and for Arashiyama, see the Arashiyama smoking guide.

Before you go: always check official information

This third-party guide was compiled from Kyoto City's official guidance on the prohibition of street smoking and on public smoking places, as published in July 2026. The extent of the enhancement zones, the location and operation of public smoking places, and temple and shrine rules may change. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Kyoto City official site (https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/) and with each temple, shrine or facility. Please use the designated places and be considerate of the people around you.