Smoking Areas at Matsumoto Station: 2026 Guide (Matsumoto City passive-smoking prevention zones and designated smoking spots)

About this guide and disclaimer

This is a third-party guide compiled from the Matsumoto City official site (https://www.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp/) — its "Tobacco (passive-smoking prevention zones and designated smoking spots)" guidance — and the text of the Matsumoto City Ordinance on the Prevention of Passive Smoking, reflecting the situation as of July 2026. The extent of the zones and the location, structure and hours of designated smoking spots may change without notice. For private facilities such as shopping streets, commercial complexes and restaurants, this article does not assert anything we could not confirm in official primary sources. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on Matsumoto City and each facility's official guidance.

The Matsumoto City Ordinance on the Prevention of Passive Smoking (no penalty provision)

Matsumoto City has the "Matsumoto City Ordinance on the Prevention of Passive Smoking" (promulgated 18 March 2019 as Ordinance No. 3, in force since 1 July 2019). Article 9 provides that residents and others shall not smoke inside a passive-smoking prevention zone, with smoking at a designated smoking spot as the only exception. The zones are not fixed in the text of the ordinance itself: under Article 8, the mayor designates the zones and also designates, as designated smoking spots, "places where smoking is possible and where the measures necessary to prevent passive smoking have been taken." Before designating a zone, the mayor is required to hear the opinions of residents and businesses in that zone in advance.

This ordinance contains no penalty provision (no administrative fine). Unlike ordinances in places such as Chiyoda City or Osaka City that impose fines on violators, the Matsumoto ordinance sets out a prohibition without an accompanying penalty. However, the absence of a fine does not mean smoking is permitted. Inside a zone the ordinance prohibits smoking anywhere other than a designated smoking spot, so always walk to a designated spot.

• Ordinance: Matsumoto City Ordinance on the Prevention of Passive Smoking (promulgated 18 March 2019, Ordinance No. 3)
• In force since: 1 July 2019
• Article 9: no smoking inside a passive-smoking prevention zone (except at designated smoking spots)
• Article 8: the mayor designates the zones and the designated smoking spots
• The ban inside zones covers heated tobacco (Matsumoto City official)
• The ordinance has no penalty provision (no fine)

Matsumoto has three passive-smoking prevention zones (as of July 2026)

According to Matsumoto City, three areas are designated as passive-smoking prevention zones. In all of them, smoking is not possible except at a designated smoking spot. The zones have been expanded over time, so always check the latest designations on the Matsumoto City official site.

• JR Matsumoto Station Oshiro-guchi plaza and the surrounding town centre (designated October 2019)
• Matsumoto Castle Park and the area around the former Kaichi School (designated April 2022)
• Air Water Arena Matsumoto / Sekisui Heim Matsumoto Stadium (designated April 2023)

If you are visiting Matsumoto as a tourist, the first (in front of Matsumoto Station) and the second (around Matsumoto Castle) are the ones that will actually affect you. The walking route from Matsumoto Station to Matsumoto Castle passes between these two zones. Zone boundaries are indicated by pavement markings and signboards on site, so check the signage as you walk.

The designated smoking spot at JR Matsumoto Station Oshiro-guchi plaza (container type, 24 hours)

According to Matsumoto City, a container-type designated smoking spot has been installed at the JR Matsumoto Station Oshiro-guchi (east exit) plaza. It is open 24 hours. Inside the passive-smoking prevention zone around Matsumoto Station, everywhere other than this designated smoking spot is non-smoking. Matsumoto City states that it also uses this designated smoking spot as a "non-smoking awareness point," showing anti-smoking awareness videos on a digital signage system.

• Location: JR Matsumoto Station Oshiro-guchi plaza (Matsumoto City official)
• Structure: container type
• Hours: 24 hours
• Scope: use it for both cigarettes and heated tobacco while inside the zone

Matsumoto Station is a transfer hub where the Azusa and Shinano limited express trains, the Alpico Kotsu Kamikochi Line, and highway and local buses from the Matsumoto Bus Terminal all come together. If you want to smoke during a transfer wait, use the designated smoking spot at the Oshiro-guchi plaza. As for whether smoking facilities exist inside the ticket gates or on the platforms, JR East official guidance is the primary source; this article does not assert whether such facilities exist. If you want to check before boarding, consult the railway operator official guidance.

The designated smoking spot at Matsumoto Castle Park (partition type, northwest corner)

According to Matsumoto City, from 1 April 2022 Matsumoto Castle Park and the road leading to the former Kaichi School became a passive-smoking prevention zone. What was designated is Matsumoto Castle Park, the city roads on the east and north sides of the park, and the city road connecting Matsumoto Castle with the former Kaichi School building. Inside this zone you cannot smoke anywhere other than the designated smoking spot inside Matsumoto Castle Park.

• Location: northwest corner of Matsumoto Castle Park (Matsumoto City official)
• Structure: partition type (based on the MHLW notice "Technical points to note for outdoor smoking-separation facilities")
• Hours: 24 hours (except during cleaning)
• Zone: Matsumoto Castle Park, the city roads east and north of the park, and the city road connecting Matsumoto Castle with the former Kaichi School building

The Matsumoto Castle keep is a wooden structure designated a National Treasure. Handling of fire in and around the castle grounds calls for particular care, so smoke only inside the designated smoking spot and always put butts in the ashtray provided. Avoid littering butts, both for environmental reasons and because of the fire risk.

What to watch for when looking for a place to smoke on Nawate-dori and in the town centre

Nawate-dori along the Metoba River south of Matsumoto Castle, along with Daimyocho-dori and Nakamachi-dori, are standard stops on a Matsumoto sightseeing route. However, we could not find official primary information from Matsumoto City on whether public smoking areas are installed on these shopping streets. This article does not assert the location of smoking areas we cannot confirm officially.

What matters is that two passive-smoking prevention zones — in front of Matsumoto Station and around Matsumoto Castle — sit on the walking route through the town centre. If you walk without paying attention to the boundaries, you may end up inside a zone without noticing. When strolling the town centre, the reliable approach is to plan on walking back to the designated smoking spot at the Matsumoto Station Oshiro-guchi plaza or at the northwest corner of Matsumoto Castle Park whenever you want to smoke.

Also, even outside the zones, smoking near other pedestrians or in front of shops causes passive smoking. Article 27 of the revised Health Promotion Act places a duty of consideration on smokers to pay attention to their surroundings when smoking. Whether inside or outside a zone, avoid smoking in busy places or near shop entrances. Carrying a portable ashtray does not increase the number of places where you may smoke.

Matsumoto Station as the gateway to Kamikochi and Norikura

Matsumoto Station is the gateway for trips to Kamikochi, Norikura Kogen and Shirahone Onsen. Kamikochi is a natural environment designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Special Natural Monument within Chubu-Sangaku National Park, and the situation regarding tobacco is very different from central Matsumoto. If you are heading to Kamikochi, check the local rules before you set out in the Kamikochi smoking rules guide. Buses and taxis are all non-smoking. If you are entering Kamikochi from Matsumoto Station via Shin-Shimashima Station, places to smoke along the way are limited, so it is practical to finish at the designated smoking spot at the Matsumoto Station Oshiro-guchi plaza before setting off.

For other major stations in Nagano and the wider Chubu area, the situation at Kofu Station — the gateway to Yamanashi — is also a useful reference. Municipalities in Nagano and Yamanashi structure their rules differently: some have a street-smoking ban ordinance with fines, while others, like Matsumoto, use zone designation with no penalty provision. Make it a habit to check the official guidance of each municipality you travel to.

Heated tobacco and e-cigarettes

Under the revised Health Promotion Act, fully in force since 1 April 2020, indoor areas of facilities used by many people are in principle non-smoking. Type 1 facilities such as schools, hospitals and government offices are in principle non-smoking on the entire premises, and Type 2 facilities such as restaurants, offices and hotels are in principle non-smoking indoors; to smoke, a smoking-dedicated room or a heated-tobacco-only smoking room meeting the standards is required. Eating and drinking is permitted in a heated-tobacco-only smoking room but not in a smoking-dedicated room. People under 20 may not enter either.

Matsumoto City states that the ban inside passive-smoking prevention zones covers heated tobacco as well. The fact that the vapour is less visible is not an exception under the ordinance. Heated tobacco products such as IQOS, glo and Ploom may also be used only at designated smoking spots inside the zones. Nicotine-containing e-cigarette liquid is regulated in Japan under the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act and is not permitted for sale domestically. For nicotine-free e-cigarettes as well, using a designated smoking spot inside the zones is the reliable choice out of consideration for those around you.

Note that smoking by people under 20 is prohibited by the Act on Prohibition of Smoking by Persons Under Twenty Years of Age. Entry by people under 20 into smoking-dedicated rooms and heated-tobacco-only smoking rooms is also prohibited under the revised Health Promotion Act.

Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai

If you want to find smoking areas around Matsumoto Station, Matsumoto Castle or elsewhere in Nagano, you can list nearby smoking areas from MottoSuitai's map. If you are heading to Kamikochi, see the Kamikochi smoking rules guide, and for another major station in the Chubu area, the Kofu Station smoking guide. Differences in street-smoking rules and fines between municipalities are summarised in the guide to street-smoking fines.

Before you go: always check official information

This third-party guide was compiled from the Matsumoto City official guidance on passive-smoking prevention zones and designated smoking spots, and the text of the Matsumoto City Ordinance on the Prevention of Passive Smoking, as of July 2026. The extent of the zones and the location, structure and hours of designated smoking spots may change. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Matsumoto City official site (https://www.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp/) and each facility's official guidance.