Smoking Areas in Nihonbashi: 2026 Guide (Chuo Ward bans smoking while walking — use the ward's designated areas)
Table of contents
- 1.About this guide and disclaimer
- 2.Chuo Ward's smoking-while-walking ban (no fine — name is published)
- 3.Outdoor designated smoking areas around Nihonbashi (ward-run)
- 4.About smoking rooms inside commercial facilities
- 5.Heated tobacco and e-cigarettes
- 6.Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai
- 7.Before you go: always check official information
About this guide and disclaimer
This is a third-party guide compiled from Chuo Ward's official site (https://www.city.chuo.lg.jp/) — its smoking-related pages (the smoking-while-walking / littering ordinance, the passive-smoking-prevention ordinance, and the designated smoking area list) — reflecting the situation as of July 2026. Smoking-area locations, counts and operation (including opening hours and suspensions) may change without notice. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Chuo Ward and facility official pages.
Chuo Ward's smoking-while-walking ban (no fine — name is published)
Nihonbashi is in Chuo Ward, Tokyo. Under its "No Smoking-While-Walking and No Littering" ordinance (enacted in 2004), Chuo Ward bans smoking while walking and littering in public places ward-wide — roads, parks and plazas managed by the ward or related agencies. The key point is that this ordinance sets no fine; the only measure against a violator is publishing their name and similar details. Some wards such as Chiyoda Ward have ordinances that impose a fine for street smoking, but Chuo Ward responds by publication rather than a fine or penalty.
The ordinance applies to public places, so private roads and private land are not directly covered. Also, "smoking while walking" under the ordinance includes heated tobacco ("heated tobacco products"), so avoid using heated tobacco — not just cigarettes — while walking. In addition, under its "Ordinance to Promote Passive-Smoking Prevention Measures" (in force since July 1, 2020), Chuo Ward is setting up designated smoking areas, with operation centered on awareness campaigns, patrols and cautions.
- Chuo Ward bans smoking while walking and littering in public places ward-wide ("No Smoking-While-Walking and No Littering" ordinance)
- The only measure for a violation is publishing the name, etc. — no fine is set
- This differs from wards such as Chiyoda that impose a fine (publication, not a fine/penalty)
- "Smoking while walking" under the ordinance includes heated tobacco
- Private roads and private land are not directly covered; smoke in the ward's designated areas or facility smoking rooms
Outdoor designated smoking areas around Nihonbashi (ward-run)
Chuo Ward provides ward-run designated smoking areas outdoors and publishes their location, address and opening hours in an official designated-smoking-area list. As of July 2026, the outdoor designated smoking areas in the Nihonbashi area listed officially are as follows (all set within parks, greenways, etc.).
- Jizobashi Park (Nihonbashi-Honcho 4-5-11 / 7:00–20:00)
- Kakigaracho Park (Nihonbashi-Kakigaracho 2-10-6 / 7:00–20:00)
- Hamacho Park (Nihonbashi-Hamacho 2-59-1 / 7:00–20:00)
- Hakozaki Kashi Greenway (near Nihonbashi-Hakozakicho 19 / temporarily suspended)
Chuo Ward also publishes a designated-smoking-area map (as a PDF and on Google Maps). Opening hours and suspension status can change, so check the latest state on the official list and map before you visit. Note that no ward-run outdoor designated smoking area is listed officially right next to Nihonbashi Station or Mitsukoshimae Station. If you want to smoke reliably nearby, the sure options are to walk to one of the park-type designated areas above, or to use a facility smoking room described below.
About smoking rooms inside commercial facilities
Nihonbashi is home to large commercial facilities such as Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store and Coredo Muromachi. These facilities may have smoking rooms, but we could not confirm official primary information — referenceable in this article — on whether such in-building smoking rooms exist, where they are, or their conditions of use. We therefore do not assert whether or where smoking rooms exist inside commercial facilities; please check each facility's official guidance and in-building signage each time. Indoors is in principle non-smoking under the revised Health Promotion Act, and smoking is limited to smoking-only rooms that meet the standards, etc.
Heated tobacco and e-cigarettes
Since April 2020, the fully enforced revised Health Promotion Act has made indoor spaces in principle non-smoking. As noted above, Chuo Ward's smoking-while-walking ban includes heated tobacco ("heated tobacco products") in its definition of "smoking while walking." So for heated tobacco and e-cigarettes too, avoid using them while walking; use a smoking room indoors and the ward's designated smoking area outdoors. For second-hand smoke prevention, the basic rule is to use any tobacco in a designated smoking area or smoking room.
Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai
If you want to find smoking areas around Nihonbashi, you can list nearby smoking areas from MottoSuitai's map. For a list of smoking areas in the Nihonbashi area, see smoking areas in the Nihonbashi area. For the adjacent Marunouchi/Yurakucho area (in Chiyoda Ward, which does set a fine for street smoking), see the Marunouchi/Yurakucho smoking guide, and for smoking around Tokyo's major stations, see the Tokyo major-stations smoking guide.
Before you go: always check official information
This third-party guide was compiled from Chuo Ward's official smoking-related pages (the smoking-while-walking / littering ordinance, the passive-smoking-prevention ordinance, and the designated smoking area list) and facility official guidance as of July 2026. Designated-smoking-area locations, counts, opening hours, suspension status, and how the ordinance is operated may change. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Chuo Ward official site (https://www.city.chuo.lg.jp/) and each facility's official guidance.
How to avoid smoking while walking and find a smoking area in Nihonbashi: 4 steps
In Chuo Ward / Nihonbashi, where smoking while walking is banned, how to smoke using the ward's designated smoking areas or facility smoking rooms.
- 1
Step 1
Understand Chuo Ward bans smoking while walking ward-wide
Chuo Ward, where Nihonbashi sits, bans smoking while walking and littering in public places ward-wide. There is no fine (the measure is publishing the name), but it is still a prohibited act.
- 2
Step 2
Check the ward's designated smoking areas
Check outdoor ward-run designated smoking areas such as Jizobashi Park, Kakigaracho Park and Hamacho Park (7:00–20:00), the Chuo Ward official map, or the MottoSuitai map for the nearest area (the Hakozaki Kashi Greenway is temporarily suspended).
- 3
Step 3
Consider facility smoking rooms too
Commercial facilities such as Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store and Coredo Muromachi may have smoking rooms. Check availability and location on each facility's official guidance / in-building signage before heading there.
- 4
Step 4
Do not smoke while walking; smoke in a designated spot
For cigarettes, heated tobacco and e-cigarettes alike, avoid using them while walking; use a smoking room indoors and the ward's designated smoking area outdoors. Be considerate of second-hand smoke.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Can I smoke while walking around Nihonbashi?
A.No. Chuo Ward, where Nihonbashi sits, bans smoking while walking in public places ward-wide under its "No Smoking-While-Walking and No Littering" ordinance. Smoke in the ward's designated smoking areas or in facility smoking rooms.
Q.Is there a fine (penalty) for smoking while walking in Chuo Ward?
A.Chuo Ward's ordinance sets no fine; the only measure for a violation is publishing the name and similar details. This differs from wards such as Chiyoda that impose a fine. It is still a prohibited act, so please use the designated smoking areas.
Q.Where are the outdoor smoking areas around Nihonbashi?
A.Chuo Ward's official designated-smoking-area list includes, for the Nihonbashi area, Jizobashi Park (Nihonbashi-Honcho 4-5-11), Kakigaracho Park (Nihonbashi-Kakigaracho 2-10-6) and Hamacho Park (Nihonbashi-Hamacho 2-59-1), all 7:00–20:00. The Hakozaki Kashi Greenway (near Nihonbashi-Hakozakicho 19) is temporarily suspended. Locations and operation change, so always confirm the latest status on the Chuo Ward official site.
Q.Is there a ward-run smoking area right next to Nihonbashi Station or Mitsukoshimae Station?
A.Chuo Ward's official designated-smoking-area list does not list a ward-run outdoor designated smoking area right next to Nihonbashi Station or Mitsukoshimae Station. The sure options are to walk to one of the park-type designated areas above, or to use a smoking room inside a commercial facility (check availability on each facility's official guidance).
Q.Do commercial facilities (Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Coredo Muromachi, etc.) have smoking rooms?
A.We could not confirm official primary information in this article on whether or where in-building smoking rooms exist. Since we cannot assert this, please check each facility's official guidance and in-building signage each time.
Q.Can I use heated tobacco while walking?
A.No. Chuo Ward's ordinance includes heated tobacco ("heated tobacco products") in "smoking while walking." Avoid using it while walking; use a smoking room indoors and the ward's designated smoking area outdoors.