Smoking Areas around Sannomiya, Kobe: Complete 2026 Guide (a street-smoking-ban district, ¥1,000 fine)
Table of contents
- 1.About this guide and disclaimer
- 2.Kobe City's street-smoking-ban district (Sannomiya/Motomachi area, ¥1,000 fine)
- 3.Public smoking areas around Sannomiya Station (listed in Kobe City's official FAQ)
- 4.The two-layer treatment of heated tobacco (street ordinance vs. passive-smoking ordinance)
- 5.Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai
- 6.Before you go: always check official information
About this guide and disclaimer
This is a third-party guide compiled from Kobe City's official site (https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/) — its street-smoking-ban-district guidance and official FAQ (https://faq.city.kobe.lg.jp/) — and facility official guidance, reflecting the situation as of July 2026. Smoking-area locations, counts and operating hours may change without notice. When you actually go, always confirm the latest locations and hours on the city and facility official guidance.
Kobe City's street-smoking-ban district (Sannomiya/Motomachi area, ¥1,000 fine)
By its "Littering and Street Smoking Prevention" ordinance, Kobe City designates the Sannomiya/Motomachi area as a "street-smoking-ban district" (designated in 2008). Within the district, smoking on roads is banned except in designated smoking areas. A violation carries a ¥1,000 fine, which street-smoking-prevention officers on patrol require you to pay in cash on the spot.
Besides the Sannomiya/Motomachi area, Kobe City also designates the area around Rokkomichi Station (designated in 2011) and Suma Beach (during the beach-opening season) as street-smoking-ban districts. Across the whole city, there is also a duty of effort to refrain from street smoking. As for littering, a fine of up to ¥20,000 is set in priority zones, which is a separate provision from the ¥1,000 street-smoking fine. District boundaries and operation can change, so check the latest on Kobe City's official site.
- The Sannomiya/Motomachi area is a "street-smoking-ban district" (designated in 2008)
- Within the district, smoking on roads is banned except in designated smoking areas
- A violation carries a ¥1,000 fine (paid in cash on the spot; officers patrol)
- City-wide, there is a duty of effort to refrain from street smoking
- Littering carries a fine up to ¥20,000 in priority zones (separate from the ¥1,000 fine)
Public smoking areas around Sannomiya Station (listed in Kobe City's official FAQ)
Kobe City's official FAQ (https://faq.city.kobe.lg.jp/faq/show/1612) lists smoking places available around Sannomiya Station. There are public smoking areas set up and managed by the city, and private smoking areas listed in the FAQ. The following organizes what that FAQ lists. Hours and operation change, so check the latest with the city and on-site.
Public smoking areas set up and managed by the city:
- Motomachi Station-front smoking area (in front of JR Motomachi Station)
- Sannomiya Parking smoking area (west side of Higashi Yuenchi, 7:00–19:00)
Private smoking areas listed in Kobe City's official FAQ:
- Free smoking area next to Café Santa Maria (east of JR Sannomiya Station, 7:30–19:30)
- Ikuta Shrine smoking area
- THE TOBACCO SANNOMIYA (north of Hankyu Sannomiya Station, 7:00–21:00)
- FamilyMart Sannomiya B1 smoking area (north of Kobe Marui, 9:00–20:00)
- YOKOZUNA STAND SMOKING ROOM (south of the Kobe Asahi Building, 11:00–20:00)
- Senko Shokai store smoking area (east of JR Sannomiya Station, 8:15–19:00)
- Access Sannomiya (north of San Plaza, 10:00–23:00)
Smoking areas at the Sannomiya Bus Terminal, Mint Kobe, Santica (the underground mall) and the like are not listed in the Kobe City official FAQ above. Check whether they are available with each facility's guidance.
The two-layer treatment of heated tobacco (street ordinance vs. passive-smoking ordinance)
In Kobe City, heated tobacco is treated differently under two ordinances. Under the "Littering and Street Smoking Prevention" ordinance that establishes the street-smoking-ban district, heated tobacco is out of scope (because, unlike a lit cigarette, it carries no burn risk). In other words, within the district, what falls under the ¥1,000 fine is lit tobacco such as conventional cigarettes.
On the other hand, Kobe City separately has the "Kobe City Passive Smoking Prevention Ordinance," under which heated tobacco is also within scope. From the standpoint of preventing second-hand smoke, using heated tobacco in a smoking area rather than on the road is recommended. It is safest to use both conventional and heated tobacco only in designated smoking areas.
In addition, since April 2020 the revised Health Promotion Act has made indoor spaces in principle non-smoking, and restaurants etc. are in principle indoor non-smoking. The basic rule is to use a smoking room indoors and a designated smoking area outdoors, avoiding the street-smoking-ban district. The relationship between the two ordinances and the law can change, so check the latest on Kobe City's official site.
Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai
If you want to find smoking areas in the Sannomiya/Motomachi area or in Kobe City, you can list nearby smoking areas from MottoSuitai's map. For a list of smoking areas in the Sannomiya area, see smoking areas in the Sannomiya area. For other Kansai areas, also see the Osaka smoking guide (in Osaka City, heated tobacco is also within the scope of street-smoking rules, differing from Kobe City's street-smoking-ban ordinance) and the Kansai Airport smoking guide.
Before you go: always check official information
This third-party guide was compiled from Kobe City's official street-smoking-ban-district guidance and official FAQ, and facility official guidance, as of July 2026. Smoking-area locations, counts, operating hours, and the street-smoking-ban district boundaries may change. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Kobe City official site (https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/), the official FAQ (https://faq.city.kobe.lg.jp/) and each facility's official guidance.
How to avoid the street-smoking-ban district and find a smoking area in Sannomiya/Motomachi: 4 steps
In Kobe City, where the Sannomiya/Motomachi area is a street-smoking-ban district, how to find a smoking area while avoiding the ¥1,000 fine.
- 1
Step 1
Understand it is a street-smoking-ban district
The Sannomiya/Motomachi area is a street-smoking-ban district. Smoking on roads is banned except in designated smoking areas, and a violation is subject to a ¥1,000 fine paid on the spot.
- 2
Step 2
Check public and in-facility smoking areas
Check smoking areas listed in Kobe City's official FAQ, such as the Motomachi Station-front smoking area and the Sannomiya Parking smoking area west of Higashi Yuenchi, or the nearest area on the MottoSuitai map.
- 3
Step 3
Do not smoke on the road; move to a smoking area
Do not smoke on roads within the district; always move to a designated smoking area first.
- 4
Step 4
Use heated tobacco in a smoking area too, out of consideration for second-hand smoke
Heated tobacco is out of scope under the street-smoking-ban ordinance but in scope under the passive-smoking ordinance. Use both conventional and heated tobacco in a smoking area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Can I smoke on the street in Sannomiya?
A.The Sannomiya/Motomachi area is designated a Kobe City "street-smoking-ban district," where smoking on roads is banned except in designated smoking areas. A violation means paying a ¥1,000 fine on the spot. Smoke in public smoking areas or in-facility smoking areas. Check the district boundaries on the Kobe City official site.
Q.Is there a penalty for violating the street-smoking-ban district?
A.Under Kobe City's "Littering and Street Smoking Prevention" ordinance, a violation within the street-smoking-ban district carries a ¥1,000 fine, which patrolling street-smoking-prevention officers require you to pay in cash on the spot. Check the latest enforcement on the Kobe City official site.
Q.Where are the smoking areas around Sannomiya Station?
A.Kobe City's official FAQ lists, as public smoking areas, the Motomachi Station-front smoking area and the Sannomiya Parking smoking area (west of Higashi Yuenchi), and as private smoking areas, THE TOBACCO SANNOMIYA (north of Hankyu Sannomiya Station), the FamilyMart Sannomiya B1 smoking area, and others. Hours and operation change, so check the latest with the city and on-site.
Q.Can I use heated tobacco on the street in Sannomiya?
A.Under Kobe City's street-smoking-ban ordinance, heated tobacco is out of scope, and what the ¥1,000 fine applies to is lit tobacco such as conventional cigarettes. However, under the separate "Kobe City Passive Smoking Prevention Ordinance," heated tobacco is also within scope, and using it in a smoking area is recommended for preventing second-hand smoke. Check details on the Kobe City official site.
Q.Are there smoking areas at the Sannomiya Bus Terminal or Mint Kobe?
A.Smoking areas at the Sannomiya Bus Terminal, Mint Kobe, Santica (the underground mall) and the like are not listed in the Kobe City official FAQ. Check whether they are available with each facility's guidance.
Q.Where can I check the latest smoking-area locations?
A.On the Kobe City official site (https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/) street-smoking-ban-district guidance and official FAQ (https://faq.city.kobe.lg.jp/), and each facility's official guidance. You can also find nearby smoking areas on the MottoSuitai map.