Smoking Izakaya & Bars in Susukino / Sapporo (2026): How to Find Them
Table of contents
Sapporo's street-smoking rules: Susukino and Tanukikoji are inside the zone
Sapporo enacted its ordinance on preventing the scattering of cigarette butts and empty cans in December 2004, and has designated the central districts as a "restricted smoking zone" since 1 July 2005. The zone covers the area in front of Sapporo Station, Ekimae-dori, the Odori Park area, the Susukino intersection area and Tanukikoji. Walking while smoking, standing and smoking on the street, and smoking where there is no ashtray are all covered; in practice the fine is 1,000 yen per violation (the ordinance itself sets a maximum of 30,000 yen). Patrol staff circulate inside the zone and may issue the payment slip on the spot, and the designation applies around the clock.
- Tanukikoji shopping street: the entire covered arcade counts as a public place, so smoking inside it is not allowed (source: Sapporo Tanukikoji Shopping Street official site)
- Heated tobacco: the city does not currently treat heated tobacco products as subject to the ordinance's fine, but Sapporo has been reported to be considering an amendment from fiscal 2026 onward that would include them. Using designated smoking areas is recommended either way
- Indoors, the national Health Promotion Act applies alongside the Hokkaido passive smoking prevention ordinance (enacted March 2020)
Why some izakaya allow smoking and others don't
The revised Health Promotion Act made restaurant interiors non-smoking by default from April 2020. A transitional exception lets pre-existing small establishments (operating as of 1 April 2020, individually owned or capitalized at 50 million yen or less, seating area 100 m2 or less) register with their municipality to keep a smoking-permitted room where both cigarettes and dining are allowed (source: https://jyudokitsuen.mhlw.go.jp/business/restaurant/type_1.php). The family-run izakaya, yakitori joints and snack bars tucked into the back streets of Susukino and Tanukikoji are typically the ones that qualify. Venues that opened after April 2020, and large chains capitalized above 50 million yen, cannot use it.
The four venue types for smokers
- Smoking-permitted room (kitsuen kanō ten): cigarettes + food/drink OK. Grandfathered small venues only — the classic "smoking izakaya"
- Smoking-purpose venue (kitsuen mokuteki ten): cigar bars and snack bars that sell tobacco and serve no staple food (no rice or noodle dishes)
- Sealed smoking room (kitsuen senyō shitsu): cigarettes OK, but no food or drink inside the room
- Heated-tobacco-only room: IQOS / glo / Ploom only, food and drink OK — the common chain-store option
In every case, people under 20 (customers and staff alike) may not enter smoking areas, and venues must display the officially designated sign at the entrance (source: https://jyudokitsuen.mhlw.go.jp/smoking_room/).
How to find one: read the door sign
The sticker at the entrance is the reliable signal. "Smoking permitted" or "smoking purpose" means you can smoke cigarettes while eating and drinking; "smoking room" means smoking is separated from dining; "heated tobacco room" means IQOS-style devices only. No sign means the interior is non-smoking. Many Susukino and Tanukikoji buildings stack several bars on different floors, so the sign you need is the one at each venue's own door, not at the building entrance.
Winter changes the plan
Sapporo has heavy snow and sustained sub-zero temperatures from December through March, which makes outdoor smoking areas hard to use for part of the season. If you expect to step out, it is more practical to pick venues or complexes with an indoor smoking room. Discarding butts on the street is an ordinance violation year-round, so carry a portable ashtray or use a provided one.
Find smoking-friendly venues on MottoSuitai
You can browse smoking-friendly izakaya, bars and cafes by prefecture on MottoSuitai's smoking-friendly restaurant search. For designated outdoor smoking areas near the station, see the Sapporo Station area or Sapporo Station itself. The nationwide rules are covered in our guide to smoking izakaya and bars, and local fines in the street-smoking fines guide.
This is a third-party guide based on official MHLW and City of Sapporo information as of July 2026. It names no individual venues, because each venue's registration and policy can change. Always confirm with the sign at the door and the venue's official information. This article provides information about smoking environments and does not encourage smoking; smoking under the age of 20 is prohibited by law in Japan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Can you smoke in izakaya in Susukino?
A.In some. Small venues operating since before April 2020 may keep a registered smoking-permitted room where cigarettes and dining are both allowed. Look for the official "smoking permitted" sign at the entrance — this guide does not name individual venues.
Q.What happens if I smoke on the street in Susukino?
A.Susukino, Tanukikoji, Odori and the area in front of Sapporo Station are inside Sapporo's restricted smoking zone, where street smoking is fined 1,000 yen per violation in practice. The designation applies 24 hours a day, including late at night. Use an indoor smoking space or a designated smoking area instead.
Q.Is heated tobacco (IQOS, glo, Ploom) treated differently outdoors?
A.The city does not currently treat heated tobacco as subject to the ordinance's fine, but Sapporo has been reported to be considering an amendment from fiscal 2026 onward that would cover it. Using designated smoking areas is recommended regardless; check the City of Sapporo website for the current position.
Q.Can I bring children to a smoking izakaya?
A.No one under 20 may enter smoking areas, even without smoking. In a fully smoking-permitted venue this means under-20s cannot enter at all — choose a non-smoking venue instead.