Smoking Areas around Shinjuku Station: Complete 2026 Guide (street smoking banned ward-wide)
Table of contents
- 1.About this guide and disclaimer
- 2.Shinjuku Ward's street-smoking rules (ordinance)
- 3.Public smoking areas and in-facility smoking rooms near Shinjuku Station
- 4.Inside the station (railways)
- 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 Shinjuku Ward's official site (https://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/) — its street-smoking measures and public-smoking-area guidance — and the official guidance of railway operators and commercial facilities, reflecting the situation as of June 2026. Smoking-area locations, counts and operation may change without notice. When you actually go, always confirm the latest locations on the ward and facility official guidance.
Shinjuku Ward's street-smoking rules (ordinance)
Under its ordinance against walking-while-smoking and littering, Shinjuku Ward bans street smoking across the entire ward except in designated smoking areas. "Street smoking" here means smoking — or holding a lit or heated tobacco product — while walking on a road (including standing still in one place) or while riding a bicycle, etc. From 1 July 2025, heated tobacco was added to the street-smoking ban. Violators may incur a fine (check the specific amount on the Shinjuku Ward official site).
- Street smoking is banned across the entire ward (except designated areas)
- Heated tobacco is also covered by the ban from 1 July 2025
- Not only walking but also "standing still to smoke" counts as street smoking
- Violations may incur a fine (check the amount officially)
- Smoke only in public smoking areas or in-facility smoking rooms
Public smoking areas and in-facility smoking rooms near Shinjuku Station
Shinjuku Ward sets up public smoking areas around the ward, and near Shinjuku Station there is a public smoking area beside the South-East exit plaza (under the national-road elevated structure, near Shinjuku 3-chome). In addition, there are smoking rooms in commercial facilities directly connected to or near the station. Guides indicate that facilities such as NEWoMan Shinjuku have operated smoking rooms, but facility smoking rooms change with hours and renovations, so check each facility's official guidance and in-building signage before use. You can check the latest public-smoking-area locations on the Shinjuku Ward official site list.
Inside the station (railways)
Shinjuku Station is a huge terminal where JR, private railways and subways gather, and the station concourse, platforms and trains are in principle non-smoking. Some limited-express platforms may still have smoking areas, but operation changes by operator, so if you want to smoke inside the station, check each operator's latest guidance. The reliable option is to use a public smoking area or in-facility smoking room outside the gates.
Heated tobacco and e-cigarettes
In Tokyo and Shinjuku Ward, indoor spaces have in principle been non-smoking since April 2020 (revised Health Promotion Act and the Tokyo passive-smoking prevention ordinance), and restaurants etc. are in principle indoor non-smoking. Furthermore, from 1 July 2025, heated tobacco also became subject to the street-smoking ban in Shinjuku Ward. So use cigarettes, heated tobacco, and e-cigarettes only in designated public smoking areas or in-facility smoking rooms — never on the street.
Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai
If you want to find smoking areas around Shinjuku Station, you can list nearby smoking areas from MottoSuitai's map. For a list of smoking areas in the Shinjuku area, see smoking areas in the Shinjuku area, for major Tokyo stations overall, see the guide to major Tokyo stations, and for finding smoking areas while walking, see the Tokyo walking-tour smoking guide.
Before you go: always check official information
This third-party guide was compiled from Shinjuku Ward's official street-smoking measures and public-smoking-area guidance, and facility official guidance, as of June 2026. Smoking-area locations, counts, operation, and the ordinance content may change. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Shinjuku Ward official site (https://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/) and each facility's official guidance.
How to avoid street smoking and find a smoking area around Shinjuku Station: 4 steps
In Shinjuku, where street smoking is banned ward-wide, how to find designated smoking areas while avoiding a fine.
- 1
Step 1
Understand that street smoking is banned
Shinjuku Ward bans street smoking ward-wide (heated tobacco included from July 2025). Neither walking nor standing still is allowed, and violations may incur a fine.
- 2
Step 2
Check public smoking-area locations
On the Shinjuku Ward official public-smoking-area list, or the MottoSuitai map, check the nearest public smoking area such as the one beside the South-East exit plaza.
- 3
Step 3
Consider in-facility smoking rooms too
You can also use smoking rooms in commercial facilities connected to or near the station (e.g., NEWoMan Shinjuku). Check each facility's official guidance for hours and locations.
- 4
Step 4
Use cigarettes/heated/e-cigarettes only in designated areas
Never use any tobacco on the street; always use a public smoking area or in-facility smoking room, and be considerate of second-hand smoke.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Can I smoke on the street around Shinjuku Station?
A.No. By ordinance, Shinjuku Ward bans street smoking across the entire ward except in designated smoking areas. Not only walking but also standing still to smoke is prohibited. Smoke in a public smoking area or an in-facility smoking room.
Q.Can I use heated tobacco on the street?
A.No. From 1 July 2025, heated tobacco is also covered by the street-smoking ban in Shinjuku Ward. Use heated tobacco and e-cigarettes only in designated smoking areas.
Q.Is there a penalty for street smoking?
A.Violators may incur a fine. Check the specific amount and how it is enforced on the Shinjuku Ward official site.
Q.Where are the public smoking areas near Shinjuku Station?
A.Shinjuku Ward sets up public smoking areas; one beside the station South-East exit plaza (under the national-road elevated structure, near Shinjuku 3-chome) is well known. Check the latest locations on the Shinjuku Ward public-smoking-area list.
Q.Are there smoking rooms inside commercial facilities?
A.Yes. Commercial facilities connected to or near the station may have smoking rooms (e.g., NEWoMan Shinjuku). They change with hours and renovations, so check each facility's official guidance and in-building signage.
Q.Where can I check the latest smoking-area locations?
A.On the Shinjuku Ward official site (https://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/) street-smoking-measures / public-smoking-area pages, and each facility's official guidance. You can also find nearby smoking areas on the MottoSuitai map.