Smoking Areas around Tachikawa Station: Complete 2026 Guide (public smoking areas at the North/South exits and special-district rules)
Table of contents
- 1.About this guide and disclaimer
- 2.Tachikawa City's smoking restriction ordinance (street smoking is fully banned in special districts)
- 3.Public smoking areas at the North and South exits of Tachikawa Station
- 4.Smoking areas at nearby 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 Tachikawa City's official site (https://www.city.tachikawa.lg.jp/) — its smoking-restriction-ordinance, special-district and public-smoking-area guidance — and facility official guidance, reflecting the situation as of July 2026. Smoking-area locations, counts and hours may change without notice. When you actually go, always confirm the latest locations and hours on the city and facility official guidance.
Tachikawa City's smoking restriction ordinance (street smoking is fully banned in special districts)
Under its "Tachikawa City ordinance to secure a safe and comfortable living environment (smoking restriction ordinance)" (in effect since June 1, 2008), Tachikawa City bans smoking while walking and littering cigarette butts across the whole city, and asks for consideration of others even when smoking while standing still. In addition, it designates especially busy areas as "special districts," where street smoking, including smoking while standing still, is entirely prohibited. The special districts cover a 250 m radius around JR Tachikawa Station and about a 150 m radius around JR Nishi-Kokutachi Station, and from December 1, 2025 the area around the rest spot commemorating the city's 50th anniversary was added. This ordinance sets no penalty such as an administrative fine; it emphasizes raising awareness among residents and visitors. District boundaries and operation can change, so check the latest on the Tachikawa City official site (special-district guidance: https://www.city.tachikawa.lg.jp/kurashi/seikatsu/1002321/1002333.html).
- Smoking while walking and littering butts is banned citywide (consideration is also asked for when smoking while standing still)
- In special districts (a 250 m radius around JR Tachikawa Station, about a 150 m radius around JR Nishi-Kokutachi Station, etc.), street smoking is entirely prohibited
- Smoking while standing still is also prohibited in special districts
- From December 1, 2025 the area around the 50th-anniversary rest spot was added to the special districts
- There is no penalty such as an administrative fine; the focus is on awareness
- Smoke in public smoking areas or in-facility smoking areas
Public smoking areas at the North and South exits of Tachikawa Station
Tachikawa City provides a public smoking area at each of the North and South exits of Tachikawa Station. Both are container-type, enclosed smoking areas open 6:00–22:00. The North exit public smoking area opened on April 12, 2024. There are cleaning-time slots during which they cannot be used (for example, the North exit is closed 10:00–10:30 and 16:30–17:00), so note that they may be unavailable at certain times. Check the latest locations, hours and cleaning times on the Tachikawa City official site (https://www.city.tachikawa.lg.jp/kurashi/seikatsu/1002321/1002334.html).
- Tachikawa Station North exit public smoking area: container type, enclosed, 6:00–22:00 (opened April 12, 2024)
- Tachikawa Station South exit public smoking area: container type, enclosed, 6:00–22:00
- Unavailable during cleaning slots (e.g., North exit 10:00–10:30 and 16:30–17:00)
- Check the latest locations and hours on the Tachikawa City official site
Smoking areas at nearby commercial facilities
Some commercial facilities around Tachikawa Station also have smoking areas. For example, at "LaLaport Tachikawa Tachihi," facility official guidance lists smoking areas at the back of the north elevator on 1F, the back of the north elevator on 2F, and beside the north elevator on 3F. Note, however, that LaLaport Tachikawa Tachihi is located near "Tachihi Station" on the Tama Monorail and is one station away from JR Tachikawa Station (source: https://mitsui-shopping-park.com/lalaport/tachikawa/service/smoking.html). For station-connected facilities such as GRANDUO Tachikawa and LUMINE Tachikawa, the presence and location of smoking areas can change, so check the in-building signage and each facility's official guidance. Facility smoking areas change with hours and renovations and may be closed.
Heated tobacco and e-cigarettes
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. As for heated tobacco and e-cigarettes, no explicit statement can be confirmed on Tachikawa City's smoking-restriction-ordinance page; but from the standpoint of preventing second-hand smoke, it is safest to avoid special districts outdoors and use them in public smoking areas or in-facility smoking areas. As with cigarettes, be considerate of those around you and use them in designated smoking areas or smoking rooms.
Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai
If you want to find smoking areas around Tachikawa Station or in the Tama area, you can list nearby smoking areas from MottoSuitai's map. For a list of smoking areas in the Tachikawa area, see smoking areas in the Tachikawa area. For major Tokyo stations, see the Tokyo major-station smoking guide, and for how to find smoking areas starting from a station, see how to find smoking areas from a station.
Before you go: always check official information
This third-party guide was compiled from Tachikawa City's official smoking-restriction-ordinance, special-district and public-smoking-area guidance, and facility official guidance as of July 2026. Smoking-area locations, counts, hours, and special-district boundaries may change. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Tachikawa City official site (https://www.city.tachikawa.lg.jp/) and each facility's official guidance.
How to avoid the special districts and find a smoking area around Tachikawa Station: 4 steps
In Tachikawa City, where the area around Tachikawa Station is designated a special district (street smoking fully banned), how to find a smoking area while following the rules.
- 1
Step 1
Understand it is a special district
A 250 m radius around JR Tachikawa Station and about a 150 m radius around JR Nishi-Kokutachi Station are special districts, where street smoking, including smoking while standing still, is entirely prohibited. There is no penalty such as an administrative fine, but follow the rules and manners.
- 2
Step 2
Check public and in-facility smoking areas
Check the public smoking areas at the North and South exits of Tachikawa Station (6:00–22:00, container type), smoking areas at nearby facilities, and the nearest area on the Tachikawa City official site / MottoSuitai map.
- 3
Step 3
Do not smoke on the road; move to a smoking area
Do not smoke on roads within the special districts; always move to a public or in-facility smoking area first. Also note that they cannot be used during cleaning slots.
- 4
Step 4
Use cigarettes/heated/e-cigarettes only in smoking areas
Use any tobacco in a smoking room indoors or a public/designated smoking area outdoors, and be considerate of second-hand smoke.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Can I smoke on the street around Tachikawa Station?
A.Within "special districts" — such as a 250 m radius around JR Tachikawa Station — street smoking, including smoking while standing still, is entirely prohibited. Smoke at the public smoking areas at the North and South exits of Tachikawa Station or in-facility smoking areas. Check the special-district boundaries on the Tachikawa City official site (https://www.city.tachikawa.lg.jp/kurashi/seikatsu/1002321/1002333.html).
Q.Is there a penalty (administrative fine) under the Tachikawa City smoking restriction ordinance?
A.The "Tachikawa City ordinance to secure a safe and comfortable living environment (smoking restriction ordinance)" sets no penalty such as an administrative fine. It emphasizes raising awareness among residents and visitors; but street smoking in special districts is prohibited, so use the public smoking areas. Check details on the Tachikawa City official site.
Q.Where are the public smoking areas at Tachikawa Station?
A.Tachikawa City provides container-type, enclosed public smoking areas at the North and South exits of Tachikawa Station. Both are open 6:00–22:00 and are unavailable during cleaning slots (e.g., North exit 10:00–10:30 and 16:30–17:00). Check the latest information on the Tachikawa City official site (https://www.city.tachikawa.lg.jp/kurashi/seikatsu/1002321/1002334.html).
Q.Are there smoking areas at commercial facilities around Tachikawa Station?
A.At LaLaport Tachikawa Tachihi, facility official guidance lists smoking areas on each floor (back of the north elevator on 1F and 2F, beside the north elevator on 3F). Note, however, that this facility is near Tachihi Station on the Tama Monorail and is one station away from JR Tachikawa Station. For GRANDUO Tachikawa, LUMINE Tachikawa and others, check the in-building signage and each facility's official guidance.
Q.Can I use heated tobacco or a vape in a special district?
A.No explicit statement about heated tobacco or e-cigarettes can be confirmed on Tachikawa City's smoking-restriction-ordinance page; but from the standpoint of preventing second-hand smoke, it is safest to avoid special districts and use them in public smoking areas or in-facility smoking areas. Check details on the Tachikawa City official site.
Q.Where can I check the latest smoking-area locations?
A.On the Tachikawa City official site (https://www.city.tachikawa.lg.jp/) — its smoking-restriction-ordinance, special-district and public-smoking-area guidance — and each facility's official guidance. You can also find nearby smoking areas on the MottoSuitai map.