Smoking Areas at Tokyo Skytree & Oshiage: 2026 Guide (Sumida City no-street-smoking promotion districts and designated smoking areas)

About this guide and disclaimer

This is a third-party guide compiled from the Sumida City official site (https://www.city.sumida.lg.jp/) — its street-smoking measures guidance — and the Tokyo Skytree official site, reflecting the situation as of July 2026. The locations, counts and operation of designated smoking areas may change without notice. When you actually go, always confirm the latest locations on Sumida City official sources and each facility's official guidance. Smoking by people under 20 is prohibited by law in Japan.

Sumida City's street-smoking ordinance (ward-wide rules and promotion districts)

Sumida City put the "Sumida City Ordinance Prohibiting Street Smoking" into force in April 2006. According to the city's official guidance, smoking while walking (including while riding a bicycle) and littering butts are banned on all roads and station plazas across the ward. In addition, five areas around the ward's main stations — busy with commuting, school and shopping traffic — are designated "no-street-smoking promotion districts." The city explains the reason for the designation as follows: "Station areas have many passengers and visitors, so the Sumida City Ordinance Prohibiting Street Smoking needs to be promoted actively there."

• Smoking while walking (including while cycling) and littering butts are banned on all roads and station plazas ward-wide
• There are five no-street-smoking promotion districts (around Kinshicho Station, around Ryogoku Station, around Oshiage Station, Azumabashi, around Hikifune Station)
• Inside promotion districts, street smoking is banned except at city-designated smoking places
• Inside promotion districts, standing still to smoke is banned as well as smoking while walking
• Heated tobacco is also covered

As for fines, the ordinance provides for an administrative fine of up to 20,000 yen if a priority district is designated, but Sumida City states that no priority district has been designated at this time. So while no fine currently applies, street smoking inside a promotion district is still an act prohibited by the ordinance. The area around Oshiage Station and Azumabashi — the closest access points to Tokyo Skytree Town — are both within promotion districts, so always smoke at a city-designated smoking area or in a smoking room inside a facility.

City-designated smoking areas around Oshiage and Tokyo Skytree Stations

With the cooperation of companies and organisations operating in the ward, Sumida City designates smoking areas managed by commercial facilities and shops as "designated smoking areas" and publishes them on its website. The following places are listed on the official page for the Oshiage, Azumabashi and Hikifune Station districts.

• Oshiage Station Front smoking area (Oshiage 1-1)
• Tobubashi smoking area (Mukojima 1-32)
• Azumabashi district smoking area (Azumabashi 1-23)
• Sumida Park smoking area (Mukojima 1-3)
• Hikifune Culture Center Front smoking area (Kyojima 1-38)

The Oshiage Station Front smoking area is listed at an address very close to Tokyo Skytree Town and Oshiage Station (Tokyo Skytree-mae), while the Tobubashi smoking area is at an address near the foot of Tobubashi bridge over the Kita-Jukken River on the Tokyo Skytree Station side. Because Sumida City's official list does not state operating hours, this article does not assert the hours of each location. Check availability and hours on the signage at the site. Availability may change, so check the latest on Sumida City official sources.

You cannot smoke on the Tokyo Skytree observation decks (official FAQ)

The "Frequently Asked Questions" page on the official Tokyo Skytree site answers the question "Is there anywhere to smoke inside the observation decks?" with "No. Please use the smoking areas at Tokyo Solamachi." You cannot smoke anywhere inside the observation decks, including the Tembo Deck and Tembo Galleria, so finish beforehand or use a designated smoking area after coming down. Visits tend to run long once you add entry and elevator waiting times, so planning ahead helps.

About smoking areas inside Tokyo Solamachi

The official Tokyo Skytree FAQ tells observation deck visitors to "please use the smoking areas at Tokyo Solamachi," but we could not confirm official primary information showing the floors, locations or hours of smoking areas inside Tokyo Solamachi. This article does not assert the location of smoking areas we cannot confirm. If you want to use one inside the complex, always check the latest availability, location and hours on the Tokyo Solamachi official site, at the in-building information counter, or on floor signage. To smoke outdoors, use the Sumida City designated smoking areas described above. Note that since April 2020 the revised Health Promotion Act has made indoor spaces non-smoking in principle, and smoking inside a commercial facility is limited to smoking rooms that meet the standards.

City-designated smoking areas toward Azumabashi, Sumida Park and Kinshicho

If you walk from Asakusa across Azumabashi bridge toward Skytree, or head out toward Kinshicho and Ryogoku, the following city-designated smoking areas are also candidates. These are the places listed on the Sumida City official page.

• Azumabashi district smoking area (Azumabashi 1-23)
• Sumida Park smoking area (Mukojima 1-3)
• Kinshicho Station South Exit smoking area (Kotobashi 3-13)
• Kinshi Park smoking area (Kinshi 4-15)
• Ryogoku Station West Exit smoking area (Yokoami 1-3)

There is also a Sumida Park on the Taito City side across the Sumida River, and that side is governed by the Taito City ordinance. The Sumida Park smoking area on the Sumida City side (Mukojima 1-3) and the public smoking area inside Sumida Park on the Taito City side (Hanakawado 1-1) are different facilities, so check the location on a map before you set off. The rules differ between the two wards as well, so note that the applicable ordinance changes when you cross the bridge.

Rules for using designated smoking areas (Sumida City official)

Sumida City asks users of designated smoking areas to follow the rules below. They are especially worth keeping in mind around Skytree, where the areas get crowded.

• Keep at least 1 metre between yourself and others (do not use the area when you cannot keep that distance, such as when it is crowded)
• Avoid conversation and phone calls inside the smoking area
• Do not stay long — for example, leave after one cigarette

The city also notes that smoking areas may be closed depending on the infectious disease situation. In case a designated smoking area is unavailable, carry a portable ashtray and be ready to decide simply not to smoke if you cannot find one. Always put butts in an ashtray and be considerate of those around you.

Heated tobacco, e-cigarettes and the revised Health Promotion Act

Since April 2020, the revised Health Promotion Act has been fully in force, making indoor spaces non-smoking in principle. Restaurants and similar venues are in principle indoor non-smoking, and smoking is limited to smoking rooms that meet the standards. Heated tobacco is also covered by the Sumida City street-smoking ordinance. That means heated tobacco cannot be used while walking anywhere in the ward, nor on the street inside a promotion district outside a designated smoking place. The basic rule is a smoking room indoors and a city-designated smoking area outdoors. For second-hand smoke prevention, use any tobacco only at designated places.

Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai

If you want to find smoking areas around Tokyo Skytree and Oshiage or elsewhere in Sumida City, you can list nearby smoking areas from MottoSuitai's map. For the Taito City side across Azumabashi bridge, see the Asakusa smoking guide; if you move on toward Ueno, see the Ueno Station and Ueno Park smoking guide; and for a roundup of major stations, see the guide to smoking areas at Tokyo's major stations.

Before you go: always check official information

This third-party guide was compiled from the Sumida City official street-smoking measures guidance (the list of no-street-smoking promotion districts and designated smoking areas was updated on 2 October 2025) and the Tokyo Skytree official site, as published in July 2026. The locations, counts and operation of designated smoking areas may change. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Sumida City official site (https://www.city.sumida.lg.jp/) designated smoking area guidance and each facility's official guidance.