Smoking Areas around Minato Mirai, the Red Brick Warehouse & Yokohama Chinatown: 2026 Guide (no-smoking districts, ¥2,000 fine)
Table of contents
- 1.About this guide and disclaimer
- 2.Yokohama City's no-smoking-district rules (¥2,000 fine)
- 3.Smoking areas in the Minato Mirai 21 district
- 4.Smoking areas around the Red Brick Warehouse
- 5.Smoking areas in Yokohama Chinatown and Kannai
- 6.Heated tobacco and e-cigarettes (also subject to the fine)
- 7.Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai
- 8.Before you go: always check official information
About this guide and disclaimer
This is a third-party guide compiled from Yokohama City's official site (https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/) — its no-smoking-district guidance — and the city's official second-hand-smoke-prevention guidance (https://www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/nosmoking/), reflecting the situation as of July 2026. No-smoking-district boundaries, and the locations and operation of public smoking areas, may change without notice. When you actually go, always confirm the latest locations on the city and facility official guidance.
Yokohama City's no-smoking-district rules (¥2,000 fine)
Under its "Ordinance on the Prevention of Littering of Empty Cans, Cigarette Butts, etc.," Yokohama City designates areas around major stations as "no-smoking districts." As of July 2026 there are 9 no-smoking districts: the Yokohama Station area, Minato Mirai 21, Kannai, the Tsurumi Station area, the Higashi-Kanagawa Station area, the Shin-Yokohama Station area, the Totsuka Station area, the Futamatagawa Station area, and the Hiyoshi Station area. Within a no-smoking district, smoking in outdoor public places is banned, and holding a lit cigarette also counts as "smoking." Violations carry a ¥2,000 fine. Smoke only in designated places such as the city's public smoking areas (17 across the city). District boundaries and enforcement can change, so check the latest on Yokohama City's official site.
- There are 9 no-smoking districts citywide (Yokohama Station area, Minato Mirai 21, Kannai, etc.)
- Smoking in outdoor public places within a district is banned (holding a lit cigarette included)
- Violations carry a ¥2,000 fine (check the amount/enforcement officially)
- Heated tobacco is also subject to the rules
- Smoke only in designated places such as the city's public smoking areas (17 total)
Smoking areas in the Minato Mirai 21 district
Minato Mirai 21 is Yokohama's signature waterfront district, with Minatomirai, Sakuragicho and Bashamichi stations as its gateways. Because this district is a Yokohama City no-smoking district, you cannot smoke in outdoor public places (roads, plazas, etc.). To smoke, use Yokohama City's "smoking-area map" to find the nearest public smoking area, or a smoking room inside a commercial facility. The city's official page does not list individual smoking-area names or locations in its text; it directs you to the city's "smoking-area map" (Google Maps). This guide likewise avoids asserting specific points and recommends checking the city's official map.
Smoking areas around the Red Brick Warehouse
The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse is a popular attraction on the sea side of the Minato Mirai 21 district. The surrounding area falls within a Yokohama City no-smoking district, so you cannot smoke in outdoor public places. The Red Brick Warehouse's official site does not carry any smoking-area guidance, so check whether smoking areas exist and where they are via on-site signage or Yokohama City's "smoking-area map." Avoid smoking while walking or standing outdoors, and proceed to a designated smoking area.
Smoking areas in Yokohama Chinatown and Kannai
Yokohama Chinatown is a popular area reached from Motomachi-Chukagai, Nihon-odori and Ishikawacho stations, and the adjacent Kannai district is designated a Yokohama City no-smoking district. Whether the area around Chinatown itself falls within a no-smoking district is not explicitly stated in the city's district list, so check the detailed boundaries on Yokohama City's official district map. This guide has not been able to confirm official smoking-area information for the Chinatown/Kannai area, so if you smoke, look for the nearest public smoking area on Yokohama City's "smoking-area map" or follow on-site signage.
Heated tobacco and e-cigarettes (also subject to the fine)
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. In Yokohama City no-smoking districts, heated tobacco is also subject to the rules. Yokohama City clearly states that heated tobacco is included in "manufactured tobacco" under the Tobacco Business Act and that smoking it within a no-smoking district is subject to a fine. Use a smoking room indoors, and outdoors use a designated smoking area while avoiding no-smoking districts. For second-hand-smoke prevention, use cigarettes, heated tobacco and e-cigarettes only in designated smoking areas or smoking rooms.
Find nearby smoking areas with MottoSuitai
If you want to find smoking areas around Minato Mirai, the Red Brick Warehouse or Yokohama Chinatown, you can list nearby smoking areas from MottoSuitai's map. By area, you can search from smoking areas in the Minato Mirai area, smoking areas in the Yokohama Chinatown area, and smoking areas in the Yokohama Station area. Also see the guide to street-smoking fines by municipality.
Before you go: always check official information
This third-party guide was compiled from Yokohama City's official no-smoking-district guidance (https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/kurashi/sumai-kurashi/gomi-recycle/seiketsu/kitsuen/kinshitiku.html) and the city's second-hand-smoke-prevention guidance (https://www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/nosmoking/) as of July 2026. No-smoking-district boundaries and the locations, counts and operation of public smoking areas may change. When you actually go, always confirm the latest information on the Yokohama City official site and each facility's official guidance.
How to avoid no-smoking districts and find a smoking area around Minato Mirai: 4 steps
In Yokohama City, where Minato Mirai 21, Kannai and the Yokohama Station area are no-smoking districts, how to find a smoking area while avoiding a fine.
- 1
Step 1
Understand these are no-smoking districts
The 9 citywide districts, including Minato Mirai 21, Kannai and the Yokohama Station area, are no-smoking districts. Smoking in outdoor public places there is banned and carries a ¥2,000 fine. Heated tobacco is also covered.
- 2
Step 2
Check the nearest area on Yokohama City's smoking-area map
Check the nearest public smoking area (17 citywide) on Yokohama City's "smoking-area map" or the MottoSuitai map.
- 3
Step 3
Do not smoke on the street; move to a designated area
Do not smoke in outdoor public places within a no-smoking district; always move to a designated smoking area first.
- 4
Step 4
Use cigarettes/heated/e-cigarettes only in designated areas
Use any tobacco in a smoking room indoors or a designated smoking area outdoors. Heated tobacco is also subject to the fine. Be considerate of second-hand smoke.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Can I smoke on the street around Minato Mirai or Yokohama Station?
A.No. Minato Mirai 21, Kannai and the Yokohama Station area are all Yokohama City "no-smoking districts," where smoking in outdoor public places is banned (holding a lit cigarette included). Use Yokohama City's "smoking-area map" to find and use the nearest public smoking area.
Q.Is there a penalty for violating a no-smoking district?
A.Under Yokohama City's "Ordinance on the Prevention of Littering of Empty Cans, Cigarette Butts, etc.," a violation within a no-smoking district carries a ¥2,000 fine. Check the latest enforcement and amount on the Yokohama City official site.
Q.Are there smoking areas at the Red Brick Warehouse or in Yokohama Chinatown?
A.This guide has not been able to confirm official smoking-area information on the Red Brick Warehouse's site or for the Chinatown/Kannai area. If you smoke, check the nearest public smoking area (17 citywide) on Yokohama City's "smoking-area map," or follow on-site signage.
Q.Are heated tobacco and e-cigarettes also subject to the fine?
A.Yokohama City makes heated tobacco subject to no-smoking-district rules and states that heated tobacco is included in "manufactured tobacco" under the Tobacco Business Act and is subject to a fine. Use a smoking room indoors, and outdoors use a designated smoking area while avoiding no-smoking districts. Check details on the Yokohama City official site.
Q.Where can I check the latest smoking-area locations?
A.From Yokohama City's official no-smoking-district guidance (https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/kurashi/sumai-kurashi/gomi-recycle/seiketsu/kitsuen/kinshitiku.html), you can check the nearest public smoking area on the city's "smoking-area map." You can also find nearby smoking areas on the MottoSuitai map.
Q.Is Yokohama Chinatown within a no-smoking district?
A.The Kannai district adjacent to Chinatown is a Yokohama City no-smoking district, and whether the area around Chinatown itself falls within a no-smoking district is not explicitly stated in the city's list. Check the detailed boundaries on Yokohama City's official district map, and use a designated smoking area to smoke.