Key facts to remember
- 1.Street smoking is banned in the 23 wards of Tokyo, central Yokohama, central Kyoto, central Osaka, and many other tourist areas. Fines: 1,000–2,000 JPY on the spot
- 2.Indoor smoking is generally banned under the revised Health Promotion Act — only allowed inside designated smoking rooms
- 3.Heated tobacco follows the same rules: IQOS, glo, and Ploom are treated identically to cigarettes
- 4.Under-20 ban: All smoking rooms are off-limits to anyone under 20 (Japanese law)
- 5.Cigarette prices: about 580–620 JPY per pack of 20 for major brands (as of April 2026), sold at convenience stores
- 6.Shinkansen: Fully non-smoking since March 2024. Smoking rooms exist on the platforms of major Shinkansen stations (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakata, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Sendai). Shin-Osaka has no platform smoking room — only one location on the concourse
- 7.Haneda and Narita airports: Multiple smoking rooms before and after security in every terminal. Heated tobacco allowed
5 steps from arrival to legally smoking
A simple 5-step routine for foreign tourists, from landing in Japan to legally smoking your first cigarette.
- 1
Use the smoking room at your arrival airport
Both Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT) have smoking rooms in arrival and departure areas of every terminal. Heated tobacco is allowed in all of them.
- 2
Buy cigarettes at a convenience store
Major cigarette brands (Marlboro, Mevius, Seven Stars, Hi-Lite) and IQOS / glo / Ploom refills are sold at 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, and MiniStop. Press the "20 or older" button on the touchscreen at checkout. About 580–620 JPY per pack as of April 2026 (price varies by brand).
- 3
Open the MottoSuitai map to find a smoking spot
Designated smoking spots within 2 km of your current location appear automatically on the map. Use the heated-tobacco filter if you only use IQOS, glo, or Ploom.
- 4
Walk to the spot and smoke inside the marked area
Never smoke on the street or while walking — both are fined in central districts. Stand fully inside the boundary of the designated spot before lighting up.
- 5
Dispose of butts in the provided ashtray
Throwing butts on the street is fined separately (about 1,000 JPY). Carry a portable ashtray (about 300 JPY at convenience stores) for the rare case where you cannot find a spot before finishing.
Smoking spots by major city
Browse designated smoking spots in the cities most visited by foreign tourists. Each page covers the city’s street smoking enforcement zones and tourist-area smoking spots.
Go deeper: 5 detailed guides
For full details on each topic, see the dedicated guide:
Smoking in Japan 2026: Street Bans, ¥1,000–2,000 Fines & Where to Smoke
Street smoking in Japan's city centers is fined ¥1,000–2,000 on the spot. Where you can smoke in 2026: designated areas, smoking rooms, IQOS rules and cigarette prices.
IQOS in Japan 2026: Where to Buy, Prices & Rules (also glo, Ploom)
Tourist guide to IQOS, glo and Ploom in Japan (2026): where heated tobacco is allowed, buying refills at convenience stores, prices, charging spots and customs rules.
Haneda & Narita Smoking Areas 2026: Terminal-by-Terminal Guide
Smoking rooms before and after security at every Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT) terminal in 2026, plus heated-tobacco rules and advice for transit passengers.
Can You Smoke on the Shinkansen? Japan Train Smoking Rules 2026
All Shinkansen are fully non-smoking since March 2024. Complete 2026 guide to smoking on Japanese trains: Shinkansen rules, station platform smoking rooms, local train rules, sleeper trains, and how to plan smoking breaks for long-distance journeys.
Cigarette Prices in Japan 2026: ¥580–620 a Pack (~$4) — Brand List
A pack costs ¥580–620 (~$4) at any Japanese convenience store in 2026. Brand-by-brand price list, IQOS / glo / Ploom stick prices, duty-free limits and the age-20 rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Can I smoke on the street in Japan?
A.No, not in central tourist districts. The 23 wards of Tokyo, central Yokohama, central Kyoto, and central Osaka all enforce street smoking bans with on-the-spot fines of 1,000–2,000 JPY. Use designated smoking spots or smoking rooms instead.
Q.Can people under 20 enter smoking rooms?
A.No. The legal smoking age in Japan is 20, and entry to any smoking room — even just to wait — is banned for anyone under 20 by Japanese law. Convenience stores also refuse cigarette sales to anyone under 20.
Q.Can I use heated tobacco (IQOS, glo, Ploom) on the street?
A.No. Street smoking bans apply identically to cigarettes and heated tobacco. The "lower smoke" argument is not a legal exception. Use designated outdoor or indoor smoking spots only.
Q.Can I buy cigarettes at convenience stores?
A.Yes. 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, and MiniStop all sell major cigarette brands and IQOS / glo / Ploom refills. You will be asked to press a "20 or older" button on the touchscreen at checkout. A foreign passport is accepted as ID if asked.
Q.Can I smoke on the Shinkansen?
A.No. All Shinkansen trains have been fully non-smoking since March 16, 2024. Major Shinkansen stations (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakata, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Sendai) have smoking rooms inside the gated platform area. Note: Shin-Osaka station has no platform smoking room — there is only one smoking spot on the concourse.
Q.Can I smoke at Haneda or Narita airport?
A.Yes. Both airports have multiple smoking rooms before and after security in every terminal, and heated tobacco is allowed in all of them.
Q.How many cigarettes can I bring into Japan duty-free?
A.For non-residents staying more than 24 hours: 200 cigarettes OR up to 10 individual packages of heated tobacco (the stick-count equivalent varies by product — IQOS / glo are roughly 200 sticks, while Ploom Tech and similar products are calculated differently. Common brands sold in Japan include TERIA / SENTIA / neoSticks / Ploom sticks) OR 50 cigars OR 250 g of loose tobacco, or any combination not exceeding the limit.
Q.Can I smoke in my hotel room?
A.Only in rooms explicitly marked as smoking. Most modern hotels in Japan are fully non-smoking. If smoking is detected in a non-smoking room, a cleaning fee may be charged — the amount varies by hotel (typically several tens of thousands of yen).
Q.How do I find designated smoking spots?
A.Use the MottoSuitai map. Designated smoking spots within 2 km of your location appear automatically. You can also filter by tobacco type (cigarettes, heated tobacco, e-cigarettes, shisha) and indoor/outdoor.
Q.What is the fine for throwing a cigarette butt on the street?
A.Typically about 1,000 JPY, separate from any smoking fine. Even when you escape a smoking ban citation, throwing the butt on the ground is a separate ordinance violation. Always use the ashtray at a designated spot or carry a portable ashtray.