Walking Shinjuku, Shibuya and Asakusa: navigating Tokyo’s 23 wards and street-smoking rules

About Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital of Japan; the metropolitan government is in Shinjuku Ward. Centred on its 23 special wards, it forms one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas.

Main walking areas in Tokyo

Here are some of the prefecture’s most popular places to walk, where public smoking spots and facilities with smoking rooms tend to be available nearby.

• Shinjuku (West, East exits, Kabukicho, Shinjuku Gyoen)
• Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Yoyogi Park)
• Ginza (Ginza Street, Yurakucho)
• Asakusa (Kaminarimon, Nakamise Street, Tokyo Skytree)
• Tokyo Station (Marunouchi, Yaesu, Nihombashi)

Tokyo trivia

Almost all of Tokyo’s 23 wards enforce no-smoking-on-the-street ordinances. Use designated smoking spots, especially around stations and busy districts.

Tips for finding smoking areas in Tokyo

• Use designated smoking spots in areas with no-smoking-on-the-street ordinances
• Stations, large commercial complexes and tourist information centres are good starting points
• Heated-tobacco-only rooms are growing — switch the tobacco-type filter to match your device
• Use a portable ashtray or the ashtray in the smoking area — good etiquette helps keep these spots open for everyone

Find efficiently with Mottosuitai

Allow location access on the Mottosuitai map to see smoking areas within 2 km of you. To browse by region, visit /search/?prefecture=tokyo for the Tokyo list.