Smoking ban in Japan (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: The Health Promotion Act bans smoking in Type 1 facilities except designated outdoor areas, and indoors in other public facilities except designated smoking rooms. A governor may order a smoker to stop or leave. Ignoring that order carries an administrative fine of up to JPY 300,000.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Indoor public places and workplacesSmoking in public places | Type 1 facilities (such as schools, hospitals, child welfare facilities and government offices) are smoke-free throughout, except a designated outdoor smoking area. Other multi-user facilities (Type 2) are smoke-free indoors, except a designated smoking room. Passenger buses, taxis and aircraft are fully smoke-free. [1] |
| Outdoor terraces and public outdoor areasSmoking in public places | Outdoors, the Act bans smoking on the grounds of Type 1 facilities (such as schools and hospitals) except in a designated outdoor smoking area. For Type 2 facilities the ban covers indoor areas only. [1] |
| Cars with childrenSmoking in public places | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| FineSmoking in public places | A prefectural governor may order a person who smokes in a banned place to stop or leave. Not obeying that order is punishable by an administrative fine of up to JPY 300,000. [1] |
| Bars and restaurantsSmoking in public places | Restaurants, cafes and bars are Type 2 facilities, which are smoke-free indoors except in a designated smoking room; under-20s may not enter that room. Until a date to be set by a separate law, an existing restaurant may allow smoking in a smoking-permitted room if it is run by a company with capital of JPY 50 million or less (not owned by a large company) and its customer area is 100 square metres or less. [1] |
Notes
- Article 29 covers only vehicles used for passenger transport business (buses, taxis, aircraft, rail, ships). A rule for private cars with children was not found in the Act.
Sources
- e-Gov Law Search (Digital Agency): 健康増進法 (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.