Ahead of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, Osaka City will enforce a citywide street smoking ban to create a cleaner environment. As smoking in Japan continues to face stricter regulations, understanding these new rules will be important for both residents and visitors.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: What Happened?
Osaka City will ban smoking on all public streets starting on the 27th, ahead of the Osaka-Kansai Expo in April. This will be the first citywide smoking ban in a government-designated city in Japan.
Chapter 2: The Details
Osaka City already has an ordinance against street smoking. Previously, the ban covered only six areas, including JR Osaka Station and Nankai Namba Station, with violators paying a 1,000-yen fine. With the 2025 Expo approaching, the city will expand the ban to all public streets.
To help with the transition, Osaka City will add about 200 new smoking areas near train stations and parks before the Expo. The city will also increase the number of enforcement officers to 100.
In April, Osaka Prefecture will fully enforce its passive smoking prevention ordinance. Restaurants with more than 30 square meters of seating must set up a designated smoking room or go completely smoke-free.
Source: The Asahi Shimbun Company
Chapter 3: Conclusion
Osaka City is making big changes to create a cleaner and more comfortable environment for everyone. The citywide smoking ban, more designated smoking areas, and stricter restaurant rules aim to improve public health and enhance Osaka’s appeal. For those visiting or living in Japan, these changes highlight the evolving rules around smoking in Japan, making it important to stay informed about local regulations.
