Japan cities implement new measures to curb street smoking

Japanese municipalities are implementing different strategies to combat street smoking and littering. In Chiyoda City, Tokyo, a pilot program will launch in the Akihabara district in August 2026 to allow cashless payment of fines. The initiative aims to reduce friction between enforcement officers and violators, particularly tourists or individuals who do not carry cash. The system will support credit cards, transit IC cards, and various QR code payments, with full implementation across Chiyoda City expected by October 2026.

In Osaka City, despite a ban on street smoking and a 1,000 yen fine in place for over a year, littering and violations persist. A field study conducted by students from Kindai University across 106 stations suggests that the issue is driven by a shortage of smoking areas. The research indicates that littering rates are heavily influenced by the size, accessibility, and cleanliness of designated smoking zones. The study recommends increasing the average number of smoking areas per station to mitigate illegal street smoking and improper disposal.