Can You Smoke in Tokyo Clubs? Indoor smoking rules

The short version

• Tokyo clubs are non-smoking indoors as a rule. Under the 2020 law change (the revised Health Promotion Act), you generally can’t smoke on the floor or at the bar.
• You smoke in a dedicated smoking room or a designated smoking area. Big clubs almost always have one somewhere inside.
• Heated tobacco (IQOS and the like) and vapes go in the smoking room indoors too. You can’t use them on the floor.
• Don’t get caught out on the street either. Shinjuku, Shibuya and Minato (Roppongi) have areas where street smoking is banned; you use designated smoking spots.
• Not sure? The fastest move is to ask staff “Where’s the smoking room?”

“Can I smoke inside the club?” The answer is simple: the floor is non-smoking; if you want to smoke, use the smoking room. In April 2020, a law change made indoor spaces — restaurants, clubs and all — non-smoking as a rule. That doesn’t mean smokers can’t smoke at all: most clubs set aside a smoking area inside. This guide covers where you can and can’t smoke, how heated tobacco and vapes are handled, and the easily-missed rules around street smoking.

Indoors is now non-smoking as a rule

In April 2020, Japan’s revised Health Promotion Act came fully into force, making most indoor spaces — restaurants, bars and clubs included — non-smoking as a rule. So at a Tokyo club, you basically can’t just light up on the floor or at the bar.

That said, it doesn’t mean “no smoking at all.” Most clubs set up a dedicated smoking room or a designated smoking area inside, and you can smoke there. Now that the rule is clear, you won’t get confused if you figure out “where can I smoke” first.

Where you can and can't smoke

Smoking at a club is easy once you’ve got the location sorted. Here’s the rough split.

Smoking rooms are off-limits to anyone under 20. Separately from the age of adulthood, Japan sets smoking and drinking at 20 and over, and that lines up with the club entry condition (20 and over) too.

1. Check when you arrive. Asking staff "Where's the smoking room?" saves you from hunting for it later.
2. To smoke, head to the smoking room. Don't smoke on the floor or at the bar; move to the dedicated room or designated area.
3. Going outside? Use a designated smoking spot. If you step out, check the re-entry rules (wristband or stamp) at the same time to be safe.

Heated tobacco and vapes

Heated tobacco (IQOS, glo, Ploom and so on) is also, as a rule, smoked in the smoking room indoors. Some venues have a separate heated-tobacco-only smoking room. Vapes (e-cigarettes) are best kept off the floor indoors too — use the smoking area.

Street-smoking rules

The easy one to miss is street smoking. It’s tempting to think “if I can’t smoke indoors, I’ll go outside,” but many of Tokyo’s main entertainment districts have areas where street smoking is banned — Shinjuku, Shibuya and Minato (Roppongi) among them. Breaking the rule can even mean a fine.

When you want to smoke outside, use a designated smoking spot. They’re often set up near stations, around convenience stores, or on a corner of the district. If there’s a smoking spot outside the club, staff can point you to it if you ask.

The basic pre-night rules are in know before you go, and everything around paying and what to carry is in Paying at Tokyo clubs.

FAQ

Can I sneak a smoke on the floor?

Best not to. Indoors is non-smoking as a rule, and smoking on the floor or at the bar breaks it. Staff will pull you up on it, and it puts the people around you out too. When you want to smoke, the smoking room is the safe move.

Can I use a vape (e-cigarette) on the floor?

It’s best to avoid using it on the floor. Like cigarettes and heated tobacco, use the smoking area. The fine print varies by venue, so if you’re unsure, check with staff.

What do I need to get in?

At the door you’ll need a government photo ID (passport, driver’s license, etc.), and entry is 20 and over. Smoking rooms are off-limits under 20 as well. For visitors from abroad, a passport is the safe bet.

Learn the rules and enjoy the night light

On smoking, remember “the floor is non-smoking, smoke in the smoking room, use designated spots outside” and you’ll be fine. After that, it’s just enjoying the night light. Partner clubs get you in for less than usual with a guest pass. To find where to go, see The Best Nightclubs in Tokyo: the ranked guide; before you leave, check know before you go.