Legal Drinking Age in Japan: it's 20, and what that means for clubs

The short version

• In Japan, the drinking age is 20. Smoking is 20, too.
• Adulthood dropped to 18 in 2022, but the 20-and-over rule for drinking and smoking didn’t change.
• Most clubs are 20+ for entry. A few let you in from 18, but even then drinking is still 20+.
• At the door, a government photo ID (a passport for visitors from abroad) is used to check your age.
• For club age rules see Tokyo Clubs Age Limit; for ID details see Club Passport & ID rules.

“How old do you have to be to drink in Japan?” The answer is 20. Alcohol and cigarettes are both 20+. Adulthood was lowered to 18 in 2022, but the drinking and smoking age stayed put at 20. That’s an easy one to get wrong, so here’s how it all works — including how it ties into getting into a club.

The age for drinking, smoking and entry

Here’s Japan’s age rules at a glance.

How it differs from adulthood at 18

This is where people trip up most. From April 2022, the age of adulthood under civil law is 18. You can sign contracts and the like from 18, but drinking and smoking stayed at 20 for health reasons. “I’m an adult at 18, so alcohol’s fine” is not how it works.

So 18- and 19-year-olds are treated as adults in more and more situations — but for alcohol and tobacco, they still wait until 20.

How it ties into club entry

A club’s entry age is closely tied to this drinking rule. The reason most clubs set entry at 20+ is that they serve alcohol inside.

Some clubs let you in from 18 (T2 SHINJUKU, for example). Even then, though, you can only drink from 20. An 18- or 19-year-old can dance and enjoy the music, but can’t order alcohol. Some venues tell you apart with a different wristband.

For which clubs you can enter from what age, there’s a club-by-club breakdown in Tokyo Clubs Age Limit.

Age checks and ID

At the door, they check your age with a government photo ID. Even if you clearly look well over 20, everyone gets the same check as a matter of course.

• Visitors from abroad: a passport is the safe bet. Phone photos and copies often won’t fly, so bring the physical document.
• Foreign residents of Japan: a residence card generally works.
• Japanese nationals: a driver’s license or My Number card works.

For why it has to be the physical card, see Club Passport & ID rules. What to sort out before you head out is covered in know before you go. At partner clubs you can pull a discount QR on the spot with a Guest pass.

FAQ

How old do you have to be to drink in Japan?

20. In Japan, both drinking and smoking are set at 20+ by law. Even after adulthood was lowered to 18 in 2022, the age for drinking and smoking has stayed at 20.

Can I get into a club at 18?

Some clubs let you in from 18 (T2 SHINJUKU, for example). But even if you get in, drinking is 20+, so 18- and 19-year-olds can’t order alcohol. Most clubs set entry at 20+.

What's the smoking age?

Smoking is also 20+. It’s not just cigarettes — heated-tobacco products and vapes are 20+ as well.

What ID works for the age check?

A government photo ID. Visitors from abroad use a passport, foreign residents use a residence card, and Japanese nationals use a driver’s license or My Number card. Copies and phone photos often won’t be accepted, so bring the physical document.

The bottom line

The takeaway: in Japan, alcohol and tobacco are both 20+, and that’s separate from adulthood (18). Most clubs are 20+, and even the ones you can enter from 18 keep drinking at 20+. Have your ID ready before you go, and a look at Tokyo Clubs Age Limit and know before you go will set you up nicely. At partner clubs, a Guest pass gets you in at a discount.