{ "_meta": { "dataset": "Genchi Japan — rules at a glance", "description": "Structured extract of the official rules cited in Genchi Japan articles. Each row has an authority level, effective date, penalty and a primary/press source, verified by a human on the date shown. CC BY 4.0 — cite genchijapan.com.", "schema": [ "area", "act", "rule", "penalty", "since", "level", "authority", "source", "source_label", "verified" ], "levels": { "national": "national law / ministry guideline", "prefecture": "prefectural rule or ordinance", "city": "municipal ordinance", "district": "private/district rule (no statutory force)" }, "updated": "2026-09-07", "repository": "https://github.com/genchijapan/japan-tourist-rules" }, "gion": [ { "area": "Gion, Kyoto — private alleys of Gion-machi South", "act": "Photography on private alleys", "rule": "Prohibited", "penalty": "¥10,000 posted fine (deterrent; no statutory enforcement)", "since": "2019-10", "level": "district", "authority": "Gion-machi South District Council", "source": "https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/kyotos-gion-geisha-district-bans-photos-on-private-streets-and-introduces-10-000-fine-102919", "source_label": "Time Out Tokyo (2019-10)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Gion, Kyoto — Kosode-koji alley", "act": "Entering / walking through the alley (through-traffic)", "rule": "Closed to visitors", "penalty": "¥10,000 posted fine for unauthorized entry", "since": "2024-05-29", "level": "district", "authority": "Gion-machi South District Council", "source": "https://www.ktv.jp/news/feature/240529-maiko/", "source_label": "Kansai TV (2024-05-30); Bengo4 (2024-05)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Gion, Kyoto — Hanamikoji-dori (public street)", "act": "Street photography / walking", "rule": "Allowed (public road remains open)", "penalty": "—", "since": "—", "level": "city", "authority": "Gion-machi South District Council (public road stays open); Kyoto City tourism code of conduct for manners", "source": "https://www.travelvoice.jp/20240311-155262", "source_label": "Travel Voice (2024-03)", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "shibuya": [ { "area": "Shibuya, Tokyo — streets, parks and public spaces around Shibuya Station", "act": "Drinking alcohol outdoors, 18:00–05:00, year-round", "rule": "Prohibited", "penalty": "None (ward-contracted patrol staff ask you to stop)", "since": "2024-10-01", "level": "city", "authority": "Shibuya Ward ordinance", "source": "https://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/kusei/shisaku/jorei-toshin/sbykankyo.html", "source_label": "Shibuya Ward official; no-fine per nippon.com", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Shibuya City, Tokyo — the entire ward, every outdoor public place (roads incl. national and metropolitan ones, parks, plazas)", "act": "Smoking outdoors, heated tobacco (IQOS, glo, Ploom) included", "rule": "Prohibited ward-wide except at a designated smoking place. Ward staff have been patrolling and issuing the fine since July 2019.", "penalty": "¥2,000 on-the-spot 過料", "since": "2019-07", "level": "city", "authority": "Shibuya City — ordinance 'Kirei na Machi Shibuya wo Minna de Tsukuru Jorei'", "source": "https://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/kankyo/machi-seiso/kitsuen/kituenrule.html", "source_label": "Shibuya City official", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "dotonbori": [ { "area": "Osaka City — all city-managed streets, plazas and parks", "act": "Smoking on the street (incl. heated tobacco)", "rule": "Prohibited citywide", "penalty": "¥1,000 on-the-spot fine", "since": "2025-01-27", "level": "city", "authority": "Osaka City ordinance", "source": "https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/kankyo/page/0000630108.html", "source_label": "Osaka City official (city-wide ban, ¥1,000 過料)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Osaka City", "act": "Littering (cans, bottles, cigarette butts etc.)", "rule": "Prohibited by city ordinance", "penalty": "None in the ordinance itself — the city can advise, then order, then publish the name of anyone who ignores it (arts. 6 and 8)", "since": "1995-11-01", "level": "city", "authority": "Osaka City anti-littering ordinance (空き缶等の投げ捨て等の防止に関する条例)", "source": "https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/kankyo/page/0000009351.html", "source_label": "Osaka City official — text of the ordinance", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "nara-park": [ { "area": "Nara Park — the deer (National Natural Monument)", "act": "Killing or injuring a deer (causing loss, damage or decline)", "rule": "Crime", "penalty": "Up to 5 years' imprisonment or ¥1,000,000 fine", "since": "—", "level": "national", "authority": "Cultural Properties Protection Act, Art. 196", "source": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/325AC0100000214", "source_label": "e-Gov — Cultural Properties Protection Act (Act No. 214 of 1950), art. 196", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Nara Park", "act": "Hitting, kicking or otherwise abusing a deer (even without injury)", "rule": "Prohibited under park rules", "penalty": "None in the rule itself; staff may intervene", "since": "2025-04-01", "level": "prefecture", "authority": "Nara Prefecture park rules (施行規則第12条)", "source": "https://www.pref.nara.lg.jp/n111/68838.html", "source_label": "Nara Prefecture official", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Nara Park", "act": "Feeding deer anything other than shika-senbei crackers", "rule": "Prohibited under park rules", "penalty": "—", "since": "—", "level": "prefecture", "authority": "Nara Prefecture park rules", "source": "https://www.pref.nara.lg.jp/site/park/1232.html", "source_label": "Nara Prefecture — park quick guide", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "konyoku": [ { "area": "Japan — public baths and inn baths", "act": "Mixed bathing of children aged about 7 and over (in the men's or women's bath)", "rule": "Not allowed — national guideline, implemented by prefectural ordinances", "penalty": "Facility rule; refused entry", "since": "2020-12-10 (guideline date; ordinance dates vary by prefecture, e.g. Shizuoka 2023-10-01)", "level": "national", "authority": "MHLW guideline on hygiene management at public baths (notice 生食発1210第1号) → prefectural ordinances", "source": "https://www.mhlw.go.jp/web/t_doc?dataId=00tc5492&dataType=1", "source_label": "MHLW notice (JA)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Japan — any bath or changing room", "act": "Secretly photographing a person's sexual body parts or underwear without legitimate reason; distributing/uploading such images", "rule": "Crime", "penalty": "Photographing: up to 3 years' imprisonment or a ¥3,000,000 fine (art. 2). Passing the image to someone: the same. Providing it to the public at large, or displaying it publicly: up to 5 years or ¥5,000,000, and both may be imposed together (art. 3(2)). Holding it in order to do either: up to 2 years or ¥2,000,000 (art. 4).", "since": "2023-07-13", "level": "national", "authority": "Act on the Punishment of Photographing Sexual Images (性的姿態撮影等処罰法)", "source": "https://www.moj.go.jp/keiji1/keiji12_00200.html", "source_label": "Ministry of Justice explainer (scope and effective date); penalty amounts: e-Gov, Act No. 67 of 2023, arts. 2–4", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "trash-cans": [ { "area": "Japan — nationwide", "act": "Disposing of trash when no public bin is available", "rule": "Take it with you; use bins where available", "penalty": "None (guideline, no statutory force)", "since": "—", "level": "national", "authority": "Japan Tourism Agency — Travel Etiquette for the Future", "source": "https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/responsible-traveler/en.html", "source_label": "JTA (EN)", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "tax-free-refund": [ { "area": "Japan — nationwide", "act": "Buying tax-free as a visitor", "rule": "Consumption tax is paid at the shop. Customs confirms at departure that the goods are being taken out of Japan, and the tax-free shop — or the refund operator it contracts — then refunds the tax; a shop may also refund earlier, at its own risk. The airport is not the payer. Minimum ¥5,000 (tax-exclusive, about ¥5,500 on the price tag) per shop per day.", "penalty": "No refund if export is not confirmed", "since": "2026-11-01 (applies by purchase date; no overlap with the old system)", "level": "national", "authority": "Consumption Tax Act, FY2025 tax reform — National Tax Agency", "source": "https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pamph/shohi/menzei/201805/format/002.htm", "source_label": "NTA (JA)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Japan — all international airports and seaports", "act": "Getting the customs confirmation at departure", "rule": "Present your passport at a tax-free kiosk terminal in the international departure hall BEFORE checking in and dropping your bags, within 90 days of the purchase date. The screen gives a green result (finished) or red (show the goods to customs). At Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose and Naha, Visit Japan Web can be used instead, inside the dedicated network area before security. Checked-in baggage cannot be retrieved for this.", "penalty": "No refund; no compensation if the procedure makes you miss your flight", "since": "2026-11-01", "level": "national", "authority": "Japan Tourism Agency / Japan Customs", "source": "https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/page01_000001_00021.html", "source_label": "JTA traveler page (JA)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Japan — all international airports and seaports", "act": "Presenting the goods, per receipt", "rule": "The check is made per purchase transaction (per receipt). If even one item on a receipt is not in your possession, no item on that receipt qualifies.", "penalty": "Whole receipt loses the refund", "since": "2026-11-01", "level": "national", "authority": "Japan Tourism Agency / Japan Customs", "source": "https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/tax-free/page01_000001_00021.html", "source_label": "JTA traveler page (JA)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Japan — nationwide", "act": "Using or eating tax-free consumables inside Japan", "rule": "Special sealed packaging, the ¥500,000 daily cap on consumables, the general-goods/consumables split and the \"for ordinary personal use\" test are all abolished; gold and platinum bullion and coins are excluded from the scheme. Consumables used or eaten in Japan no longer qualify, and must be declared to a customs officer instead of the kiosk.", "penalty": "No refund on the consumed goods", "since": "2026-11-01", "level": "national", "authority": "National Tax Agency / Japan Tourism Agency", "source": "https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pamph/shohi/menzei/201805/pdf/0025012-025_02.pdf", "source_label": "NTA Q&A overview, Q4 (JA, PDF)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Japan — nationwide", "act": "Posting tax-free purchases abroad before you depart", "rule": "The separate-shipment allowance was abolished on 2025-03-31. Goods sent abroad by the traveler before departure cannot receive the customs confirmation, so no refund is paid under the refund method.", "penalty": "Bought on or before 2026-10-31 and posted: customs collects the consumption tax from you on the spot at departure. Bought from 2026-11-01: no refund is paid at all.", "since": "2025-03-31 (allowance abolished); no refund from 2026-11-01", "level": "national", "authority": "National Tax Agency (consumption tax basic circular 8-1-4)", "source": "https://www.nta.go.jp/publication/pamph/shohi/menzei/201805/pdf/0025012-025_02.pdf", "source_label": "NTA Q&A overview, Q23 (JA, PDF)", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "mt-fuji": [ { "area": "Mt. Fuji — Yoshida Trail (Yamanashi side), 5th-station gate, Jul 1–Sep 10", "act": "Climbing the Yoshida Trail during the season", "rule": "Trail-use fee required; gate closed 14:00–03:00 and once the day's count reaches 4,000 climbers (mountain-hut guests exempt). From FY2026 the fee is waived if you only walk the lower section, from Umagaeshi up to the 5th-station gate, and do not pass through it", "penalty": "¥4,000 per person per entry (a fee, not a fine)", "since": "2025-07-01 (fee doubled from ¥2,000; gate hours and cap since 2024-07-01)", "level": "prefecture", "authority": "Yamanashi Prefecture — 山梨県富士山吉田口県有登下山道設置及び管理条例", "source": "https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp/fujisan/siyouryou.html", "source_label": "Yamanashi Pref. official (JA); fee change confirmed from the prefecture's 2024/2025 results page", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Mt. Fuji — Fujinomiya, Gotemba and Subashiri Trails (Shizuoka side), Jul–Sep 10", "act": "Climbing any Shizuoka-side trail during the season", "rule": "Pre-registration, e-learning and an entry certificate (FUJI NAVI app or at the 5th station) required; entering 14:00–03:00 requires a mountain-hut booking", "penalty": "¥4,000 per person per entry (a fee, not a fine)", "since": "2025-07 (ordinance promulgated 2025-03-27, first applied in the 2025 season)", "level": "prefecture", "authority": "Shizuoka Prefecture — 静岡県富士登山条例 (Ordinance No. 24 of 2025)", "source": "https://www.pref.shizuoka.jp/kankosports/kanko/mtfuji/1002809/1072062.html", "source_label": "Shizuoka Pref. official (JA)", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "kamakura": [ { "area": "Kamakura, Kanagawa — public places incl. Komachi-dori and the Enoden line area", "act": "Eating while walking in crowded streets; also stopping on the roadway or near the railway to take photos, entering restricted areas", "rule": "Listed as a 'nuisance act' in a manners ordinance — an appeal, not a prohibition", "penalty": "None", "since": "2019-04-01", "level": "city", "authority": "Kamakura City — 鎌倉市公共の場所におけるマナーの向上に関する条例", "source": "https://www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/kankou/mannerruleshead.html", "source_label": "Kamakura City official (JA)", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "kyoto": [ { "area": "Kyoto City — outdoor public places citywide; fines only in the designated zones (city centre, Kyoto Station area, Kiyomizu–Gion)", "act": "Smoking on the street or in parks", "rule": "Prohibited citywide in outdoor public places; enforced with fines in the designated zones", "penalty": "¥1,000 on-the-spot fine (過料) in designated zones", "since": "2007-06-01 (zones redesignated 2023-03-01)", "level": "city", "authority": "Kyoto City — 京都市路上喫煙等の禁止等に関する条例", "source": "https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/bunshi/page/0000291969.html", "source_label": "Kyoto City official (JA)", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "miyajima": [ { "area": "Miyajima (Itsukushima), Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima — arrival by ferry or other vessel", "act": "Visiting the island", "rule": "Visitor tax collected on top of the ferry fare", "penalty": "¥100 per visit (¥500 per year option); a tax, not a fine. Exempt: preschool children, school trips, disability-certificate holders", "since": "2023-10-01", "level": "city", "authority": "Hatsukaichi City — 宮島訪問税 (local discretionary tax under Local Tax Act Art. 5(3))", "source": "https://www.city.hatsukaichi.hiroshima.jp/soshiki/110/59551.html", "source_label": "Hatsukaichi City official (JA)", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "accommodation-tax": [ { "area": "Kyoto City — every hotel, ryokan and minpaku", "act": "Staying overnight (charged per person per night on the room rate, excl. meals and tax)", "rule": "Accommodation tax added to the bill", "penalty": "¥200 (room rate under ¥6,000) / ¥400 (¥6,000–19,999) / ¥1,000 (¥20,000–49,999) / ¥4,000 (¥50,000–99,999) / ¥10,000 (¥100,000 and up)", "since": "2026-03-01 (rates raised; tax itself since 2018-10-01)", "level": "city", "authority": "Kyoto City — 京都市宿泊税条例", "source": "https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/gyozai/page/0000345893.html", "source_label": "Kyoto City official (JA)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Tokyo Metropolis — every hotel and ryokan, anywhere in the metropolis", "act": "Staying overnight (charged per person per night on the room rate, excl. meals and tax)", "rule": "Accommodation tax added to the bill; the hotel collects it and pays it to the metropolitan government. Nothing is charged if the room rate is under ¥10,000 per person per night. From 2027-04-01 the tax becomes a flat 3% of the room rate, the exemption line rises to ¥13,000, and simple lodgings and minpaku are added to the scope.", "penalty": "¥100 (room rate ¥10,000–14,999) / ¥200 (¥15,000 and up); a tax, not a fine", "since": "—", "level": "prefecture", "authority": "Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Taxation; the 2027-04-01 change received the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications' consent on 2026-06-30", "source": "https://www.tax.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kazei/leisure/shuk/shukuhakusha", "source_label": "Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Taxation (official); 2027 change per the same bureau's 'shuk_minaoshi' page", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Osaka Prefecture — hotels, ryokan, simple lodgings, special-zone minpaku and registered minpaku", "act": "Staying overnight (charged per person per night on the room rate)", "rule": "Accommodation tax added to the bill and collected at the property. Nothing is charged if the room rate is under ¥5,000 per person per night.", "penalty": "¥200 (¥5,000–14,999) / ¥400 (¥15,000–19,999) / ¥500 (¥20,000 and up); a tax, not a fine. Until 2025-08-31 the rates were ¥100/¥200/¥300 and nothing was charged under ¥7,000.", "since": "2025-09-01", "level": "prefecture", "authority": "Osaka Prefectural Government (Tax Division)", "source": "https://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/o050040/zei/alacarte/shukuhakuzei-kaisei.html", "source_label": "Osaka Prefecture official — rate revision page", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Hokkaido — hotels, ryokan, simple lodgings and registered minpaku anywhere in the prefecture", "act": "Staying overnight (charged per person per night on the room rate)", "rule": "Prefectural accommodation tax added to the bill. In municipalities that levy their own accommodation tax as well, both are billed together and paid through that municipality.", "penalty": "¥100 (room rate under ¥20,000) / ¥200 (¥20,000–49,999) / ¥500 (¥50,000 and up); a tax, not a fine", "since": "2026-04-01", "level": "prefecture", "authority": "Hokkaido Government, Tax Division", "source": "https://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/sm/zim/tax/218623.html", "source_label": "Hokkaido Government official", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Sapporo, Hokkaido — hotels, ryokan, simple lodgings and registered minpaku in the city", "act": "Staying overnight — city accommodation tax charged on top of the Hokkaido one", "rule": "Both taxes apply and appear on the same bill. A booking made before 2026-04-01 is still taxed if the stay falls on or after that date.", "penalty": "Combined ¥300 (room rate under ¥20,000) / ¥400 (¥20,000–49,999) / ¥1,000 (¥50,000 and up) — of which the city takes ¥200/¥200/¥500. A tax, not a fine. Exempt: pupils and students on a school trip, and the staff leading them.", "since": "2026-04-01", "level": "city", "authority": "City of Sapporo, Tax Division", "source": "https://www.city.sapporo.jp/citytax/shukuhakuzei/index.html", "source_label": "City of Sapporo official", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "cycling": [ { "area": "Nationwide — anyone riding a bicycle, incl. rental bikes", "act": "Using a phone while riding (holding it to talk or looking at the screen)", "rule": "Prohibited", "penalty": "Up to 6 months' imprisonment or ¥100,000 fine. Since 2026-04-01 this is also a ¥12,000 fixed-penalty ticket (青切符) for riders aged 16 and over — in force, not upcoming. Causing actual danger stays a criminal offence.", "since": "2024-11-01", "level": "national", "authority": "Road Traffic Act (道路交通法) — National Police Agency", "source": "https://www.npa.go.jp/bureau/traffic/bicycle/portal/system.html", "source_label": "National Police Agency bicycle portal (official); fixed-penalty amount per the NPA's 'jitensyahansokukoui.pdf' schedule", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Nationwide — anyone riding a bicycle, incl. rental bikes", "act": "Riding with alcohol in your system (blood ≥0.3 mg/ml or breath ≥0.15 mg/l)", "rule": "Prohibited", "penalty": "Up to 3 years' imprisonment or ¥500,000 fine", "since": "2024-11-01", "level": "national", "authority": "Road Traffic Act (道路交通法) Art. 65 — National Police Agency", "source": "https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kotsu/jikoboshi/bicycle/rule.html", "source_label": "Tokyo Metropolitan Police (JA)", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "customs": [ { "area": "Every airport and seaport — arriving passengers and their luggage", "act": "Bringing in meat products (jerky, ham, sausage, bacon, meat buns, raw or frozen meat, eggs…)", "rule": "Prohibited without an export certificate; must be declared at animal quarantine on arrival", "penalty": "Up to 3 years' imprisonment or ¥3,000,000 fine (companies: up to ¥50,000,000)", "since": "2020-07-01 (penalties raised)", "level": "national", "authority": "Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control Act (家畜伝染病予防法) — MAFF Animal Quarantine Service", "source": "https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/tetuzuki/product/aq2.html", "source_label": "MAFF Animal Quarantine Service (JA)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Every airport and seaport — arriving passengers aged 20 and over", "act": "Bringing in alcohol, tobacco, perfume and goods duty-free", "rule": "Duty-free allowance per person: 3 bottles of alcohol (760 ml each); 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 10 packs of heated tobacco OR 250 g of other tobacco; 2 ounces (about 56 ml) of perfume; and anything else up to ¥200,000 of overseas market value in total. An item worth ¥10,000 or less is free and is not counted against the ¥200,000.", "penalty": "Duty and tax on the excess; the allowance for alcohol and tobacco does not apply at all to anyone under 20", "since": "—", "level": "national", "authority": "Japan Customs, Ministry of Finance", "source": "https://www.customs.go.jp/kaigairyoko/menzei.htm", "source_label": "Japan Customs (official)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Every airport and seaport — passengers entering or leaving", "act": "Carrying more than ¥1,000,000 in cash or equivalents, or more than 1 kg of gold bullion", "rule": "A written 'Declaration of Carrying of Means of Payment' must be handed to customs. It covers cash in any currency, cheques and travellers' cheques, promissory notes and securities, counted together. If one person in a group carries the whole group's money, that person files it.", "penalty": "Up to 5 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥10,000,000, or both, for going through without the written declaration or with a false one (Customs Act art. 111); where five times the value exceeds ¥10,000,000, the fine may be up to five times the value", "since": "2008-06", "level": "national", "authority": "Japan Customs, Ministry of Finance — Customs Act art. 111", "source": "https://www.customs.go.jp/kaigairyoko/shiharaishudan.htm", "source_label": "Japan Customs (official); penalty per the same office's FAQ leaflet 'faq_payment.pdf' Q7 and e-Gov, Customs Act art. 111", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "drones": [ { "area": "Nationwide — outdoor flight", "act": "Flying a drone or RC aircraft weighing 100 g or more (body + battery)", "rule": "Registration and a displayed registration ID / Remote ID are required before any outdoor flight", "penalty": "Up to 1 year's imprisonment or ¥500,000 fine for flying an unregistered drone (Civil Aeronautics Act art. 157-7(1)(i))", "since": "2022-06-20 (registration duty)", "level": "national", "authority": "Civil Aeronautics Act (航空法) — MLIT", "source": "https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/drone/", "source_label": "MLIT drone registration portal (JA); penalty text: e-Gov, Civil Aeronautics Act arts. 132-2 and 157-7", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Nationwide — airspace near airports, at 150 m or higher, and above densely inhabited districts (DID), which covers most of central Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto", "act": "Flying a drone there", "rule": "Prohibited without the transport minister's permission. A pilot holding a skill certificate and flying a certified aircraft may fly parts of it without applying.", "penalty": "Fine of up to ¥500,000 — a fine only, no imprisonment (art. 157-9(ix)–(xi))", "since": "—", "level": "national", "authority": "Civil Aeronautics Act, art. 132-85", "source": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/327AC0000000231", "source_label": "e-Gov — Civil Aeronautics Act (Act No. 231 of 1952), arts. 132-85 and 157-9", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Nationwide — above roads, parks, plazas and other public places", "act": "Flying a drone while affected by alcohol or drugs", "rule": "Prohibited", "penalty": "Up to 1 year's imprisonment or ¥300,000 fine (art. 157-8)", "since": "—", "level": "national", "authority": "Civil Aeronautics Act, arts. 132-86(1)(i) and 157-8", "source": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/327AC0000000231", "source_label": "e-Gov — Civil Aeronautics Act (Act No. 231 of 1952), arts. 132-86 and 157-8", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "smoking": [ { "area": "Chiyoda City, Tokyo — the entire ward (Akihabara, Tokyo Station, Kanda, Marunouchi)", "act": "Smoking on the street, heated tobacco included", "rule": "Prohibited ward-wide. Ward staff issue the fine on the spot, showing ID; you pay cash there or are given a payment slip.", "penalty": "¥2,000 on-the-spot 過料 (the ordinance allows up to ¥20,000; ¥2,000 is the amount actually applied). Heated tobacco has carried the same ¥2,000, ward-wide, since 2024-11-01.", "since": "2010-04-01 (ward-wide; ordinance in force 2002-10-01, fines from 2002-11-01)", "level": "city", "authority": "Chiyoda City ordinance on maintaining a safe and comfortable living environment", "source": "https://www.city.chiyoda.lg.jp/koho/machizukuri/sekatsu/jore/aramashi.html", "source_label": "Chiyoda City official; heated-tobacco date per Chiyoda City press release (2024-10-01)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Shinjuku City, Tokyo — all roads in the ward (Shinjuku Station, Kabukicho, Takadanobaba)", "act": "Smoking on a road while walking, while standing still, or while riding a bicycle", "rule": "Prohibited except at a designated smoking place — the same act as in Chiyoda, but this ward attaches no fine to it", "penalty": "None for the smoking itself. Littering inside a designated beautification-priority district carries a fine of up to ¥20,000.", "since": "—", "level": "city", "authority": "Shinjuku City ordinance on preventing litter from cans and harm from street smoking", "source": "https://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/seikatsu/file11_01_00006.html", "source_label": "Shinjuku City official", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Shibuya City, Tokyo — the entire ward, every outdoor public place (roads incl. national and metropolitan ones, parks, plazas)", "act": "Smoking outdoors, heated tobacco (IQOS, glo, Ploom) included", "rule": "Prohibited ward-wide except at a designated smoking place. Ward staff have been patrolling and issuing the fine since July 2019.", "penalty": "¥2,000 on-the-spot 過料", "since": "2019-07", "level": "city", "authority": "Shibuya City — ordinance 'Kirei na Machi Shibuya wo Minna de Tsukuru Jorei'", "source": "https://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/kankyo/machi-seiso/kitsuen/kituenrule.html", "source_label": "Shibuya City official", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Taito City, Tokyo — public places outdoors (roads, parks, plazas), Asakusa and Ueno included", "act": "Smoking outdoors between 07:00 and 09:00; and smoking at any hour while walking or riding a bicycle", "rule": "Two separate rules: a ward-wide 07:00–09:00 smoking ban, and an all-day ban on smoking while walking or cycling. Designated public smoking places are excepted.", "penalty": "None. Ward 'manner instructors' on patrol give verbal guidance instead.", "since": "2021-04-01 (revised ordinance)", "level": "city", "authority": "Taito City ordinance on the prevention of littering and similar acts", "source": "https://www.city.taito.lg.jp/kenchiku/machibika/suishin/jyorei.html", "source_label": "Taito City official", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Minato City, Tokyo — outdoor public places in the ward (roads, parks, children's playgrounds, open spaces), Roppongi and Odaiba included", "act": "Smoking anywhere outdoors other than a designated smoking place; dropping cigarette butts", "rule": "Prohibited under the 'Minato Tobacco Rule'", "penalty": "No fine is stated in the ordinance page; ward patrol staff give guidance and direct you to the nearest smoking place", "since": "2014-07-01", "level": "city", "authority": "Minato City ordinance on promoting environmental beautification and preventing nuisance from smoking", "source": "https://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/kankyoushidou/kankyo-machi/kankyo/tobacco/rule/tobacco.html", "source_label": "Minato City official", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "e-scooters": [ { "area": "Nationwide — rental and privately owned e-scooters meeting the 'specified small motorized bicycle' spec (max 20 km/h, motor 0.60 kW or less, 190 cm long × 60 cm wide or less)", "act": "Riding one", "rule": "No driver's licence needed, but the rider must be 16 or over. A helmet is an effort obligation, not a requirement. Ride on the roadway or a cycle track; the pavement only on a machine switched to the sidewalk-permitted mode. The machine needs a municipal number plate and compulsory liability insurance (jibaiseki).", "penalty": "Riding under the age of 16: up to 6 months' imprisonment or ¥100,000 fine", "since": "2023-07-01", "level": "national", "authority": "National Police Agency — Road Traffic Act as amended", "source": "https://www.npa.go.jp/bureau/traffic/anzen/tokuteikogata.html", "source_label": "National Police Agency (official)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Nationwide — anyone riding a specified small motorized bicycle (e-scooter)", "act": "Riding after drinking", "rule": "Prohibited — the drink-driving rule for vehicles, not the lighter one for bicycles", "penalty": "Up to 5 years' imprisonment or ¥1,000,000 fine", "since": "2023-07-01", "level": "national", "authority": "National Police Agency — Road Traffic Act as amended", "source": "https://www.npa.go.jp/bureau/traffic/anzen/tokuteikogata.html", "source_label": "National Police Agency (official)", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "cannabis": [ { "area": "Japan — nationwide, visitors included", "act": "Using cannabis or a THC product, however legal it was where you bought it", "rule": "Crime. Cannabis is regulated as a narcotic under the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control Act, and use itself became an offence on this date.", "penalty": "Up to 7 years' imprisonment (art. 66-2)", "since": "2024-12-12", "level": "national", "authority": "National Police Agency / Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control Act", "source": "https://www.npa.go.jp/bureau/sosikihanzai/yakubutujyuki/illegal_cannabis/", "source_label": "National Police Agency cannabis portal (official); article text: e-Gov, Act No. 14 of 1953, art. 66-2", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Japan — nationwide, visitors included", "act": "Simple possession of cannabis (carrying it in, or holding it here)", "rule": "Crime", "penalty": "Up to 7 years' imprisonment (art. 66(1)); if done for profit, 1–10 years, to which a fine of up to ¥3,000,000 may be added", "since": "2024-12-12", "level": "national", "authority": "Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control Act, art. 66", "source": "https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/328AC0000000014", "source_label": "e-Gov — Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control Act (Act No. 14 of 1953), art. 66", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "shirakawago": [ { "area": "Shirakawa-go, Gifu — the World Heritage village of Ogimachi", "act": "Driving into the village between 09:00 and 16:00 — private cars, taxis and rental cars alike", "rule": "Asked to stay out: park at the village-run Seseragi Park car park and walk in. A request from the village, not a legal prohibition.", "penalty": "None — no ordinance and no fine behind it", "since": "2014-04-01", "level": "district", "authority": "Shirakawa Village Office (traffic measures for the World Heritage area)", "source": "https://www.vill.shirakawa.lg.jp/1190.htm", "source_label": "Shirakawa Village Office (official)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Shirakawa-go, Gifu — the Ogimachi Castle Ruins viewpoint, the spot the postcard photo is taken from", "act": "Driving up to the viewpoint", "rule": "The viewpoint car park is closed until further notice — cars cannot park or enter. You walk up, or take the shuttle. The village closed it because illegal long-stay parking kept causing jams and showed no sign of improving. Note: the fares were raised on 2024-10-01 (¥200→¥300 adult, ¥100→¥150 child), and the tourist association's own English FAQ still quotes the old ¥200 and a shorter 10:00–14:40 timetable.", "penalty": "None — a closure, not a fine. Shuttle from the Seseragi Park car park: ¥300 one way for adults (junior-high age and over), ¥150 for children and disability-certificate holders, cash on board. Runs roughly every 20 minutes from 09:00 to 16:10, and stops for snow, ice or poor visibility.", "since": "2024-10-01 (current fares)", "level": "district", "authority": "Shirakawa Village Office / Shirakawa-go Tourist Association", "source": "https://www.vill.shirakawa.lg.jp/2778.htm", "source_label": "Shirakawa Village Office — fare revision notice (2024-10-01); timetable per the same office's page 1952.htm", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "indoor-smoking": [ { "area": "Japan — indoors at restaurants, bars, hotels, offices, shops, stations and on trains and ships", "act": "Smoking indoors — 'smoking' is defined as burning OR heating tobacco, so heated tobacco counts", "rule": "Prohibited except inside a designated smoking room. Enforcement is staged: guidance first, then a prefectural governor's order; the 過料 applies only if the order is ignored. Two carve-outs matter to a visitor: an eatery that already existed on 2020-04-01 with capital of ¥50m or less and a customer area of 100 m² or less may still allow smoking, and a room may be set aside for heated tobacco only, where eating and drinking are allowed. Both must post a sign at the door. Nobody under 20 may enter a smoking area, even to work or to pass through.", "penalty": "Up to ¥300,000 過料 for a person who smokes on despite the governor's order (Health Promotion Act art. 77(i)); up to ¥500,000 for an operator who ignores an order (art. 76)", "since": "2020-04-01", "level": "national", "authority": "Health Promotion Act as amended, arts. 29, 76 and 77 — Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare", "source": "https://jyudokitsuen.mhlw.go.jp/point/", "source_label": "MHLW passive-smoking portal (official); penalty amounts: e-Gov, Health Promotion Act arts. 76–77", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ], "medicines": [ { "area": "Japan — every airport and seaport, arriving passengers carrying their own prescription", "act": "Bringing in a medicine whose active ingredient is amphetamine or methamphetamine (Adderall; Dexedrine and other dexamfetamine or levamfetamine products)", "rule": "Banned outright. No individual traveller may import these, and no permit exists that makes it possible — a valid foreign prescription changes nothing. The ministry's prohibited list is short: heroin, opium powder, methamphetamine and amphetamine, and methaqualone. Note that Vyvanse is NOT on this list; see the next row.", "penalty": "Import: imprisonment of 1 year or more (Stimulants Control Act art. 41(1)); mere possession: up to 10 years (art. 41-2(1))", "since": "—", "level": "national", "authority": "Stimulants Control Act, arts. 13, 41 and 41-2 — Narcotics Control Department, MHLW", "source": "https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html", "source_label": "MHLW Narcotics Control Department, English application guidance and FAQ (official); article text: e-Gov, Stimulants Control Act (Act No. 252 of 1951)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Japan — every airport and seaport, arriving passengers carrying their own prescription", "act": "Bringing in a medicine controlled as a 'stimulants' raw material' — lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse, Elvanse, Venvanse, Aduvanz, Tyvense), pseudoephedrine", "rule": "Allowed, but only with permission granted before you travel, however small the amount. Apply to the Narcotics Control Department covering the airport you arrive at, at least 14 days ahead, with the application form, a doctor's certificate issued within the last three months stating the specific reason you take it, and photos of the packaging. Show the import certificate to customs. You must carry the medicine yourself — you cannot post it, and you cannot have a family member carry it for you. If you will take leftovers home, file an export application too.", "penalty": "Importing without the permission is treated as importing a stimulants' raw material unlawfully under the Stimulants Control Act", "since": "—", "level": "national", "authority": "Narcotics Control Department, MHLW — Stimulants Control Act", "source": "https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html", "source_label": "MHLW Narcotics Control Department, English application guidance and FAQ (official)", "verified": "2026-09-07" }, { "area": "Japan — every airport and seaport, arriving passengers carrying their own prescription", "act": "Bringing in a medical narcotic (morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, codeine preparations) or a psychotropic medicine", "rule": "A narcotic (morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, codeine, tapentadol, GHB) needs the permission of the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare BEFORE you travel — apply to the Narcotics Control Department covering your arrival airport at least 14 days ahead, with a doctor's certificate issued within the last three months. A psychotropic medicine — methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin), zolpidem, alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, buprenorphine — needs no certificate and no permission at or below the quantity in the ministry's table, injections excepted; above it, or in injection form, carry a doctor's certificate. For more than one month's supply, email yakkan@mhlw.go.jp first. Tramadol is not a narcotic.", "penalty": "Importing a narcotic without permission: 1 to 10 years' imprisonment (Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control Act art. 65(1)(i))", "since": "—", "level": "national", "authority": "Narcotics Control Department, MHLW — Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control Act", "source": "https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html", "source_label": "MHLW Narcotics Control Department, English application guidance (official); article text: e-Gov, Act No. 14 of 1953, art. 65", "verified": "2026-09-07" } ] }