Report Estimates 2,543 Smoking Areas Needed for Optimal Placement in Tokyo's 23 Wards
Planworks Policy Research Institute released a report on the development of public smoking areas in Tokyo's 23 wards. It estimates that 2,543 smoking areas are necessary to address the shift of smoking to outdoor spaces, advocating for a dispersed layout rather than station-centric concentration.
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- 📰 Published: May 26, 2026 at 23:00
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Planworks Policy Research Institute has released a report titled "On the Development of Public Smoking Areas in Tokyo's 23 Wards."
In recent years, the implementation of the amended Health Promotion Act, which strengthened indoor anti-passive smoking measures, has shifted smoking behavior outdoors, bringing new challenges to light. In response, the institute has conducted independent research to calculate the number of smoking areas required in major cities.
As part of this effort, this report focuses on the 23 wards of Tokyo—which has enacted a "Passive Smoking Prevention Ordinance" that exceeds national regulations—to verify the current state of smoking environments and the necessity and direction of smoking-separation facility development.
## Report Summary
- Estimated total needed: 2,543 smoking areas in Tokyo's 23 wards.
- Office Districts: With the expansion of no-smoking zones on streets, area-wide development is urgent. Concentration near stations should be replaced by dispersed placement across the area, including dense office zones.
- Commercial/Tourist Areas: Improving visibility and securing sufficient locations are urgent. Multilingual signage is also necessary to make facilities easily identifiable for international visitors.
- Residential Areas: Essential to develop smoking areas centered around stations and their surroundings, considering commuters' routes.
Given that both paper cigarette and heated tobacco users coexist, facilities must be developed to accommodate both, rather than focusing solely on heated tobacco devices.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government support is also needed, including expanding subsidy requirements for public smoking area development by wards and municipalities, and facilitating the use of metropolitan facilities to supplement the shortage of ward-owned land.
The institute hopes this report will serve as a reference for local governments and businesses to formulate concrete measures that achieve both thorough smoke separation and improvements in disaster prevention and landscape aesthetics.
## About Planworks Policy Research Institute
"Planworks Policy Research Institute" (formerly Trend Lab) is a specialized policy research think tank that creates next-generation planning. It conducts independent research and analysis on administrative and social issues.
The insights gained are reflected not only in policy proposals and report creation but also in the design of concrete projects and measures, aiming to function as a partner for both government and enterprises.
In recent years, the implementation of the amended Health Promotion Act, which strengthened indoor anti-passive smoking measures, has shifted smoking behavior outdoors, bringing new challenges to light. In response, the institute has conducted independent research to calculate the number of smoking areas required in major cities.
As part of this effort, this report focuses on the 23 wards of Tokyo—which has enacted a "Passive Smoking Prevention Ordinance" that exceeds national regulations—to verify the current state of smoking environments and the necessity and direction of smoking-separation facility development.
## Report Summary
- Estimated total needed: 2,543 smoking areas in Tokyo's 23 wards.
- Office Districts: With the expansion of no-smoking zones on streets, area-wide development is urgent. Concentration near stations should be replaced by dispersed placement across the area, including dense office zones.
- Commercial/Tourist Areas: Improving visibility and securing sufficient locations are urgent. Multilingual signage is also necessary to make facilities easily identifiable for international visitors.
- Residential Areas: Essential to develop smoking areas centered around stations and their surroundings, considering commuters' routes.
Given that both paper cigarette and heated tobacco users coexist, facilities must be developed to accommodate both, rather than focusing solely on heated tobacco devices.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government support is also needed, including expanding subsidy requirements for public smoking area development by wards and municipalities, and facilitating the use of metropolitan facilities to supplement the shortage of ward-owned land.
The institute hopes this report will serve as a reference for local governments and businesses to formulate concrete measures that achieve both thorough smoke separation and improvements in disaster prevention and landscape aesthetics.
## About Planworks Policy Research Institute
"Planworks Policy Research Institute" (formerly Trend Lab) is a specialized policy research think tank that creates next-generation planning. It conducts independent research and analysis on administrative and social issues.
The insights gained are reflected not only in policy proposals and report creation but also in the design of concrete projects and measures, aiming to function as a partner for both government and enterprises.
FAQ
How many smoking areas are estimated to be needed in the 23 wards of Tokyo?
According to a report by Planworks Policy Research Institute, it is estimated that 2,543 locations are needed.
What kind of placement is required for the installation of smoking areas?
Instead of concentrating them in front of stations, it is required to distribute them across areas including densely built-up zones and to consider the commuting routes in residential areas.
What considerations are necessary regarding the types of cigarettes when installing smoking areas?
Considering the coexistence of both conventional and heated tobacco users, facilities should accommodate both types without bias towards heated tobacco only.
What responses are required from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government?
Expanding the criteria for public smoking area installation subsidies to municipalities and providing support by utilizing metropolitan facilities to compensate for the lack of district-owned land are required.
What is the Planworks Policy Research Institute?
It is a specialized unit (formerly Trend Lab) that conducts independent surveys and analyses on administrative and social issues and supports policy recommendations and specific policy design.