Smoking in Japan?
 

I've read that the Japanese love to smoke especially in restaurants. I have asthma, so will this be a major problem for me when I go visit?

There is a LOT of smoking in Japan. It was a pretty big difference from California, where public smoking in most places is prohibited. I didn't like it, but I didn't have asthma... that'd be even worse. If you stay away from bars, that'll help, but they smoke even in restaurants, school offices, etc. You might try eating in restaurants during off-peak hours so there are fewer people, making it easier to avoid the smokers. Also, pick up food at a grocery store, bakery, etc and eat in a park or your hotel room. Temples will often have incense burning... if that bothers you too, avoid them.

I agree 100%.

Smoking in Japan is incredibly widespread - a factor influenced by the Governments heavy involvment in the Tobacco industry (an industry it held a monopoly on until 1987)

Recent anomalies in the governments healthcare system has drawn attention to Mita Hospitals alleged involvment with the JTI - & a subsequent High Court case in Japan was also thrown out by the sitting judge regarding smoking related ilnesses.

Clearly, smoking is a vital part of modern-day japanese culture and economy and it shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.

That's an interesting opinion from the U.S.A., the world's leading producer of tabacco.

Yes but it's actually changing now. Most places almost prohibit smoking inside and compare to how it was few years ago, many restaurants are becoming more smoke free.

where are these places? I have been here a year now and haven't seen a single one in Tokyo or Yokohama...

I think Japan should start prohibit smoking in most places, considering Japan already has one of the longest life spans in the world, prohibiting somking would make their life spans even longer.

i have cronic asthma and i smoke stupid yeah but eh ull live but go through a couple of puffers

Interesting point... Maybe they're meant to live to 200 or something!

Because being a US citizen automatically makes her all americans and means she loves tobacco, right?

I have seen a big increase in non-smoking places. 10 years ago, basically everywhere was "smoking" but now many chain restaurants have smoking and non-smoking sections, including the bigger McDonald's. There are smaller restaurants that are non-smoking. They are rare, and are going against the grain, but are for real.

Japan is making progress in this area, but still has a long way to go.

Just to clear this up:

Though the USA produces (probably/nearly the most) tobacco, we have a lot more space for smokers (compared to Japan and Europe) and only 30-45% of the population smokes. Not only that, but smoking is prohibited in public areas in some states, so now there is much less smoke to be exposed to here, even though in many areas it never got bad.

I don't have asthma, but smoking irritates my eyes and throat, so I know where you are coming from.

Woah. Less than 1/4 of Americans smoke.

No, maybe you're thinking of teens. I'm pretty sure it's around 35% to 40%. I'll look it up to be sure. :)

EDIT- Yeah, my statistic is outdated. It's only 20% now. Regardless, my point was that smoking is a minority in the US. Thanks for statistic correction. :)

I don't know, Japan is hard to smoke anymore-at least metro.

Just got back from Japan. You cannot smoke in train stations except for certain "smoking corners" at designated times. forget dowtown Yokohama. You will get a ticket for smoking in public, and they have a smoking room on the just outside the train station. Now that was funny, go into a room full of smoke, you don't even need to light up :D

Narita airport -you can only smoke outside in smoking corners. and some restaurants have smoking/non smoking sections.

I hardly saw anyone smoking other than those designated smoking areas. I almost felt guilty.:ywave:

Huh. Doesn't it make it difficult for jrockers, for one, then? There's quite alot who smoke.

True, but the non-smokingn sections are those stupid partitions which let the smoke into the other areas anyway lol

It's like Japanese people think the smoke will obey the rules and not stray into the non-smoking areas :)

i live in louisiana.
idk if this law this everywhere else, but here, you cannot smoke in any restaurant or, i think, bar.
you CAN, however, have a drink or 2 or 4, drive home, and potentially get in a wreck and possibly kill someone and/or yourself.

to me, that is completely ignorant.

sit in non smoking..

most places will have different levels for smokers and non smokers and not just lil dividers.

PLENTY of places to eat in japan. you will find non smoking places.

are you serious?

have you gone outside?

Try Roppongi Hills/ try Tokyo midtown/ try ANY high end restaurant, Omotosando has lots of places.

Rotating sushi places.... what else..

Wolf Gang pucks/mc donalds/ first kitchen/ pepper lunch/ yoshinoya/ mos burger/ Freshness burger/ Nathens/Samrat/ all have Separate levels in most of their locations for smokers.


Every spot in Tokyo disney =P

Lots of places in Hiro/ Yoyogi/ Takanawa are non smoking.

They even have oxygen bars now in Shibbies.

Speak of shibuya, check some of the places there.

pretty much in every area there is a few places you can go thats all non smoking or has separate levels.

Edit" oh yea and lots of places in Tokyo Dome.

you couldnt smoke in train stations for a while.

but at least their airports have smoking rooms.

Christ i was dieing at the airport in the states.

Wow, somehow I want to go to Japan less...

Sorry, smoking, to me, is just the most annoying thing in the world. I tolerate it ('cause my mum used to smoke), but I can't stand being somewhere to have someone come and light up right next to me.

From a technical standpoint, I just don't want to inhale someone else's carcinogenic vapours--I'll do that myself, if I so choose, thank you. On top of the CO poisoning, in the mild form normally caused by secondhand smoke, leaves me with a headache that doesn't go away even if I go and get fresh air.

Less technical, I just hate the smell, and it's probably my biggest turn off (it's amazing how many very attractive women I won't even look at because they have a cigarette in their hand).

*sigh*

But I'm glad to hear that there seems to be some restrictions on public cigarette use. Maybe by the time I can get there things will be quite to my California-ized liking XD . (Hooray for californication)

for most part smoking is done in smoking areas.
either a lil boxed room or outside some where.
people dont really smoke and walk. although i do and i see a few others do.



but if you want to avoid smoking in japan its not hard..

i think your picturing japan as like EVERY one smokes every where all the time all over the place non stop...
which isnt the case.

plenty of places for non smokers to go toget away from it all.



just dont be lecturing us smokers how its bad for us, or your gona get a big cup of stfu =) hehe

but seriously, i have a lot of non smoker friends in japan and im usualy tortured and draged into these non smoking establishments and areas.

so dont let smoking make you wana go to japan less.

I agree with the post above. There are new smoking regulations being put in all the time. It's definitely more common than California (I used to live there too) but it's not as bad as it used to be at all. You mgiht have small problems every once in a while but overall you should be able to get around just fine. It's still a great place to be!