Best Smoking Spots in Kyoto (京都市) (2026)
Kyoto's smoking scene is tightly regulated to preserve the city’s historic wooden architecture and ensure safety in heavily crowded tourist areas. Street-smoking enforcement is exceptionally strict across popular sightseeing neighborhoods such as **Gion**, **Kiyomizu-dera**, **Kawaramachi**, and the bustling area surrounding **Kyoto Station**. While smoking on public streets is prohibited city-wide, local authorities and private properties provide several designated public spaces to accommodate smokers.
5
Featured
spots
¥1,000
Street smoking
fine
Free
All spots
free to use
Kyoto smoking rules
Under the Kyoto City Ordinance, smoking outside designated zones in **Enhanced Street Smoking Prevention Areas** carries an on-the-spot fine of **1,000 JPY**. Additionally, smoking while walking, riding bicycles, or even using portable ashtrays in these restricted municipal areas is strictly prohibited.
Read more about smoking fines in Japan →Top 5 Designated Smoking Areas
#1
新京極公園 喫煙スペース
Shinkyogoku Park Smoking Space
This outdoor public smoking area is located inside **Shinkyogoku Park**, tucked away just off the busy **Shinkyogoku Shopping Street** and **Teramachi Street**. It is a partitioned open-air space situated right behind the famous **Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine** and near the **Kawaramachi OPA** department store. As one of the few legal outdoor spaces in Kyoto's central shopping district, it is highly popular and accessible 24/7.
📍 京都府京都市中京区中之町５３８
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#2
ブラジル喫煙所
Brazil Smoking Area
This outdoor public smoking area is located near the **Takano** neighborhood in Kyoto's northeast Sakyo Ward. Positioned close to the scenic **Takano River** and the **Takano Bridge**, this spot is a helpful stop for those exploring the quieter residential areas or traveling toward **Ichijoji**. It is open 24/7, providing a legal space to smoke in an area with very few public facilities.
📍 パル高
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#3
空が見える喫煙所(伊勢丹4F 出口)
Sky-View Smoking Area (Isetan 4F Exit)
This outdoor smoking terrace is located on the 4th floor of the **Kyoto Station Building**, directly accessible through the **JR Kyoto Isetan** 4th-floor exit. Situated right next to the spacious **Muromachi-koji Plaza**, it is an open-air area that allows you to smoke while enjoying a view of the sky and the impressive station architecture. It is an ideal spot for a quick break before boarding a Shinkansen or after shopping.
📍 〒600-8215 京都府京都市下京区
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#4
ホテル淀キャッスルインフロント前喫煙所
Hotel Yodo Castle Inn Front Smoking Area
This convenient outdoor smoking spot is situated near the ground-floor entrance of the **Yodo Castle Inn** in Fushimi Ward. Located a short 3-minute walk from the Keihan Line's **Yodo Station** (Exit 4), it provides an easily accessible open-air terrace space with ashtrays. It is highly practical for travelers staying in the southern Kyoto area or visiting the nearby **Kyoto Racecourse**.
📍 〒613-0904 京都府京都市伏見区淀池上町１４７−２４
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#5
長岡天神内喫煙所
Nagaoka Tenjin Shrine Grounds Smoking Area
This outdoor smoking spot is located on the beautiful, historic grounds of **Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine** in Nagaokakyo City, southwest of Kyoto. Set close to the scenic **Hachijo Pond**, it provides a quiet, designated space for visitors to relax amid the shrine's famous azalea gardens. It is a convenient resting spot for those walking from **Hankyu Nagaoka-Tenjin Station** or exploring the local historical sights.
📍 京都府長岡京市天神２丁目１５
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