For smokers, the most pressing concern isn’t their health.
It’s not even the ever-rising price of cigarettes.
It’s something far more basic:
Finding a legal place to smoke.
In Japan, smoking areas have been disappearing year after year.
In some cities, lighting up outside of designated zones isn’t just frowned upon—it can actually get you fined.
Now, if you’re in your hometown, that’s one thing.
But if you’re traveling in Japan with no tools at hand, trying to find a smoking spot or a smoke-friendly facility can feel about as easy as finding your hotel room—after ten shots of whisky, and without the room number written down.
This article is based on firsthand testing of the main tools used to find smoking areas in Japan.
And here’s the truth: most of them either don’t work well, or are inaccessible to travelers.
In the end, only one method is reliable—and we’ll show you exactly how to use it.

1. Comparing 4 Smoking Area Finder Tools in Japan
If you’re trying to locate a smoking area in Japan, there are four websites and apps that people often try to use—but not all of them are actually helpful.
There are, of course, other lesser-known apps out there, but due to concerns about reliability and lack of regular updates, we’ve excluded them here.
Some local governments also publish their own smoking area maps, but these are typically limited to one city or district, making them impractical for travelers moving around the country.
1-1. What You Should Know About Smoking in Japan
- Public smoking areas do exist—typically near train stations or tucked away in commercial zones.
These spots are usually your best bet for finding a legal, free place to smoke quickly.
However, “near the station” can still mean a five-minute walk, and without knowing the exact location, they’re easy to miss. - Japan draws a strict line between combustible cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Even if a spot is labeled “smoking area,” it may allow only heated tobacco—and traditional cigarettes may be banned.
If you smoke regular cigarettes, always check what kind of smoking is actually permitted.
1-2. The 4 Tools We Compared
There are four major tools used to search for smoking areas in Japan.
Each has different strengths, weaknesses, and levels of reliability.
- ① CLUB JT (Web version)
This is an official smoking area map provided by Japan Tobacco (JT), the country’s former tobacco monopoly.
There is also a mobile app, but it’s notoriously clunky—so we strongly recommend using the web version instead. - ② Smoking Area Share Map
A user-generated mobile app developed by a private company.
It covers smoking areas all across Japan and offers a high volume of location data. - ③ Japan Smoking Area
A privately developed app with an English interface.
It used to be a go-to choice for foreign travelers, though its reliability has recently declined. - ④ Doko?
A multifunctional app that also helps users find public toilets and trash bins.
It has a fully English-friendly interface and tends to be a popular first choice among international visitors—though not necessarily the most accurate.
1-3. Side-by-Side Comparison: Which Ones Actually Work?
We tested each tool based on real-world conditions that matter to smokers traveling in Japan.
While a few options may look promising at first glance, most fail in practice due to poor data, limited access, or clunky design.
In the end, only one method delivers consistent, reliable results.
Criteria / Tool Name | CLUB JT (Web) | Smoking Area Share Map | Japan Smoking Area | Doko? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Overall Rating | ◎ Most reliable | ✕ Not usable in practice | ✕ Not usable in practice | △ Usable, but has notable limitations |
Public smoking areas only? | ◯ Mostly public, some user-submitted | ✕ Mixed with restaurants / unclear locations | △ Mostly public, but not confirmed | ✕ Mixed / no clear categories |
Cigarette type distinction | ◯ Sometimes indicated | △ Usually unclear | △ Unclear | ✕ Not distinguished at all |
Information accuracy | ◎ High (official source) | △ Some inaccuracies observed | ✕ Unreliable / download often fails | △ Some inaccuracies observed |
Map usability | ◎ Simple and clean | △ Cluttered and confusing | △ Basic but buggy | △ Functional but slightly clunky |
English interface | ✕ Japanese only | ✕ Japanese only | ◎ Full English UI | ◎ Full English UI |
No installation needed | ◎ Web-based | ✕ App only / region locked | ✕ App only | ✕ App only |
Cost / Ads | ◎ Free, no ads | ◯ Free with ads | △ Ads and in-app purchases | ◯ Free with ads |
Other notes | Official JT source / stable | Japan-only release / often fails to install | Occasional instability reported despite updates | English-friendly, but map precision varies |
1-4. Conclusion
In the end, the only practically reliable tool for travelers is the CLUB JT (Web Version).
This is Japan Tobacco’s official smoking area map. While the interface is in Japanese only, the layout is simple, and with basic guidance, even non-Japanese speakers can navigate it effectively. It’s also web-based—meaning no installation is required—which makes it especially convenient for short-term visitors.
The Smoking Area Share Map app offers broad coverage across Japan and contains a large number of smoking spot entries. However, it’s available only in Japanese and is restricted to Japan-based app stores, meaning that many foreign users won’t be able to install it at all.
That said, for those who can install the app (e.g., those using a Japanese app store account), it’s a highly useful option. We’ve included a step-by-step guide in the next section for such users.
Japan Smoking Area, while technically still being updated, has ongoing issues with downloads and app stability. In our own testing, we couldn’t get it to run at all. Until these issues are resolved, we can’t confidently recommend it for use during travel.
As for Doko?, it offers a full English interface and a wide range of features. However, the accuracy of its smoking area data is questionable, and there’s no clear distinction between heated tobacco and traditional cigarettes—a critical factor in Japan.
If you absolutely need an English-language tool, it may work as a last-resort fallback, but it’s not reliable enough to be your primary solution.
2. How to Use These Tools (Mobile)
2-1. CLUB JT (Web Version): Step-by-Step
🟩 Step 1: Access the Official Website
Action:
Open the site below in your smartphone browser (no installation required):
https://www.clubjt.jp/map/
(Japanese only, age verification required, no nstallation needed)
🟩 Step 2: Age Verification
Japanese label: 『はい(進む)』
English equivalent: Yes (Proceed)
Action:
Tap to confirm you are 20 years or older.

🟩 Step 3: Location Access
Japanese label: 『閉じる』
English equivalent: Close
Action:
If prompted, allow location access. Then tap “Proceed”.

🟩 Step 4: Skip Coupon Page
Japanese label: 『スキップ』
English equivalent: Skip
Action:
If a coupon screen appears, just tap “Skip” to continue.

🟩 Step 5: Tap the Search Button
Japanese label: 『検索』
English equivalent: Search
Action:
Tap the search button on the home screen.

🟩 Step 6: Enter Search Keywords
Action:
Type a station name, area, or major facility name in the top search bar.
Tip: Many major locations can be searched in English.

🟩 Step 7: Choose Spot Type
Japanese label: 『スポットの種類』 → 『一般喫煙所』
English equivalent: Spot Type → General Smoking Area
Action:
Select “General Smoking Area” as the type of place you’re looking for.

🟩 Step 8: Select Tobacco Type
Japanese labels:
- 『紙巻きたばこ』(Left) → Combustible Cigarettes
- 『加熱式たばこ』(Right) → Heated Tobacco Products
Action:
Choose the type of tobacco you use.

🟩 Step 9: Apply Your Filters
Japanese label: 『適用』
English equivalent: Apply
Action:
Tap “Apply” at the bottom of the screen.

🟩 Step 10: View the Map
Action:
Pins will appear on the map.

Tap any pin to view details about the smoking area.

If the detail screen shows the Japanese text
『ここでは喫煙できない可能性があります 情報を表示』
(“Smoking may not be allowed here — View info”),
it means the location was submitted by a general user.
Please note that this is not official information and may not be fully accurate.

2-2. Smoking Area Share Map: Step-by-Step
Note: This app is available only in Japanese, and cannot be downloaded on devices not registered to a Japanese app store.
If you’re using a Japanese app store account and can install the app, the guide below will show you how to use it effectively.
🟦 Step 1: Download the App
Action:
Install the app on your smartphone.
🟦 Step 2: Launch the App and Allow Location Access
Japanese label: 『位置情報の使用を許可しますか?』
English: “Allow Location Access?”
Action:
When prompted, allow the app to access your device’s location so it can show nearby smoking areas.

🟦 Step 3: Accept Terms and Conditions
Japanese label: 『同意する』
English: Accept
Action:
Terms and conditions will appear. Tap “同意する” to proceed.

🟦 Step 4: Handle Permissions (Optional)
Japanese label: 『通知を許可』『トラッキングの許可』など
English: “Allow Notifications,” “Allow Tracking,” etc.
Action:
You may see prompts for notifications or tracking. Choose according to your preferences.

🟦 Step 5: Close the Registration Prompt
Japanese label: 『閉じる』
English: Close
Action:
You may be asked to register a new smoking spot. Tap “閉じる” to skip this step.

🟦 Step 6: View the Map
Action:
The main map will appear, centered on your current location. Smoking spots are marked with icons.

🟦 Step 7: Search for a Location (Optional)
Japanese label: 『検索』
English: Search
Action:
Tap the search bar and enter a place name (e.g., station, area).
Tip: You can use Romanized names, but the search accuracy is limited.

3. Final Thoughts
Let’s face it—being a smoker is getting harder with each passing year.
In Japan too, places where you could once smoke freely have steadily disappeared, replaced by “No Smoking” signs.
And yet—
The right to enjoy a cigarette without bothering others, in designated spaces, still remains.
As this article has shown, smoking areas in Japan do exist—if you know where to look.
And while the tools for finding them are limited, they haven’t vanished.
That one smoke break during your trip can be a small but meaningful moment of pause.
Whether at home or abroad, you can still enjoy a clean and considerate smoking life—
All you need is a good map and good manners. Now take that break—you’ve earned it.