Did you know that you can get fined ¥1,000 for smoking on Midosuji?

In Osaka city, a city ordinance designated Midosuji Avenue between Umeda and Namba as a no-smoking zone from 2007.
A no-smoking zone on the street means you cannot smoke while walking or standing on the sidewalk, use a portable ashtray, nor smoke while on a bicycle or any motorized two-wheeled vehicle.

If the police catches you smoking in a no-smoking zone, you will be fined ¥1,000 on the spot.

The sidewalks in no-smoking zones have signs and stickers indicating that it is a no-smoking zone.

The exact no-smoking zones are indicated on a map at Osaka city’s website: http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/contents/wdu150/akanzukin/kinshichiku.html
The map also shows smoking areas provided by the city in the no-smoking zones.
The map includes explanatory notes in Japanese, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Korean, and English. If you are a smoker, please check this map before visiting Osaka.

Also, the city is now in talks with the local people around JR Kyobashi Station in Miyakojima Ward in preparation to designate the area around the station as a no-smoking zone from February 2014.

If you smoke in Osaka, be aware of no-smoking zones!