Osaka, Japan Will Build Over 300 Smoking Stations For A Comprehensive Smoking Ban At The 25th World Expo

Osaka, Japan will build over 300 smoking stations for a comprehensive smoking ban at the 25th World Expo

Osaka City, Japan has launched a comprehensive smoking ban in preparation for the 2025 World Expo. Violators will be fined $6.5, and it is expected that the number of smoking stations will increase to about 300.

According to The Mainichi on November 12th, Hideyuki Yokoyama, the mayor of Osaka, Japan, announced at a special audit committee meeting of the city council that Osaka will launch a city wide street smoking ban on January 27, 2025, in preparation for the World Expo that will open in April.

The Osaka City Government issued a street smoking ban regulation as early as 2007, which designated six areas including the JR Osaka Station area and busy tourist attractions as non-smoking zones. For violators, the municipal government will impose a fine of 1000 yen (approximately 6.5 US dollars). In March of this year, the city council passed a revised regulation to expand smoke-free areas throughout the city.

The municipal government expects to ensure that there are over 140 smoking stations by constructing and renovating existing ones when the revised regulations come into effect. By the time the World Expo opens, the number of smoking stations is expected to increase to about 300.

We will strengthen the publicity and guidance system, actively share relevant information, and promote the improvement of the environment suitable for international tourism cities