Smoking in Osaka Bars:
Indoor Rules and Where You Can Smoke
In Japan, smoking indoors at restaurants and bars has been banned in principle since April 2020. A place where you can smoke must show a sign at the entrance, and people under 20 may not enter a smoking area, even if they are not smoking. At our three Korean bars in Shinsaibashi, smoking is allowed inside HEAVEN and 韓国バーMOON, while SARANG is fully non-smoking.
I am Korean, and I run these three Korean bars in Higashi-Shinsaibashi. Smoking rules differ from country to country, so before you head out at night, here is how the rules work in Japan, how to tell a smoking bar from a non-smoking one at the door, and where you can and cannot smoke at our bars.
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Japan’s indoor smoking rules: the four types of smoking room
The rules come from Japan’s revised Health Promotion Act, which aims to prevent unwanted passive smoking and came fully into force on 1 April 2020. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare sums it up as “from manners to rules”.
- At many facilities, indoor areas are non-smoking in principle.
- To smoke indoors, the facility needs a smoking room.
- A facility with a smoking room must display a sign.
There are four types of smoking room. What you can do in each one differs, as the Ministry explains:
| Type of room | Smoking | Eating and drinking | Where it can be set up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking-only room 喫煙専用室 | Allowed | Not allowed | General businesses (part of the premises) |
| Heated-tobacco-only smoking room 加熱式たばこ専用喫煙室 | Heated tobacco only | Allowed | A transitional measure (part of the premises) |
| Smoking-purpose room 喫煙目的室 | Allowed | Allowed, except staple meals | Facilities whose purpose is smoking (all or part of the premises) |
| Smoking-permitted room 喫煙可能室 | Allowed | Allowed | Existing small food and drink establishments (a transitional measure; all or part of the premises) |
Which places count as an “existing small food and drink establishment”?
The Ministry lists three conditions, all of which must be met:
- It was already operating as a restaurant or bar on 1 April 2020.
- Its capital is at or below a set level, meaning a small or medium-sized business (excluded, for example, if a large company holds half or more of its issued shares).
- Its customer seating area is 100 m² or less.
Violators may face an administrative fine. Some local governments also have their own rules on top of the national law, and Osaka Prefecture has its own ordinance on preventing passive smoking. For the details, check the official websites of Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City.
How to read the sign at the entrance
If a place has a room or area where you can smoke, it must show a sign. The signs come in four kinds, matching the four types of room above. They are written in Japanese, so here is what to look for:
| Sign (Japanese) | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 喫煙専用室あり | Has a smoking-only room |
| 加熱式たばこ専用喫煙室あり | Has a heated-tobacco-only smoking room |
| 喫煙目的室あり | Has a smoking-purpose room |
| 喫煙可能室あり | Has a smoking-permitted room |
- Under 20? Do not go in. People under 20 may not enter a smoking area at all, even if they do not plan to smoke. The rule covers employees too.
- Not sure? If you cannot find a sign or cannot tell what it means, ask the bar before you go in. At our three bars, you can ask in advance by phone or Instagram DM.
Choosing a bar, whether you smoke or not
If you smoke
Look for one of the four signs at the entrance before you sit down. If you only use heated tobacco, ask the bar whether that is allowed, as the rules differ by type of room.
If you do not smoke, or the smell bothers you
Choose a non-smoking bar. A place with no smoking sign at the entrance is the place to start, and if you want to be certain, ask the bar before you go.
If your group is mixed
When some of you smoke and some do not, a non-smoking bar is the simpler choice for the whole group. If anyone in the group is under 20, they cannot enter a smoking area, so pick a non-smoking place. Please note that none of our three bars admit guests under 20, whether they smoke or not.
Smoking at HEAVEN, 韓国バーMOON and SARANG
Our three bars are all in Higashi-Shinsaibashi 2-chome, within walking distance of Shinsaibashi and Namba stations. They are open every day from 21:00 to 05:00, with no closing day and no reservation needed. All three are bars, not Korean restaurants, and do not serve food. Each is rated 4.9 on Google Maps: HEAVEN with 2,844 reviews, 韓国バーMOON with 380 and SARANG with 678 (as of September 2026).
| Bar | Smoking | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| HEAVEN | Smoking allowed | Singing: free karaoke and darts, plus a VIP room |
| 韓国バーMOON | Smoking allowed | Sitting down to talk: shisha and lounge seats |
| SARANG | Fully non-smoking | A quiet drink, even alone: fully non-smoking, no karaoke, mostly counter seats |
If you are a smoker, HEAVEN and 韓国バーMOON are where you can smoke. 韓国バーMOON also has shisha; for details, see our guide to the shisha at 韓国バーMOON. If you prefer a smoke-free night, SARANG is a quiet, fully non-smoking bar where people who do not smoke, or who dislike the smell, can relax. Not sure which suits you? See the quick guide by purpose.
HEAVEN
Smoking allowed. Free karaoke and darts, plus a VIP room, for a night of singing.
5F Galaxy Building No.3, 2-4-19 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Open in Google MapsMOON
Smoking allowed. A Korean bar with shisha and lounge seats, for sitting down and talking.
3F LUXE Building Naka Room, 2-8-6 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Open in Google MapsSARANG
Fully non-smoking. A quiet bar with no karaoke and mostly counter seats, easy to visit alone.
Room 206, Gold Center Building, 2-8-12 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Open in Google Maps
FAQ
Q. Is every bar in Japan non-smoking?
No. Indoors is non-smoking in principle, but places with a smoking room can allow smoking there, and they must show a sign at the entrance. Check the sign, or ask the bar before you go in.
Q. Can I smoke heated tobacco anywhere?
It depends on the place. Some rooms are for heated tobacco only, and others allow all smoking. Look at the entrance sign and ask the bar to be sure.
Q. I am travelling with someone under 20. Can they come in?
People under 20 may not enter a smoking area in Japan, even without smoking. At our bars, guests under 20 cannot enter any of the three.
Q. Can I try shisha?
Yes, at 韓国バーMOON. See the shisha guide for 韓国バーMOON and shisha and hookah in Osaka.
Q. Do you have a fully non-smoking bar?
Yes. SARANG is fully non-smoking, quiet, with no karaoke and mostly counter seats, so it is easy to come alone.
Q. Do the bars serve food?
No. All three are bars, not Korean restaurants, and do not serve food. Please eat before you come.
Q. What time are they open until?
All three are open every day from 21:00 to 05:00, with no closing day and no reservation needed. Credit cards and cash are accepted, and private hire and groups are possible; please ask the bar about numbers.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “なくそう！望まない受動喫煙。” (Key points of the revised law / For restaurants and bars), viewed on 10 October 2026. For local ordinances, check the official websites of Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City. Smoking rules at our bars are as of October 2026; bar information is from Google Maps (as of September 2026).