A year-around ban on street drinking near Tokyo’s Shibuya Station comes into effect on Tuesday.
Street drinking by young people and foreign nationals has become widespread in the area since Japan’s government downgraded COVID-19 to the same category as seasonal influenza in 2023. Locals complain of drinking-related problems and piles of litter left by revelers.
Shibuya Ward adopted an ordinance in 2019 to ban street drinking for the Halloween period as well as year-end and New Year holidays. Faced with growing problems, however, Shibuya revised the ordinance in June to make the restrictions effective all year round.
Under the revised ordinance, which takes effect on Tuesday, drinking in streets and public places will be prohibited from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning.
The no-drinking zone is expanded to include an area around the ward’s office and an eastern section of Miyashita Park. There are no penalties for offenders.
This makes Shibuya the first municipality in Japan to put into effect an ordinance banning street drinking in urban areas all year round. Shibuya Ward officials say they will make best use of it to curb drinking on streets.