Shibuya Imposes 2,000 Yen Littering Fines as Japan Grapples With 42.7 Million Tourists
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 1
Shibuya Imposes 2,000 Yen Littering Fines as Japan Grapples With 42.7 Million Tourists
7 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 1
Monday's rollout lets Shibuya Ward issue 2,000 yen on-the-spot fines for littering and open drinking in the Tokyo entertainment district, with payment accepted by cash, card or QR code.
Up to 50 officials will patrol targeted neighborhoods after authorities reported more people— including foreign tourists—drinking openly and leaving trash around Shibuya.
The ward is also fining some food and beverage operators that fail to install waste bins, even as public trash cans remain scarce in Japan because of long-running security concerns.
Japan drew a record 42.7 million foreign visitors in 2025, and the government is expanding anti-overtourism measures such as higher tourist taxes and crowd-monitoring apps as local strains spread beyond Tokyo.
With few public bins, are Japan's new littering fines unfairly targeting tourists who have no other options?
As Japan fines tourists, is its famous culture of cleanliness clashing with the reality of mass tourism?