Before Monday, smoking was banned in six zones including the area around Osaka station. This has been expanded to the whole city and violators face a fine of 1,000 yen ($6.40).

Osaka has implemented a citywide ban on outdoor smoking, effective Jan. 27. The move, which prohibits smoking in streets, parks and other open public spaces, marks the first of its kind among ...

OSAKA—The Osaka municipal government will start to ban smoking on all public streeets across the city on Jan. 27 next year, Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama said Nov. 12. Yokoyama announced the starting ...

OSAKA -- As this city prepares to host Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, smoking regulations are becoming increasingly strict. A citywide ban on street smoking will take effect on Jan. 27, while some 4,000 ...