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Expected to come into effect in October, the ordinance will ban people from drinking on the streets or in public places in Shibuya between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily. Currently, the legal drinking age in Japan is 20.
As a ward within Tokyo, Shibuya can set its own rules. The alcohol ban comes after a recent surge in partying in the area, after neighboring Shibuya Ward called on residents to refrain from gathering and partying in the popular Scramble Crossing area near Shibuya Station.
In Shinjuku district, authorities said the purpose of the ban was to prevent overcrowding and to clear mountains of rubbish from the streets.
The crowded place is where the country's youth gather.
Locals don't seem surprised by the news. Shibuya banned Halloween-related activities in the fall of 2023, and much of the blame for alcohol-related violence was on the rise. The order also prohibits drinking outside bars and restaurants. Mayor Hasebe said local businesses have supported the regulations.
“Damage caused by overtourism has become serious, especially property damage caused by drunken people, and tourists often get into fights with locals or leave large amounts of empty cans and bottles,” the city said in October last year.
Shinjuku is overloaded with tourists due to the large number of visitors.
Shibuya is a top tourist destination with many famous attractions such as Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park and crowded, bustling neighborhoods.
Japan has struggled to cope with overtourism since fully reopening after the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than three million tourists visiting the country in April and May this year.
Educating tourists about local culture is an important solution to limit problems arising in the context of the influx of international tourists.
