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Accordingly, this order, effective in October, will prohibit people from drinking alcohol 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 an autonomous prefecture within Tokyo, Shibuya has the authority to set its own regulations. Mayor Ken Hasebe told reporters, “We’ve increased patrols and implemented other measures over the past year. But it’s difficult to control individual behavior when it comes to alcohol consumption. With the new regulations, I hope people will switch to enjoying their drinks at restaurants and bars.”
Shibuya Ward in Japan has issued a ban on drinking alcohol outdoors, in public places year-round.
Shibuya is indeed Tokyo's premier entertainment hub, with some of the world's most famously crowded streets. It's not uncommon to see young people and foreign tourists drinking alcohol. However, this has caused concern among shop owners and locals about the resulting waste from drinking.
This decision was made to minimize disruptive behavior and protect the urban environment. It represents an expansion of previous regulations that only restricted alcohol consumption to certain festive occasions.
This contradicts the idea that, in order to develop the night-time economy in tourist areas, it is necessary to open up services, especially the sale of alcoholic beverages to tourists.
This decision aims to prevent littering and noise pollution from crowds.
Local residents may not be surprised by this regulation, as Shibuya last year banned Halloween-related activities, with alcohol being cited as the main reason for the ban. Mr. Hasebe said local businesses supported last year's decision and called for the restrictions to be permanent.
Promoting local culture to tourists is a crucial solution to mitigate problems arising from the influx of international visitors.
Shibuya is home to some of the capital's most famous attractions, such as Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park, and Shibuya Crossing, arguably the busiest intersection in the world.
Many of Japan's popular tourist destinations have faced tourist overcrowding since reopening after the Covid-19 pandemic. More than 3 million tourists visited the country in April and May, with further increases expected during the summer.
