Tokyo's famous tourist district, Shibuya Ward, has started enforcing an immediate fine of 2,000 yen (about 408 baht) for littering in public spaces from 1 June onward. Multilingual patrol officers have been mobilized to rigorously enforce this policy, aiming to solve the problem of excessive trash amid the "tourist overflow" crisis.
Starting Monday, 1 June, Shibuya Ward in Tokyo, Japan, has begun enforcing a revised regulation to create a "clean Shibuya." The rule imposes a 2,000 yen fine (approximately 408 baht) on those caught littering in public areas. Patrol officers have the authority to issue fines and collect payment immediately at the violation site.
For convenience and speed, authorities have added a cashless payment system, allowing offenders to pay fines via credit card or by scanning a QR Code, in addition to cash payments. This aims to ensure the effective enforcement of the measure for both Japanese residents and foreign tourists.
Shibuya authorities have increased the number of patrol officers to up to 50, spreading them across key economic districts and major train stations such as Shibuya, Harajuku, and Ebisu. These officers are multilingual, speaking English, Chinese, and Korean to clearly and fairly explain the rules to foreign visitors.
Additionally, a new regulation requires food and beverage businesses in the area to install trash bins in front of their establishments. Violations will result in fines as well. This measure targets reducing litter from people eating while walking, a primary cause of accumulated roadside trash.
Ken Hasebe, mayor of Shibuya Ward, stated, "Shibuya is an international city visited by people from around the world. While we take pride in the city's vibrancy, we also have a responsibility to protect the environment. Therefore, we have clarified the rules and ask everyone, regardless of nationality, to comply with the city's regulations."
Currently, Shibuya Ward has a resident population of about 240,000, but the daytime population is more than double that number. Especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, tourist numbers have surged to historic highs, making previous campaigns urging people to "take their trash home" less effective.
Japan faces severe problems with accumulated trash in tourist areas after reopening its borders to international visitors, reaching 42.7 million in 2025. However, surveys show that over 20% of foreign tourists view "difficulty finding public trash bins" as their top inconvenience when visiting Japan.
Public trash bins in Japan have been removed in large numbers since past terrorist incidents for security reasons. This public fine measure represents the local government's latest effort to maintain order under the campaign slogan "If you throw trash, you lose cash," reminding careless individuals to think before damaging the appearance of this iconic Japanese capital city.