Visitors to one of Tokyo’s most popular tourist destinations may now face immediate fines under new anti-littering regulations. Patrolling staff fluent in English, Chinese, and Korean will enforce a penalty of £9.30 for anyone caught littering at one of the world’s busiest pedestrian crossings.
Shibuya’s Cleanliness Campaign
Japan’s bustling Shibuya ward has implemented fines for littering on streets and in parks as part of a cleanliness drive aimed at both residents and foreign visitors. Officials announced on Monday that those caught littering in the ward will be required to pay a 2,000 yen (£9.30) fine.
The penalties are part of revisions to the Ordinance for Creating a Clean Shibuya Together, introduced in April to address the growing litter problem exacerbated by a sharp increase in visitors, including international tourists. Previously, fines applied only to public smoking.
Shibuya ward is famously home to the Shibuya Crossing, a pedestrian scramble intersection that is among the busiest in Japan and the world.
Rising Littering at Tourist Hubs
Japan, known globally for its cleanliness, is experiencing a surge in littering, improper garbage disposal, and pollution at major tourist hubs such as Mount Fuji, Tokyo, and Kyoto, as it welcomes record numbers of visitors. Officials noted a rise in street drinking and littering near Shibuya and other stations.
A ward official stated that stricter measures were necessary because previous efforts, such as notices asking people to be careful and use good manners, had proven ineffective.
To enforce the new rules, the ward will increase street patrols and deploy around 50 officials, including ward employees, in the vicinity of Shibuya station. Patrol staff will include members fluent in English, Chinese, and Korean to ensure clear communication.
Violators will be asked to pay in cash on the spot, but they may also pay by card or QR code if needed.
Shibuya Crossing: A Busy Intersection
An estimated 1,000 to 2,500 people cross the intersection during peak times before the traffic light changes. Daytime foot traffic in Shibuya typically exceeds double its residential population of nearly 240,000, according to ward officials.
Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe commented: “Shibuya is an international city visited by many people in Japan and from around the world. While that vibrancy is something we take pride in, we must also fulfill our responsibility to protect the urban environment. Through this ordinance revision, we have made the rules clearer. We ask everyone who visits Shibuya, regardless of nationality, to follow the city’s rules. Shibuya will continue to make responsible choices as a city where vibrancy and order coexist.”
