It really depends where you go but for the most part smoking is
still permitted. Some offices and restaurants forbid it entirely or
have a designated spot. It's illegal to throw away your cigarette
butt which is why smokers will carry portable ash
trays.[br][br]Smoking is no longer the popular thing, and there are
plenty whom are adopting e-cigs which is good I suppose. Kids are
smoking less and less which means that there's a transition phase
between the smoking generation and the non-smokers. You'll still
see teens smoke from time to time and some wards probably don't
allow it or only allow it at certain locations like in Tokyo.
[br][br]Wikipedia says[br][quote]In 2015, the adult smoking rate
was 19.3%, 29.7% of Japanese men and 9.7% of Japanese
women.[/quote][br][br]Which is a record low and it's been 2-years
since and e-cigs seemed to have taken off since then. I'm not sure
what the percentages really mean but[br][br][quote]Starbucks is one
of the few service industry companies in Japan that bans smoking
inside all of its stores[15] but allows smoking and provides
ashtrays in the outside seating areas at most stores in Osaka.
McDonald's Japan plans to ban smoking at some of its stores
following renovations,[15] and has banned smoking at its 298
restaurants in Kanagawa prefecture since 1 March 2010.[16] Kentucky
Fried Chicken banned smoking at one branch in Shibuya, Tokyo in
July 2010.[15][/quote][br][br]Smoking isn't as popular as it was
back in 1996 and it's been on a decline ever since. I wouldn't say
it's as clean as it is in dramas or in anime because it really
isn't, but you will find comfort wherever you go. The occasional
"smoke belcher" as you described them aren't terribly common but
probably more common than in the US.[br]
