Can you drink at 18 in Tokyo?
Mia Lopez
Updated on March 12, 2026
In Japan, the legal adult age is 20. Japanese law prohibits individuals under the age of 20 to drink alcohol or smoke. Regardless of age, you must not force anyone to drink or smoke as it may cause serious health and social consequences.
Can an 18 year old drink in Japan?
Especially for people who hail from countries where drinking and smoking starts at 18, the age restrictions in Japan for buying and drinking alcohol, as well as the smoking age in Japan, may be surprising: You must be 20 years old and in possession of a valid ID (for foreigners, a residence card will do).What rights do 18 year olds have in Japan?
But the revised Civil Code raises the age at which women can get married and means all 18-year-olds will be able to wed without parental consent. They'll also be able to apply for credit cards and make loans without parental approval and, if they want, they can obtain a passport valid for 10 years.Can you drink underage in Japan?
The legal drinking age in Japan is 20. While this age differs from country by country, as long as you're over 20 years of age, you're free to drink in Japan. (Just be sure to bring your passport with you for ID.) As in many other countries, people under the legal age of 20 also cannot purchase alcohol.Are you still a minor at 18 in Japan?
What is the Legal Age of Adulthood in Japan? In 2015, Japan decided to lower the legal age of adulthood from 20 to 18 years old. But this threshold applies mainly to the right to vote. For most procedures, the legal age remains 20."All-You-Can-Drink" Adult Bar in Tokyo
Can a 30 year old date a 13 year old in Japan?
Now, after I received a quick 101 in Japanese law, it's more obvious that Japan's age of consent is left intentionally ambiguous. Under the Juvenile Obscene Acts, passed in 1947, no one over the age of 14 can have sex with 13–14 year-olds. The minimum sentence for sex with any female under the age of 13 is five-years.Do Japanese bars check ID?
Does Japan Check Id For Alcohol? If you want to buy cigarettes or alcohol, you need to be over the legal age. It is rare to see IDs at Japanese shops, restaurants, and bars. In convenience stores, you need to touch a screen to verify you're over 20 years of age to buy alcohol.What is the legal age in Tokyo?
There are some countries where you're considered of age at 18 years old, and some where the legal age is 20 or 21. In Japan, people are considered of legal age at 20. We all know that something that's legal in one country can be illegal in another.What age can you go clubbing in Japan?
Minimum ageFirstly, you will need to be 20 years old to enter most night clubs or bars in Japan. 20 is the minimum legal age to smoke or drink alcohol.