SmokeFreeJapan.com

I was riding the Yamanote line yesterday and saw a very nice ad on the train’s video screen about how, starting next month all the trains platforms on the line will be smoke free… kind of.

Right now they have “Smoking Zones” on each platform with two times of the day marked as “No Smoking”. These zones are ineffective as, as everyone knows, train platforms are outside and there’s a little thing called wind outside.

I can’t tell you my constant frustration every morning on my way to work at Takadanobaba station, standing 100 metres downwind from the “Smoking Zone” and still getting the full blast of the smokers. Shibuya station is more of a joke with the “Smoking Zone” being right behind the main stairs leading to the massive Hachiko exit.

Luckily, JR has decided, in 2007 to install large fish-tanks for smokers to stand in so their smoke won’t annoy other passengers. The fish-tanks will have air vacuums to vent the smoke out of the fish-tanks. I swear to God though, if it’s vented onto the platform I think my head will implode.

According to this report the largest named group of complaints given to the JR company from passengers concerns smokers. Whether these complaints were about the ineffective “Smoking Zones” or about people smoking in non smoking parts of the platform is unknown. It stands to reason though that these fish-tanks are a response to public pressure to offer a healthier travel service.

Now if only JR would place an occupancy limit on their carriages.

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Name: Proud Cafe
Type: Cafe
Station: Futako Tamagawa

Location: Turn left as you exit the ticket gates and turn left again as you walk out of the station. Head towards the river, along the main road and then cross to the other side. You should see a very tall, new apartment building called “Proud Towers”. On the ground floor is the Proud Cafe.

Info: Currently no contact resources available.

Just an eight minute train ride from Shibuya on the Tokyu Denentoshi Line is the area known as Futako Tamagawa, a rather expensive river side shopping area with some very pretentious shops and restaurants for those looking to treat themselves or simply window shop.

Unfortunately, with the exception of the rather nice Starbucks in Takeshimaya next to a beautiful rooftop garden in the same building, every eatery in the area seems to be very much pro smoking.

Luckily, one day on a walk down to the river I noticed this nice cafe on the ground floor of Proud Towers and gave it a go. Not only was it 100% smoke free, but it offered several organic coffee options as well as some lunch alternatives such as hot dogs and croissants.

The two guys running the place are friendly and more importantly, not too friendly like most Japanese businesses. The menus are in English (sometimes humorously so) and the surroundings quiet. Almost every time I’ve been here, I’ve been the only customer which is quite strange considering how busy the area is, but hey, I’m not going to complain.

Proud Cafe also has a take out option which is something to think about when reminded that the cafe is literally across the road from a rather tranquil river. The only bad point I could think of is that the cafe allows pets inside with the customers. If you’ve got an allergy to dogs or cats this may be a problem, but as I mentioned before the business is almost always empty so it shouldn’t be an issue 90% of the time.

Proud Cafe is a surprising find. Check it out.

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Name: Ootoya
Type: Japanese Style Restaurant Chain

Location: The Ootoya restaurant chain has heaps of restaurants in almost every major area of Japan making it very easy to find when you want to. A lot of places, such as Shibuya for example have two.

Info: Web Site, E: Email Form

After seeing these Ootoya signs all over Tokyo for my first two years in Japan, I still had no idea exactly what kind of restaurant they were or even if they were non smoking, but after being introduced to Ootoya by a friend of mine, I’ve never looked back.

Ootoya is a very wide spread restaurant chain that has branches all over Japan. They’re all 100% smoke free and offer some of the freshest modern Japanese food I’ve seen here. Most “sets” they serve come with the main dish, pickles, rice and the best miso soup you’ll ever taste. I’ve actually found myself on several occasions going to Ootoya just for the complimentary miso soup, it’s that good!

The interiors are always well designed and the staff friendly. Ordering is very easy but unusual as you order and pay for your meal before you sit down. Which I guess is good if you’re in a rush as you can run as soon as you finish eating. Note that one of the branches in Shibuya (near my favourite comic book shop, Blister) requires you to sit down and order old school restaurant style. This branch seems to be the exception though.

Ootoya is a very nice surprise for a first timer and one that I guarantee you’ll come back to again and again once you try it.

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Name: No Smoking Bar Musicman
Type: Jazz Bar
Station: Jiyugaoka

Location: Turn right after taking the main exit and cross the road. It’s on the 2F of the old shopping centre. You should be able to see it listed on the ground floor listing. The building’s across the road from the station.

Info: Web Site, Ph: 03-3725-0615.

You’ve got to give props to an establishment, especially in Japan, which advertises the fact that it’s 100% smoke free to the point that it mentions it in it’s own name.

No Smoking Bar Musicman is a tiny little jazz bar run by one of the friendliest bar owners I’ve met in Japan who despite not knowing much in the way of English was more than willing to help me an my friend navigate the drinks menu (which thankfully had some English in it) and help us feel at home.

Something that’s great about this bar is that it’s so close to the station (literally across the road) yet because it’s off the street level, you’re given a better chance of getting a seat at the bar.

This tiny gem offers a wide variety of beers and other alcohol as well as a great selection of music to listen to while you unwind (a listing of some of the owner’s collection can be seen on the website, unfortunately only in Japanese).

You may not head out to Jiyugaoka that often, I only head out there for work, but the station’s only a seven minute express train ride from Shibuya on the Toyoku Line and there is some great shopping to be had there making it well worth a trip at least once.

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Our first wave of Smoke Free merchandise is online in our brand new store!

Spread the Smoke Free word.

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Name: Bio Cafe
Type: Organic Cafe and Restaurant
Station: Shibuya

Location: Take Hachiko Exit and cross the main crossing. Keep walking with the Starbucks on your right. Keep walking away from the station. When you see HMV, walk through it to get to the block to the right of you, cross the road and keep walking down that street away from the station. Two blocks down the street you’ll see an Italian themed alley going up a hill on your right, leading off of the main road. Head up it and you’ll find Bio Cafe on your right halfway up the hill. For a map, visit here on their site.

Info: Web Site, Ph: 03-5428-3322, E: webmaster@biocafe.jp

I’ve been to the Bio cafe twice now and love it. There’s very metropolitan feel to the place yet it’s so quiet that you forget that you’re in the heart of one of Tokyo’s busiest areas.

Both time’s I’ve been here I’ve had to wait (the cost of visiting a popular cafe I guess) but the wait has never been more than 10 minutes. I asked the waitress about throwing a party here on the following weekend but she said that they’re booked solid so if you’re planning to use them for an event, make sure to book several weeks in advance.

The Bio Cafe offers a wide range of superbly made dishes, all of them being organic. From pasta dishes to salads, cheesecakes and quiches I loved almost everything me and my friends tasted. The drinks are also worth trying with a huge variety in organic fruit blends, coffees, teas and alcohol this establishment is prepared for any kind of social meal you and your friends are up for.

It’s also a nice place to relax by yourself with the place being staffed with the ever rare Japanese waitress, the kind that doesn’t yell, scream and screech when all you want is peace and quiet and a chance to unwind.

Menus are in Japanese and English (though I found when we had a Japanese friend with us they didn’t give us the English menu and when it was just me and my Aussie pal they gave us the English option by default). In short you may have to ask for it. The English isn’t perfect (actually quite funny in places) but it’s completely functional and at least they tried.

The prices are on par with Starbucks but with a better environment and selection making this little secret well worth checking out at least once and maybe again, and again and again.

Can’t recommend this place enough.

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As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve finally begun that makeover of SmokeFreeJapan.com that I promised so long ago that will completely revitalise the site and your dining experiences.

Right now I’m in the middle of reorganising all of the listings and categorising them. Don’t like the blue layout? Don’t worry, it’s only temporary. The real one will look a lot better and sport some really cool features such as our own online community page.

To stay in the know, subscribe to our site feed and stick with us. People like us living in Japan deserve a good quality website and I’ll try my hardest to make that happen.

Happy Breathing!

Name: Tea Room Ayamon - Since 1983
Type: Tea House
Station: Shuri Monorail Station
Location: Get off at Shuri Monorail Station in Naha City and walk down Ryutan Dori towards Shurijo Castle. It’s opposite the Post Office on the way. About a 4 minute walk.

Name: Nisa Bula
Type: Mixed Restaurant
Station: Shuri Monorail Station
Location: Right on the corner of Ryutan Dori where you turn off for the Shurijo Castle, opposite the Family Mart. Walk from Shuri Monorail Station.

Name: Sushi Kei
Type: Sushi
Contact: PH: 03-5685-0933.
Station: Nezu
Location: Nezu 2-16-2, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0031. Hours: 11:30 -14:00 and 17:00 - 22:30.