‘If you throw trash, you lose cash’: Tokyo’s Shibuya ward introduces penalties for littering

Visitors caught littering in Tokyo’s famous Shibuya ward will now be fined on the spot in the amount of 2,000 Japanese yen (€10.75), Euronews reports.

The measure has been introduced as part of efforts to address the consequences of an unprecedented surge in tourism in Japan. In 2025, the country welcomed a record 42.7 million international visitors.

Amid overcrowded streets, increased alcohol consumption in public spaces, and overtourism, authorities are tightening enforcement in an attempt to balance tourism growth with the needs of local residents.

Around 50 officials will patrol different neighborhoods and issue fines, which can be paid in cash, by bank card, or via QR code.

Japan’s noticeable shortage of public trash bins is partly linked to concerns that they could be used in terrorist attacks. This has not gone unnoticed by visitors; according to a government survey conducted last year, 20% of tourists cited it as their biggest inconvenience.

The issue of litter remains a serious concern in Tokyo. In other parts of the capital, authorities are also fining food and beverage business owners who fail to provide waste bins.