Drinking age in Japan: 20 (はたち, hatachi)
The legal drinking age in Japan is 20. The same age applies to smoking, and Japan kept it at 20 when it lowered the age of adulthood to 18 in April 2022.
The law is about age, so it applies to visitors too. The word for twenty years old is はたち (hatachi, “20 years old”).
Facts on this page last checked on 2026-10-02.Adult at 18, drinking at 20: what changed in 2022
From 1 April 2022, Japan's Civil Code sets the age of majority at 18, down from 20. The Ministry of Justice says the minimum age to marry is now 18 for both men and women. At 18 you can also sign contracts on your own, without a parent's consent, and vote (the voting age fell to 18 in 2016).
A few things were deliberately left at 20:
- Drinking alcohol. Shops and bars may not sell or serve it to anyone under 20.
- Smoking.
- Public racing bets: horse, bicycle, auto and boat racing.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare says these limits stay at 20 because of health concerns and the aim of preventing gambling addiction.
The 1922 law was called 未成年者飲酒禁止法, and 未成年 (みせいねん, miseinen, “minority (i.e. being under age)”) means being under the age of majority. An 18-year-old is no longer a minor in that sense, and in 2022 the law was retitled: 二十歳未満ノ者ノ飲酒ノ禁止ニ関スル法律.
Who is punished
Under that law, a seller who knowingly sells alcohol to a person under 20 can be fined up to 500,000 yen, and sellers must check age. Parents who know and don't stop it can get a small fine (科料). The law sets no criminal penalty for the young drinker.
Bars, clubs and ID: can you go out at 18 or 19?
You can't drink at a bar or club at 18 or 19. Tokyo clubs normally limit late-night events to guests aged 20 or over. Whether an 居酒屋 (いざかや, izakaya, “izakaya”) lets under-20s sit down with a soft drink depends on the place, so ask. For a visitor a passport is the most useful ID: carry the original, not a copy.
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| お酒 | おさけ | osake | alcohol; sake | The everyday word for alcohol, and for sake |
| 身分証明書 | みぶんしょうめいしょ | mibunshōmeisho | identification papers; piece of identification; identity document | ID: what you may be asked to show |
| タバコ | タバコ | tabako | tobacco; cigarette; cigar | Tobacco, cigarettes: also 20 or over |
Coming of Age Day: 成人の日
成人の日 (せいじんのひ, seijinnohi, “Coming of Age Day (national holiday”) is a national holiday on the second Monday of January. It began in 1948 and, by law, celebrates young people who have become adults. Most towns still hold their ceremonies for people turning 20, and many call them 二十歳の集い (hatachi no tsudoi), a gathering of 20-year-olds.
Cheers in Japanese: 乾杯 (kanpai), and asking someone's age
The word for cheers is 乾杯 (かんぱい, kanpai, “cheers”), and you can say it with a soft drink at any age. Wait until everyone has a drink in hand, say it together, and don't drink before the toast. Non-drinkers often toast with tea.
To ask someone's age, the word to know is 何歳 (なんさい, nansai, “how old”). Asking an adult stranger can sound direct, so many people wait until they know someone. The answers, and the special word for twenty, are in Counting People and Saying Your Age in Japanese. For birthdays, see Dates in Japanese and Happy Birthday in Japanese.
Practise saying your age
Ages in Japanese, including はたち, in a two-minute quiz.
Questions about the drinking age in Japan
What is the legal drinking age in Japan?
The legal drinking age in Japan is 20. The age of adulthood is 18, but drinking, smoking and betting on public races stay at 20.
Can you go to a bar at 18 in Japan?
You can't legally drink at 18, so a bar should not serve you. Some food places may seat under-20s for soft drinks, but that is up to the venue.
Can I go clubbing at 19 in Japan?
Usually not: Tokyo clubs normally restrict late-night events to guests aged 20 or over, so a 19-year-old will often be turned away.
Does Japan ID you for alcohol?
Often, yes, in bars and clubs. Sellers must check age, and a passport is the most useful ID for a visitor.
What can you do at 18 in Japan?
At 18 you can marry, vote and sign contracts without a parent's consent. You still can't drink, smoke or bet on public races.
Is Japan 18+ or 21+?
The drinking age is 20, not 18 or 21; adulthood starts at 18.
Which countries have a drinking age of 13, 15 or 16?
This article covers Japan, where the age is 20. Drinking ages differ by country, so check the official rules of the country you are visiting.
Where is the youngest drinking age in the US?
The US standard is 21 across the country, because a 1984 federal law cuts highway funds from states that allow buying or public possession of alcohol under 21. Some states allow exceptions, such as a parent's consent at home.
Sources
- Readings and meanings: JMdict (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0).
- The age of majority, 18 from 1 April 2022, and the marriage age: Ministry of Justice, The Act Partially Amending the Civil Code (Related to Age of Majority).
- Drinking, smoking and racing at 20, the title, penalties and age checks: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, e-health net; National Tax Agency, drinking age.
- The 1922 law and its former title: Japanese Wikipedia, 未成年者飲酒禁止法. Voting at 18: Aomori Prefecture Election Commission, voting age. Contracts at 18: Shimane Prefecture, age of majority. Tobacco and gambling: Watson, Criminal Majority in Japan.
- Coming of Age Day: Cabinet Office, national holidays; Japanese Wikipedia, 成人の日.
- Clubs: Nightlife Tokyo, Tokyo club guide. Kanpai manners: Coto Academy, What is Kanpai?; italki, Cheers in Japanese.
- The US: 23 U.S. Code 158 (govinfo.gov).
- Reviewed independently; the points about under-20s in restaurants and clubs, and 二十歳の集い are waiting for a native speaker's check. Facts on this page last checked on 2026-10-02.