Japanese Warning & Prohibition Signs: Kinshi, Kin’en & More (2026)
Read Japanese warning and prohibition signs — 禁止, 立入禁止, 危険, 禁煙, 喫煙所, 撮影禁止 — so you know when something is banned, dangerous, or a designated smoking area.
Japanese warning and prohibition signs are the ones that save you from fines, awkward museum exits, and lighting up on the wrong sidewalk. This guide covers kinshi, tachiiri kinshi, kiken, the Japanese no smoking sign (禁煙), designated smoking areas (喫煙所), and no photography — then funnels into our district smoking maps so you can act on what you just read (2026).
禁止
きんし · kinshi
Prohibited / forbidden
General ban word paired with an activity (smoking, entry, photos)
立入禁止
たちいりきんし · tachiiri kinshi
No entry / keep out
Construction, staff-only doors, rail tracks, shrine back areas
危険
きけん · kiken
Danger
Platform edges, wet floors, mountain trails, electrical areas
禁煙
きんえん · kin'en
No smoking
Streets, stations, restaurants, hotels, parks
喫煙所
きつえんじょ · kitsuenjo
Designated smoking area
Street booths, station plazas, building corners
撮影禁止
さつえいきんし · satsuei kinshi
No photography
Museums, temples, shops, some train cars
禁煙 vs 喫煙所 — the smoking pair
禁煙 means do not smoke here. 喫煙所 marks the legal booth or corner. In much of central Tokyo, street smoking outside those spots can mean a fine. Once you can read the pair, jump straight into the district guides:
FAQ
What does kinshi mean in Japanese?
Prohibited / forbidden — usually paired with another word.
What does a Japanese no smoking sign say?
禁煙. A 喫煙所 is where smoking is allowed.
What is the difference between 禁煙 and 喫煙所?
No smoking vs designated smoking area.
What does 立入禁止 mean?
No entry / keep out.
What does 撮影禁止 mean?
No photography.
For more guides, see Japanese signs & words for tourists, smoking areas hub, and yen & price signs.
Tags: japanese signs tokyo travel tips tourist guide japan
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