Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture Japan - looking into banning smoking on streets around some of its major tourist attractions..

January 21, 2011 - The Kyoto city government is looking into banning smoking on streets around some of its major tourist attractions, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kiyomizu Dera temple and the Gion entertainment area, municipal officials said Wednesday, January 19th.
(Japan is divided into 47 prefectures, and each is further divided into municipalities - click on map upper right - Kyoto - 22)

Directly related news brief:
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The administration of the ancient Japanese capital has proposed an advisory panel on the feasibility of expanding its nonsmoking areas from the current restriction on streets around some busy areas since June 2007 to districts around those tourist spots as well as JR Kyoto Station, they said.

After the panel gives a green light to the proposal, the city’s mayor will announce the expansion, they said. Under a Kyoto city ordinance on the street smoking ban, violators are imposed a 1,000 yen ($12.10 USD) fine.

Reference: Streets around major tourist spots in Kyoto may go nonsmoking, 2011 Kyodo News, JapanToday.com, 1/20/2011.

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