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Litterbugs now face on-the-spot fines in Tokyo's tourist hotspot

  • Shibuya will issue on-the-spot 2,000 yen fines for littering (payable by cash, card or QR), backed by up to 50 patrol officers and the slogan “if you throw trash, you lose cash.”
  • Authorities can also fine food/beverage shops that don’t install bins — public rubbish bins are scarce in Japan partly for safety reasons, and many tourists say the lack of bins is a major annoyance.
  • Japan saw a record 42.7 million visitors in 2025, straining local areas (eg, Fujiyoshida canceled its cherry-blossom festival) and prompting measures like higher tourist taxes and crowd-control apps.
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