Yes, you can smoke at Hakodate Airport (HKD), with the rules differing by product. Since 1 December 2021 Hakodate has been Japan’s first cigarette-smoke-free airport: its six indoor rooms are heated-tobacco only (加熱式専用), for IQOS, glo and Ploom. Conventional cigarettes are allowed only at one outdoor area on the 1st-floor west plaza, landside between the two terminals. Heated-tobacco users have indoor rooms both before and after security; cigarette smokers should use the outdoor west-plaza area before clearing security.
Hakodate Airport (HKD) is the main air gateway to southern Hokkaido, welcoming visitors drawn by Hakodate’s world-famous night view from Mount Hakodate, the historic Goryokaku fort, and some of Japan’s finest fresh seafood at the morning market. The airport handles domestic flights to Tokyo Haneda, Osaka, Nagoya, and Sapporo, as well as seasonal international services. With separate domestic and international terminal sections, Hakodate balances Japan’s first cigarette-smoke-free policy with six indoor heated-tobacco rooms and one outdoor cigarette area.
How Smoking Works at Hakodate Airport
Hakodate became Japan’s first cigarette-smoke-free airport on 1 December 2021. In practice that means two separate systems:
- Heated tobacco (IQOS, glo, Ploom): six enclosed indoor rooms (加熱式専用) on the landside and airside of both the domestic and international sections. Conventional cigarettes are not allowed in these rooms.
- Conventional cigarettes: one outdoor smoking area only, on the 1st-floor west plaza on the landside, between the two terminals.
The terminal is compact, so any room is a few minutes’ walk from your gate — but cigarette smokers should plan to use the outdoor west-plaza area before clearing security, as there is no cigarette option airside.
Heated-Tobacco Rooms — Landside and Airside
The indoor heated-tobacco rooms (加熱式専用) are spread across the 1st-floor arrival level, the 2nd-floor departure level, and the domestic and international departure gate areas after security. Heated-tobacco users therefore have rooms both before and after screening, including close to the boarding gates, so there is no need to leave the secure zone. Liquid e-cigarettes may also be used in these rooms.
Outdoor Cigarette Area — 1st-Floor West Plaza
Conventional cigarettes can only be smoked at the outdoor area on the 1st-floor west plaza, on the landside between the two terminals. This is the single place at the airport where cigarettes are permitted, so if you smoke cigarettes, have your last one here before you go through security — there is no cigarette smoking after the checkpoint.
Summary
| Location | Floor | Type | Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival level rooms | 1F | Landside | Heated tobacco only |
| Departure level rooms | 2F | Landside | Heated tobacco only |
| Domestic gate area room | 2F | Airside | Heated tobacco only |
| International gate area room | 2F | Airside | Heated tobacco only |
| West plaza outdoor area | 1F | Outdoor (landside) | Cigarettes |
For Japan airport smoking rules and heated-tobacco etiquette, see our Japan smoking guide.