As a former staff of a vape store in Tokyo,
I have had many foreigners come up to me
asking various questions about the
Japanese
vaping culture, the laws, and products made
in Japan. So I will be
using the most asked
questions as the basis for this article.
Is vaping legal?
Vaping is in fact legal, however you might
be
asked to put away your vape in some
establishments (even restaurants and
bars where
regular smoking is allowed) if your device makes
big clouds, since
it is considered a bother to other
customers.
Vaping on the streets is not illegal, but
you might
get some icy stares if you do it, especially from the
older
generations. It is generally better to use the
smoking areas.
Selling nicotine e-juice is illegal. What
this means,
is that you can have your own nicotine e-juice with
you, but you will
not be able to buy any in Japan.
Liquid nicotine found in e-juice is considered
a
pharmaceutical substance, so only certified
pharmacists can sell it.
If you live in Japan and want to get some
nicotine
e-juice, you can order it online from overseas. The
legal limit of
import is 120 ml of liquid per month
per person.
Is vaping popular?
Although not as popular as it is overseas,
vaping
has been steadily becoming more popular in Japan.
However, non-combustible
heat cigarettes like IQOS
(Phillip Morris International) and vaping pens using
tobacco capsules like Ploom Tech (Japan Tobacco)
are more well-known and used widely in the country.
Can I bring my device on a plane?
When traveling, keep your device in your carry-on,
and put it separately on the tray with electronics when
going through customs.
Keep your e-juice in small
bottles in a see-through plastic bag. Be sure that
your
batteries are not exposed.
One other thing to keep in mind is the variety
of rules
in the airports of your connecting flights. I have had a
friend bring
his e-cigarette with no problems to Japan
only to have it taken away at an
airport in Singapore.
So be sure to check out the regulations of all the
connecting airports.
Where can I get a vape device made in Japan?
Even though vaping is gaining popularity,
there are not
many companies that make the devices. And the ones
that are
actually being made, are mostly pen types and
not too popular. If you are
interested, you can check out
the Yokozuna starter kit or Nosmo pen.
What flavor of e-juice is the most popular
in Japan?
What are the recommended brands of Japanese e-juice?
In Japan, as in many other Asian countries,
fruity menthol
flavors are the most popular. On the other hand, if you are
looking for good pastry flavors, you might be out of luck.
The biggest Japanese e-juice brands are the
Kamikaze
e-juice and Bi-So. Brands like MK Vape, Ninja Workz,
Fusion Juice or Haight are also popular. Some e-juice will
have vitamins or caffeine in them.
I would recommend checking out these
e-liquids
(in no particular order):

Mega Muscat by Snowfreaks
(sister company of Kamikaze).
White grape and menthol flavor. Although not particularly
special in theory, this flavor is one of the best-selling
Japanese e-juice.

Nagomi series by Bi-So. Perfect
if you are looking for
traditional Japanese flavors. The lineup consists of
Sakura Tea, Matcha Café Latte (Japanese green tea latte),
and Dorayaki (bean jam pancake) flavors.

Niku Yasai Itame (meat &
vegetable stir-fry) by Bi-So.
This is more of a gag gift. Once put in an
atomizer, the
slight flavor will remain there forever. Also in the lineup
is the Italian Pizza flavor.

Koi-Koi series by MK Vape. If
you are looking for sweet
vapes, this might be your best bet. Vanilla based
flavors
with melon, dragon fruit, coffee & chocolate, and apple
&
caramel. Additionally, the design of the package is
very beautiful as well.

Mango Cream by Ninja Workz. A
creamy mango flavor,
but not too sweet.

Kishu Ume by Fusion Juice. If
you like Japanese plum
wine, you will love this flavor. You might also want to
check out Kyoto Matcha from the same company - the
most true to the original Japanese green tea flavor.
A small (10-15 ml) bottle of e-juice costs
around
1,000 Yen plus tax (around 9 USD), while the bigger
ones are around 3,000 Yen.
Some vape shops in Tokyo
There are quite a few vape shops in Tokyo,
particularly
in Shibuya and Shinjuku areas. They are easy to spot
by the sign 「電子タバコ専門店」(electronic cigarette store).
Some stores have foreign staff members
and/or English
speaking Japanese staff.

Vape Studio
Shops in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro,
Yurakucho, Ginza,
Akasaka, Kichijoji, Kanda, Machida, Ueno and more!
Vaping Ape Tokyo
Shops in Shibuya and Koenji
Beyond Vape Japan
Shop in Harajuku
Vape House
Shops in Kinshicho, Harajuku, Shibuya and more!
Samurai Vapors
Shop in Ueno
Vape Treasure
Shop in Akihabara
Vape Store M5+
Shop in Shimokitazawa
3 PCS Vape
Shop in Shinjuku
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