The Chiyoda Ward Assembly in Tokyo enacted a local ordinance Monday prohibiting smoking on sidewalks in several busy areas.
The ordinance, the first of its kind in Japan, will take effect Oct. 1.
It passed the assembly with the support of all members except those in the Japanese Communist Party.
Under the ordinance, 25 percent of the ward will be designated as nonsmoking.
The areas include around JR Akihabara and Ochanomizu stations, both of which are often littered with cigarette butts.
Violations will carry fines of up to 20,000 yen.
Officials will patrol the nonsmoking areas on a daily basis, according to Chiyoda Ward officials.
The ward will also seek the cooperation of pedestrians in areas that have not been designated as nonsmoking.