1.
smoking seat; smoking section; smoking area seating
A designated seat or section in a restaurant, café, or other establishment where smoking is permitted. Has become increasingly rare in Japan due to anti-smoking legislation.
Composed of 喫煙 (smoking) + 席 (seat). This word was once heard constantly at Japanese restaurants and cafés, as staff would ask customers to choose between 喫煙席 and 禁煙席. Since the 2020 revision of the Health Promotion Act, indoor smoking in restaurants has been largely banned.
Common collocations
Related words
- 禁煙席: non-smoking seat
- 喫煙所: designated smoking area (outdoors or in a booth)
- 喫煙室: smoking room (enclosed indoor area)
- 分煙: separation of smoking and non-smoking areas
Cultural note
The familiar question "喫煙席と禁煙席、どちらになさいますか" was a standard greeting at Japanese restaurants for decades. With Japan's tightening anti-smoking laws, this phrase is heard less and less.