In Japan, the legal drinking age is 20 years old. This means you must be at least 20 to legally purchase or consume alcohol, whether you are a local or a tourist
. The law is strictly enforced, and you will likely be asked to show valid identification, such as a passport or residence card, if you appear younger than 20
. Although the legal age of adulthood was lowered to 18 in 2022 for certain rights like voting and signing contracts, the drinking age remains at 20 due to health and social concerns
. Drinking alcohol under the age of 20 is illegal, and there are penalties for both minors and those who provide alcohol to them
. In summary, you must be 20 years old to drink alcohol legally in Japan.
