Mind Your Meds! Essential Guidelines for Traveling With Medications to Japan

If the packing plan for your upcoming Japan trip includes simply tossing your personal “meds bag” into your suitcase—you know, that handy zippered pouch containing your usual pharmaceutical smorgasbord of over-the-counter cold medicine, headache remedies, anti-inflammatory arthritis pills, sleeping aids, your various prescriptions, ADHD meds, insulin injector pens, and maybe a little recreational cannabis gummy to relieve stress—you are taking a huge risk.

Japan's drug laws are some of the strictest in the world. The Japanese, specifically the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), take the import of pharmaceuticals (and even the export of your unused meds back to your home country after your visit) very seriously. Sure, you can play Russian roulette with your chances of having your supply of meds go undetected upon entry—and no doubt many incoming travelers do—but the consequence of noncompliance with applicable regulations regarding medications are dire….and expensive.

Recently, in one widely reported case, an American woman--who says that she has never been in trouble in her life--was detained at Narita Airport when authorities discovered a personal supply of Vicodin in a random luggage check.

The active ingredient in Vicodin is hydrocodone, classified a narcotic by Japan and requiring advance permission to bring it into Japan. Lacking the permission, she was arrested and placed in isolation in a detention center for 23 days with limited access to a telephone, after which she was assessed a steep bail, in her case ¥10,000,000 (over $60,000 USD), payable in cash.

There followed multiple court dates, requiring her to hire Japanese lawyers. Between the bail, attorneys' fees, and fines, she says that the entire experience ended up costing her over $600,000 USD and wiping out her entire retirement savings. In Japan, if an individual cannot pay the fine, the court may impose additional jail time or labor as a substitute penalty.

If you travel to Japan, ensure any medications are approved for import by confirming with Japanese authorities in advance. Controlled substances without prior approval can lead to life-altering consequences.

An Obligatory Hassle: Staying Informed with “Official Resources”

Getting approval for your supplies is a multi-step process. All travelers should consult the MHLW website before departing for Japan. Do not try to get approval upon arrival.  If you do, the best case is that you will be denied entry and sent home. The worst…those 23 days in detention.

In overseeing import of pharmaceuticals, MHLW provides detailed—and often confusing —guidelines on what substances are permitted or prohibited, as well as the procedures required for approval when approval is necessary. In addition to the complexity of the approval process, regulations often change.

The most reliable and up-to-date information is available directly from the MHLW. This includes checking the FAQs and contacting the MHLW via email (yakkan@mhlw.go.jp) if you need further clarification. Avoid relying on social media or anecdotal accounts, as these often provide inaccurate or stale information.

Here We Go: Your Step-by-Step Guide

This guide is designed to help you locate the key resources, tables, and lists you’ll need. Please note that this guide is advisory only; it does not constitute legal advice, nor does it guarantee what medications you can bring into Japan. Instead, our aim is to help you find relevant information efficiently. The legwork is up to you.

 1. Check for Prohibited Substances 

The first step is to determine if your medications' active ingredients are prohibited outright in Japan.  It does not matter if they are over-the-counter or prescribed medication. Japan only focuses on the active ingredients of all medications.

Medications for allergies or ADHD, for instance, may contain ingredients that are absolutely prohibited. For example, Adderall cannot be imported into Japan, even for treatment purposes. If a substance is banned, you will not be allowed to bring it into the country, even with a prescription.

Your first order of business is to refer to this MHLW comprehensive list of Prohibited Substances. If your meds contain any Prohibited Substances, leave them home and consult your physician to see if there are any effective alternatives for treating your specific medical need. There is NO procedure for exceptions or permission.

It’s important to note that some substances—such as heroin, opium, methamphetamine, and cannabis—are entirely forbidden for personal import or export (i.e., you can’t bring ’em in and you can’t take any leftovers home with you from Japan), even if they were legally prescribed in your home country.

2. Identify Controlled Substances 

If your medication is not on the Prohibited Substances list but contains Controlled Substances, you may need to obtain advance permission in the form of an import certificate--called a Yunyu Kakunin-sho--to bring it into Japan. Controlled Substances are categorized under seven categories: Narcotics, Psychotropics, Stimulants, Stimulants' Raw Materials, Cannabis, and Opium.

Because the Controlled Substances list does not call out brand names or generic medication names, you need to know the active ingredients in your medications so that you can cross-check the active ingredients with the items on the list.  The substance category (N for Narcotics, P for Psychotropics, SRM for Stimulants' Raw Materials, etc.) will be indicated in the far-right column of the document.

To find the active ingredients, check the medication packaging or consult your pharmacist or physician.  If any of the active ingredients appear on the Controlled Substances List, you may need to apply for permission to bring the medications to Japan, and the process differs based on the categories.

What about insulin and injectables?

The guidance on injected medications and syringes is found in the Q ＆ A for those who are importing medicines into Japan, Q3. "If you import medicines with syringes for them (permissive self-injection like insulin) at the same time for less than 1 month supplies, permission or Yunyu Kakunin-sho is not required. (Regarding to efficacy and dosage) And if you import syringe only (without medicines), you need to apply for a Yunyu Kakunin-sho as medical devices even if you import 1 piece."

3. Applying for Permission (Narcotics & Stimulants' Raw Materials) 

For medications designated as "N" or "SRM" on the Controlled Substances list, travelers must apply for permission before entering Japan. This process may also include submitting an Export Application Form if you plan to leave Japan with any leftover medication.

The permission procedure involves multiple steps, so begin early and leave plenty of time to work through the process. Applications must be submitted at least 14 days before your arrival in Japan. For detailed instructions and forms, visit the MHLW application page. See screenshots below. Please check the application page directly to obtain forms and updated information.

4. Bringing Psychotropic Medications into Japan

 If your medication contains psychotropics as noted in the Controlled Substances list linked above with a "P," your next step is to verify how Japan classifies that specific psychotropic. This information can be found in the notorious Table 3 (List of Psychotropics), where psychotropics are categorized into Schedule I, II, or III. In addition to the classification, each psychotropic in Table 3 has a corresponding quantity limit listed. Please note that Table 3 is, confusingly, also referred to as “Table.”

Why The Table 3 Quantity Matters

 You are permitted to bring psychotropic medication into Japan without special permission as long as the amount you carry is equal to or less than the quantity listed in Table 3 (excluding any injectable forms). In this case, you won’t need a certificate from your doctor or prior approval from Japanese authorities under the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law.

 

Exceeding the Quantity Limit

 If, however, you need to bring an amount that exceeds the quantity listed in Table 3, you must apply for permission before entering Japan. The process for this application is outlined by the MHLW. You must provide a Certificate, with the information detailed in the screenshot below, and email it to yakkan@mhlw.go.jp.

5. What If My Medication's Active Ingredients Are Not Prohibited Or Controlled?

Many medications do not contain active ingredients that are Prohibited or Controlled Substances. For example, Loratadine, a second-generation antihistamine used to treat hay fever, allergies, and hives is not classified as a controlled or prohibited substance in Japan. It is available over the counter in many pharmacies under brand names like Claritin EX or generic equivalents.

Travelers can carry up to one-month's supply of any meds that are neither prohibited nor controlled, without requiring additional paperwork. For quantities exceeding this limit, you may need to apply for a Yunyu Kakunin-sho (import certificate).

6. Contact Information for Assistance

If you have further questions or need assistance, here are the relevant contacts based on your point of arrival:

Drugs, Quasi-drugs, Cosmetics, and Medical Devices

• For Narita International Airport and Tokyo International Airport arrivals:

  Kanto-Shin’etsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare

Phone: +81-48-740-0800

Fax : +81-48-601-1336

Email: yakkan@mhlw.go.jp

• For Kansai International Airport, Chubu Centrair, Naha Airport, and other airport arrivals:

  Kinki Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare

Phone: +81-6-6942-4096

Fax : +81-6-6942-2472

Email: kiyakuji@mhlw.go.jp 

Narcotics and Psychotropics (for all arrivals; recently updated)

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Conclusion: The wonders of Japan are absolutely worth all this hassle. Have a wonderful trip.