Japan and Medications

Bringing Meds to Japan

Japan has a very different set of laws regarding the legality of various medicines, both over the counter(OTC) and prescription drugs.

In general, other than drugs on the restricted list, travelers to Japan are allowed to bring in at most 1 month’s supply of OTC and prescription drugs they personally use. Larger quantities or some controlled substance can be brought in if you ask your local Japanese embassy/consulate to see if those drugs can be brought through Japan customs, then you will need to fill out a form called Yakkan Shoumei. Click here for more information.

A few chemicals that are listed as illegal in Japan, but maybe OTC drugs in other countries - ephedrine/pseudoephedrine (some Vicks inhalers, Sudafed, Nyquil D, Dristan Cold, ...), codeine (prescription Tylenol, Paramol, Nurofen, Co-codamol, ...), moclobemide (Aurorix, Clobemix, ...), amphetamine/methamphetamine (Adderall, ...)

Here’s a list of medication which may require the application of a Yakkan Shoumei document to bring into Japan for personal use.

Advice from members: (again, these are only advice, and not necessarily the wording used by the Japanese government nor a medical professional so heed at your own risk and consult proper medical professionals and custom officials if you need a legally binding answer to your queries)

from Kathi Shea Petersen:
Medicines are classified into five categories in Japan. Your medicine may be a general, narcotic, psychotropic, stimulant medicine or a medical device. Depending on the classification, name and quantity of the medicine you may be required to apply for permission/certification which you must then show at customs when entering Japan in order to take that medicine into the country. You could be arrested or have your medicine confiscated at the airport in Japan if you bring a stimulant into Japan or you do not have the correct documentation/permission (Yakkan Shoumei or Narcotic Certificate).