Japan Travel Medication Rules: What You Can Bring
Contents
- 1. 1. Japan travel medication rules at a glance: three routes and two checks
- 2. 2. Quantity limits for Japan travel medication, injections and devices
- 3. 3. Narcotics, psychotropics and stimulants under Japan travel medication rules
- 4. 4. Medication rules for Japan travel: OTC products and supplements
- 5. 5. Import Confirmation for Japan travel medication: who to contact and how to apply
- 6. 6. Running out of medication on a Japan trip: pharmacies, refills and mail
- 7. 7. Japan travel medication rules FAQ
You may bring medicine to Japan for your own use within the official quantity guidelines, but the amount is only one part of the check. The active ingredient may place a medicine in a restricted or prohibited category even if you carry only a small amount. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) sets the personal-import quantity guidelines, while Japan Customs explains the rules for restricted products and controlled medicines.
Start with two checks: identify the active ingredient and its category, then compare the amount with the applicable limit. Ordinary medicines within the guidelines do not require an Import Confirmation, but some categories have separate document or permission requirements. Stimulants cannot be brought into Japan for treatment, even with a prescription. See the MHLW personal-import guidance and Japan Customs’ restricted-import guidance.
Medicine brought into or ordered from abroad must be for your own use. You cannot bring medicine to sell or give to another person, or carry someone else’s supply as part of your own. If you are unsure about an ingredient, contact the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare that covers the customs area where your goods will arrive before you travel.
1. Japan travel medication rules at a glance: three routes and two checks
Most personal medicines fit one of three routes. The ordinary route covers medicines that are not in a special category and are within the relevant quantity guideline. The next route involves an amount above the guideline or a medicine with a specific requirement, such as permission or supporting documents; the third route covers products that cannot be brought in.
| Route | What falls here | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 🟢 Ordinary quantity route | Your own medicine, within the applicable quantity guideline and not in a special category | The quantity guideline does not require an Import Confirmation; customs may still check what you carry. |
| 🟡 More than the guideline amount | A personal-use amount above the relevant limit | Apply for an Import Confirmation through the Regional Bureau for the customs area where the goods arrive. |
| 🟡 Special category | For example, medical narcotics or psychotropics | Follow the category-specific permission and document rules, even if the amount is small. |
| 🔴 Prohibited or not allowed without required proof | For example, stimulants, cannabis, or certain CITES products | Do not bring the item unless an official rule specifically permits the case. Check the relevant rule before packing. |
| ❓ Unclear classification | You cannot identify the ingredient or its Japanese category | Contact the Regional Bureau before travel and give them the active ingredient and amount. |
The first check is the ingredient. A small amount does not make a prohibited substance permissible, and the ordinary quantity limits do not override rules for narcotics, psychotropics, stimulants, or other controlled products. The second check is the quantity: for medicines on the ordinary route, the amount determines whether an Import Confirmation is needed.
| Question | Ordinary medicine | Special or controlled medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Does the quantity guideline matter? | Yes. It indicates when an Import Confirmation is needed. | It may matter, but it does not replace the category-specific rule. |
| Can a small amount still be restricted? | A medicine may still need an ingredient check. | Yes. Some products are prohibited or require permission regardless of amount. |
| Can another person carry it for you? | Medicine must be for the user’s own use. | Narcotics and psychotropics must be carried by the person they were prescribed to. |
| Can it be sent by international mail? | Check the relevant personal-import requirements. | Narcotics and psychotropics cannot be sent internationally. |
This is why “one month is allowed” and “banned even with a prescription” are not contradictory. One month is the usual quantity guideline for ordinary prescription medicines; a ban is an ingredient rule that takes precedence over that guideline. For example, an ordinary prescription medicine for three weeks is within the usual one-month guideline, while the same medicine for three months is above it and needs an Import Confirmation; a prohibited stimulant is not allowed even for a one-week supply.
The official pages explain the rules and legal categories but do not give a single policy explanation for every restriction. They state that foreign medicines and medicines ordered from abroad are personal imports and must be for the importer’s own use. Japan Customs also warns that medicines bought overseas may be poor quality, counterfeit, or unsafe, and may not be covered by Japan’s relief system for adverse drug reactions; consult a doctor or pharmacist before buying them abroad.
2. Quantity limits for Japan travel medication, injections and devices
The following are the MHLW guidelines for amounts that do not require an Import Confirmation, provided the product is otherwise eligible for personal import. The amount is based on the dosage directions, not a universal number of tablets. Check the ingredient and category first, because a quantity within the table does not clear a separate restriction.
| Product type | Guideline amount without an Import Confirmation |
|---|---|
| Poisonous drugs, powerful drugs, and prescription medicines | Up to one month’s supply, based on dosage |
| Other medicines and quasi-drugs | Up to two months’ supply, based on dosage |
| Topical products that are not prescription, poisonous, or powerful drugs | Up to 24 standard-size items per product |
| Cosmetics | Up to 24 standard-size items per product |
| Home medical devices, such as an electric massager | One set |
| Disposable medical devices, such as disposable contact lenses | Up to two months’ supply |
| In-vitro diagnostic products, such as ovulation tests | Up to two months’ supply |
| Regenerative medicine products | Up to one month’s supply |
The MHLW gives these amounts in its personal-import guidance. There are qualifications to the 24-item topical-product limit: buccal tablets, troches (lozenges), and suppositories are excluded from that rule. The English Customs guidance also excludes “drugs requiring specific instructions” from the 24-item rule, so do not assume that every product applied to the body belongs in that row.
Individuals cannot import medical devices intended for doctors or hospitals. The guideline for a home medical device is one set, while disposable devices and in-vitro diagnostics have their own two-month limits. If you cannot tell which device category applies, ask the Regional Bureau rather than relying on the product’s marketing description.
How to work out your supply
There is no fixed pill count for a month’s supply because doses differ between medicines and people. Use the directions on your pharmacy label or prescription to work out how much you take per day, then multiply that amount by the number of days you plan to be in Japan. Compare the result with the one-month or two-month row that applies to the product; if your intended amount exceeds the guideline, check the Import Confirmation process.
For example, a traveller taking a medicine once a day and a traveller taking it three times a day will have different tablet counts for the same number of days. Count the amount you will actually carry, including any supply intended for the trip home. If dosage instructions or the Japanese product category are unclear, contact the Regional Bureau with the ingredient, dose, and total amount.
Injections, syringes and medical devices
An injectable prescription medicine follows the relevant medicine quantity guideline, so the ordinary limit is up to one month’s supply when it falls in the prescription-medicine category. A psychotropic medicine carried with syringes has an additional document requirement: the traveller needs a copy of the prescription and a document showing that the medicine is needed for treatment. The customs guidance does not establish a general traveller allowance for syringes or needles carried on their own, so ask the Regional Bureau about your exact items.
| Your situation | What the official guidance establishes | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Injectable prescription medicine | The ordinary prescription-medicine guideline is up to one month’s supply. | Check the ingredient category and apply for an Import Confirmation if the amount is above the guideline. |
| Psychotropic medicine with syringes | If you bring syringes or more than one month’s supply, carry a prescription copy and a treatment-need document. | Carry the medicine yourself with both documents. |
| Syringes or needles on their own | The checked sources do not confirm a general traveller allowance. | Ask the Regional Bureau about the specific item. |
| Home medical device | One set. | Check that the device is a home-use product, not a device intended for doctors or hospitals. |
| Disposable device or in-vitro diagnostic | Up to two months’ supply. | Keep within that amount or ask about an Import Confirmation. |
The medicine-import rules do not establish airline cabin rules for sharps or devices. Check your airline’s current requirements separately before packing those items, and keep medicine information and any required import documents accessible during travel.
3. Narcotics, psychotropics and stimulants under Japan travel medication rules
A one-month quantity guideline does not override the rules for controlled medicines. The key questions are whether the active ingredient is a narcotic, psychotropic, stimulant, or another specially regulated substance; whether it was prescribed to you; and whether you will carry it yourself. Japan Customs gives examples and requirements in its restricted-import guidance.
| Category | Examples named in official guidance | Main rule |
|---|---|---|
| Narcotics and psychotropics | — | Generally, the medicine must be prescribed to you and carried by you. Another person cannot carry it for you, and it cannot be sent by international mail. |
| Medical narcotics | Morphine, fentanyl | A prescription and personal carriage are not enough by themselves; permission from a Regional Bureau Director is required. |
| Psychotropics | Diazepam, triazolam | Carry the medicine yourself. If bringing more than one month’s supply or syringes, carry a prescription copy and a treatment-need document. |
| Stimulant raw materials | — | The checked guidance permits only the specified treatment-related case: prescribed for your treatment and carried by you. Confirm the ingredient with the bureau. |
| Stimulants | — | Do not bring them, even for treatment or with a prescription. |
Medical narcotics such as morphine and fentanyl require permission from the Director of a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare. This permission is separate from an Import Confirmation, which addresses an amount above the ordinary personal-import guideline. Ask your prescribing doctor or pharmacist whether your medicine’s active ingredient is a narcotic or medical narcotic, then contact the Regional Bureau and ask what permission and documents apply.
The checked sources do not state the current form, required attachments, or processing time for medical narcotic permission. Write down the bureau’s instructions, including the date you received them, and keep the permission with the medicine when travelling. A family member cannot carry a narcotic or psychotropic medicine for you, and Japan Customs says these medicines cannot be sent by international mail.
Psychotropics such as diazepam and triazolam may be brought only by the person to whom they were prescribed. If you bring more than one month’s supply or bring syringes, the guidance requires both a copy of the prescription and a document showing that the treatment is medically needed. Request those documents from your doctor, and keep them with the medicine so you can present them together if asked.
A prescription does not make a prohibited stimulant legal to bring into Japan. The official guidance states that stimulants are prohibited even when prescribed for treatment. The checked sources do not list ADHD medicines by name, so read the active ingredient—not just the brand name—to the Regional Bureau before travel and ask how it is classified.
4. Medication rules for Japan travel: OTC products and supplements
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are products sold without a prescription, but that label alone does not determine the Japanese rule. Ordinary medicines and quasi-drugs generally fall under the two-month guideline, while the active ingredient may place a product in a special category. The checked official sources do not provide a complete traveller list of allowed or restricted ingredients for common cold, allergy, or pain products.
| Ingredient or product named in official guidance | Japanese category or issue | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Diazepam, triazolam | Psychotropics | Carry it yourself if prescribed to you. If bringing more than one month’s supply or syringes, carry the two required documents. |
| Morphine, fentanyl | Medical narcotics | If prescribed to you, obtain the required Regional Bureau Director permission and carry the medicine yourself. |
| Stimulants | Stimulants | Do not bring them, even with a prescription. |
| RU486 and other abortion pills | Abortion medicines | Do not bring them without proof of a doctor’s prescription, regardless of amount. |
| Certain products with listed brain- or mind-related ingredients | Special requirements apply | Check the official category. Japan Customs states an exception for foreign travellers bringing them for their own use during their stay. |
| Cannabis | Prohibited category | Do not bring it. |
| Designated substances | Prohibited category | Do not bring them. |
| Isobutyl nitrite, known as “rush” | Designated chemical substance | Do not bring it. |
| Products containing CITES-listed animal materials | CITES restrictions | Do not bring products containing items such as rhino horn, tiger bone, musk deer secretion, or bear gallbladder. |
| A supplement with a medicine ingredient or medical claim | May be treated as a medicine in Japan | Check the ingredients and claims as you would for medicine. |
| Troches, buccal tablets, and suppositories | Not covered by the 24-item topical-product rule | Confirm which quantity guideline applies. |
| Ordinary OTC medicine not in a special category | Other medicine or quasi-drug | The general guideline is up to two months’ supply, based on dosage. |
For cold and flu combinations, allergy products, and many pain medicines, check every active ingredient rather than searching only the product name. Japan Customs’ English Customs Answer 9005 is an official place to search for ingredients and restricted categories. If an ingredient is not addressed there, or you cannot interpret the result, contact the Regional Bureau and read out the ingredient and dose.
Supplements, traditional remedies and cannabis-derived products
A product sold overseas as food or a supplement may be treated as a medicine in Japan if it contains a medicine ingredient or makes a claim to treat or prevent illness. Read both the ingredient panel and the claims on the label; a “supplement” name does not settle its classification. Products containing listed animal materials may also fall under CITES restrictions, including traditional remedies made with rhino horn, tiger bone, musk deer secretion, or bear gallbladder.
The checked official sources state that cannabis is prohibited, but they do not explain how every individual cannabinoid product, such as a particular CBD oil or gummy, is treated. Do not infer that a product is permitted from its sale in another country or from a “hemp” or “wellness” label. Check the current official guidance for the product’s specific ingredients before packing it.
How to check an OTC ingredient
Start with the “active ingredients” panel on the box or leaflet. Photograph it and note the strength and dosage directions, because combination products may contain several ingredients and similar brand names can differ by country. Then search each ingredient in Customs Answer 9005 and compare any result with the category rules above.
If you find no clear answer, contact the Regional Bureau for the customs area where your goods will arrive and read the ingredients aloud. Save the answer and the date in your notes so you can refer to it later. Keeping the product in its original labelled packaging is a practical way to make the ingredients and directions easier to show; it is a recommendation, not a stated import requirement.
5. Import Confirmation for Japan travel medication: who to contact and how to apply
An Import Confirmation, called yunyu kakuninsho in Japanese, is issued by a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare when a personal-use amount exceeds the applicable guideline. It replaced the former “Yakkan Shomei” from 1 September 2020. It addresses the quantity requirement only, so it does not replace separate permission for medical narcotics or other category-specific requirements.
The bureau to contact is determined by the customs office that handles the arrival of your goods. For a traveller, identify the customs area for your arrival airport or port, then match it to the bureau. The MHLW explains the personal-import rules on its official guidance page.
| Regional bureau | Customs areas listed in the checked guidance | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare | Hakodate, Tokyo, and Yokohama | 048-740-0800 |
| Kinki Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare | Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, Moji, Nagasaki, and Okinawa areas; Nagoya and west | 06-6942-4096 |
The Kanto-Shinetsu Bureau has an Import Confirmation information page. The page was not fully verified for its current procedure details, so confirm the current instructions directly with the bureau before preparing an application. The checked sources confirm the document name, the quantity trigger, the responsible regional bureau, and the phone numbers, but they do not establish the current form, attachments, submission method, processing time, or fees.
How to apply for an Import Confirmation
First, check the ingredient and category rules, because an Import Confirmation does not authorize a prohibited medicine or replace special permission. Next, compare the amount you plan to bring with the quantity table and identify whether you exceed the relevant guideline. Some products require an MHLW check regardless of amount, so contact the bureau if your medicine falls into that situation.
Find the customs area for your arrival airport or port in your travel booking, then contact the bureau responsible for that area. For Kanto-Shinetsu, consult the bureau’s Import Confirmation page and phone 048-740-0800 if the current instructions are unclear. For Kinki, phone 06-6942-4096 to confirm where to find the current guidance and what it requires.
Ask the bureau about the current application form, attachments, submission method, processing time, and any fees. These details were not confirmed in the checked official sources, so do not rely on an old checklist or a third-party estimate. Record the answers and date, submit using the method the bureau specifies, and save copies of the application and supporting material.
The issued Import Confirmation should stay with the medicine during travel. Keeping both together in your hand luggage is a practical suggestion so the document is accessible if you are asked about the medicine. Do not treat the confirmation as a substitute for medical narcotic permission or documents required for psychotropics.
Posted medicines and delivery addresses
If medicine will be posted rather than carried, confirm the requirements before choosing a delivery address. A search-result summary of official guidance reported that a workplace address or post-office hold may be judged by Customs as commercial rather than personal, but the wording was not confirmed on the official page. Because that point remains uncertain, ask the Regional Bureau how to handle the address for your case.
Documents and preparation checklist
The following documents are named in the official guidance for the situations shown. Your medicine may require more than one type of document, so check the ingredient category as well as the quantity. Keep any required papers with the relevant medicine and make sure you know which product each document covers.
| Document | When it is required by the checked guidance |
|---|---|
| Import Confirmation | When a personal-use amount exceeds the quantity guideline |
| Prescription copy and treatment-need document | For psychotropics when bringing more than one month’s supply or syringes |
| Regional Bureau Director permission | For medical narcotics such as morphine or fentanyl |
| Prescription or other confirmation | For medicines requiring an MHLW check at any quantity |
| Proof of a doctor’s prescription | For abortion pills such as RU486 |
Before departure, check every medicine against the ingredient and quantity rules, and contact the bureau about anything unclear. Obtain category-specific permission and documents before travel when they apply, and save the bureau’s phone number in your phone. Keeping products in labelled packaging and checking airline rules for devices and sharps are useful precautions, but they are not stated here as MHLW import requirements.
At arrival, answer customs questions or forms honestly based on what you are carrying. The checked sources do not confirm the current wording of the passenger-facing customs page for medicine in luggage, so consult the linked MHLW and Japan Customs guidance rather than assuming that a particular declaration screen applies. If you are unsure how to describe a medicine, ask a customs officer in the arrival hall and keep any relevant documents accessible.
6. Running out of medication on a Japan trip: pharmacies, refills and mail
The checked official import sources do not explain how to buy local medicines, whether a foreign prescription can be filled in Japan, or which local product matches a medicine from home. For those questions, ask a pharmacist or clinic in Japan rather than assuming that a similar brand name has the same ingredients. Preparing the active ingredient, dose, and medicine packaging before you need help can make the conversation more practical.
| Your situation | Who to ask | Useful information to bring | What is confirmed here? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical emergency | Emergency services; see the Japan emergency numbers guide | Medicine packaging and ingredient information, if available | Refer to the linked emergency guide. |
| You want a product like your OTC medicine | A pharmacist in Japan | A photo of the active-ingredient panel | Local equivalents are not confirmed in the checked sources. |
| Your prescription medicine has run out | A doctor at a clinic in Japan | Prescription copy, medicine box, generic name, and dose | Foreign-prescription refill rules are not confirmed here. |
| You want family to post more medicine | The Regional Bureau for the relevant area | Ingredient list and amount | Some restrictions are confirmed; ask about the specific medicine. |
| You need English-speaking care | Your embassy or consulate | Passport and medicine details | Check the embassy’s official information. |
| You want traveller-specific official guidance | MHLW personal-import pages | The medicine’s ingredient and amount | A traveller heading is present, but its text was not retrieved in the checked material. |
Matching a local product with a pharmacist
Do not rely on a brand-name match between countries. Show the pharmacist a clear photo of the active-ingredient panel and explain your dose, allergies, and any other medicines you take. Ask whether there is a local product with the same active ingredients, then have the pharmacist check the full ingredient list and directions with you.
| Compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Active ingredient names | Brand names may differ between countries. |
| Amount per tablet or dose | A similar product may have a different strength. |
| Additional ingredients | Combination cold products may contain ingredients you do not need. |
| Directions and daily maximum | Follow the local product’s own instructions and ask the pharmacist to explain them. |
A translation app, including a camera translation feature, can help you read a Japanese label, but use it as an aid rather than a substitute for confirming the directions. If the product is a combination medicine, ask the pharmacist to check each active ingredient, not just the main ingredient printed on the front. This is particularly useful when you have allergies or take other medicines.
Refilling a foreign prescription
The checked sources do not establish whether a prescription issued in your home country can be filled in Japan. Ask a local clinic or pharmacist what options apply to your medicine, and check your embassy’s official site for medical information. Do not plan your trip on the assumption that a foreign prescription will be accepted.
Before travelling, ask your home doctor for a copy of the prescription that lists the generic name and dose. Save a photo of the medicine box and bring enough supply for the trip within the applicable limits, or obtain an Import Confirmation if needed. If you need assistance finding care, consult your embassy or consulate’s official information; the checked sources do not verify a particular English-speaking clinic directory.
Sending or ordering medicine by post
The own-use principle applies whether you bring medicine with you or order it from abroad. Narcotics and psychotropics cannot be sent by international mail, and they cannot be carried by someone else for you. For other medicines, check the ingredient and quantity requirements with the Regional Bureau before ordering rather than assuming that a parcel is treated differently from luggage.
Pet medicine and common mistakes
Veterinary medicines are handled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries rather than MHLW. If you are travelling with an animal and need to bring its medicine, consult that ministry’s official guidance. Do not apply the human-medicine rules in this guide to a veterinary product without checking the responsible authority.
| Common mistake | Safer next step |
|---|---|
| Bringing medicine for a friend or relative | Bring only medicine for your own use; other people’s supplies cannot be included in yours. |
| Packing three months of ordinary prescription pills “just in case” | Check the one-month guideline and apply for an Import Confirmation if the amount exceeds it. |
| Assuming a small amount is always allowed | Check the ingredient first; a special category or prohibition can apply at any amount. |
| Treating a supplement as food without checking it | Review ingredients and health claims; some products may be treated as medicines in Japan. |
| Asking a friend to post psychotropics | Do not do this; psychotropics cannot be sent internationally or carried by someone else. |
| Trusting an unofficial ingredient list | Search the official Customs Answer 9005 or ask the Regional Bureau. |
7. Japan travel medication rules FAQ
These answers summarize the checked MHLW and Japan Customs guidance, not a complete list of every product sold overseas. The ingredient rule and the quantity rule must both be considered, and the relevant Regional Bureau can address ingredients or application details that the official pages do not resolve. Start with the MHLW personal-import page and Customs Answer 9005.
Can I bring ordinary over-the-counter medicine?
Ordinary OTC medicines and quasi-drugs generally fall under the guideline of up to two months’ supply, based on dosage. That amount does not settle whether an ingredient is restricted or prohibited. Search each active ingredient in Customs Answer 9005, and contact the Regional Bureau if the classification is unclear.
How much prescription medicine can I bring?
The general guideline for prescription medicines is up to one month’s supply, measured by the prescribed dosage. If your personal-use amount is higher, check the Import Confirmation process with the bureau for your arrival customs area. Controlled ingredients may have separate rules even when the amount is within one month.
Can I bring three months of my prescription medicine?
Do not assume that a routine prescription makes a three-month supply acceptable without further action. The usual guideline for prescription medicine is one month, and an amount above the applicable limit requires an Import Confirmation for personal use. Check the medicine’s category first, because an Import Confirmation does not replace separate permission or documents for controlled medicines.
Can I bring sleeping pills or anti-anxiety medicine?
The answer depends on the active ingredient, not simply on whether the medicine is described as a sleeping pill or anxiety medicine. Japan Customs names diazepam and triazolam as examples of psychotropics; they must be prescribed to you and carried by you. If you bring more than one month’s supply or bring syringes, carry a prescription copy and a document showing that the treatment is needed.
Can I bring ADHD medicine?
The checked official sources do not provide a list of ADHD medicines by name. Some medicines may fall into controlled categories, and stimulants cannot be brought into Japan even for treatment. Give the Regional Bureau the active ingredient and dose before travel instead of relying on the brand name or a general description.
Can I bring morphine or fentanyl?
Morphine and fentanyl are examples of medical narcotics in the official guidance. They require permission from the Director of a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare, in addition to being prescribed to you and carried by you. Contact the bureau for the current application requirements because the checked sources do not confirm the current form or processing time.
Can I bring a small amount of a prohibited medicine?
A small quantity does not make a prohibited ingredient permissible. Japan Customs states that stimulants cannot be brought in even for treatment, and the guidance also names other prohibited categories, including cannabis and designated substances. Check the exact ingredient before packing it, and do not rely on a general quantity limit to override a category rule.
Can I bring cold medicine or allergy medicine?
The checked official sources do not provide a complete traveller list of permitted or restricted cold- and allergy-medicine ingredients. Combination products can contain several active ingredients, so check each one in Customs Answer 9005 rather than searching only the brand name. Ask the Regional Bureau if the official information does not give a clear answer for your product.
Can I bring vitamins or supplements?
A product sold as a food or supplement overseas may be treated as a medicine in Japan if it contains medicine ingredients or makes medical claims. Read the ingredient panel and claims, then check the relevant categories and quantity guidelines. If it contains a medicine ingredient or you cannot establish its classification, ask the Regional Bureau before travel.
Can I bring CBD or another cannabis-derived product?
The checked sources state that cannabis is prohibited, but they do not set out how every individual cannabinoid product is treated. Do not assume that a product is permitted because it is sold legally in your home country or labelled as a supplement. Check current official guidance for the specific ingredients before bringing it.
Can someone in my family carry my medicine?
Medicine brought from abroad must be for the importing person’s own use, and another person cannot carry your narcotic or psychotropic medicine for you. Do not combine family members’ supplies into one person’s allowance. Each traveller should check their own medicine, quantity, and category requirements.
Can my family mail me more medicine in Japan?
Narcotics and psychotropics cannot be sent by international mail. For other medicines, the personal-use and ingredient requirements still matter, and the checked sources do not confirm a general postal allowance for every product. Ask the Regional Bureau about the specific ingredient, amount, and delivery arrangements before anyone sends a parcel.
What if I need more than the quantity guideline?
Contact the Regional Bureau responsible for the customs area where your goods will arrive and ask about an Import Confirmation. The document is for personal-use amounts above the guideline; it does not replace category-specific permission such as the permission required for medical narcotics. The current forms, attachments, submission method, processing time, and fees were not confirmed in the checked sources, so ask the bureau directly.
Can a foreign prescription be filled in Japan?
The checked official import sources do not say whether a foreign prescription can be filled in Japan. Ask a local clinic or pharmacist, and bring a prescription copy with the generic name and dose to help explain your treatment. Plan your supply before travelling rather than relying on a refill that has not been confirmed.
What about medicine for my pet?
Veterinary medicines are handled by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, not MHLW. Consult that ministry’s official guidance if you are travelling with an animal and need to bring its medicine. The human-medicine limits in this guide should not be treated as the veterinary rules.
