🇯🇵 Entry and Medication Check Before You Travel

Documents for Bringing Medication into Japan

Japan allows travelers to bring medication for personal treatment only within specified limits. Depending on the ingredients and quantity, you may need prior approval or an import confirmation, so carry an English prescription or medical certificate, keep medicines in their original packaging, and check ingredient-specific rules with Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare before departure.

As of 2026-09-07

This is the Entry and Medication item for a trip to Japan. The 3 checkpoints below can only be settled properly before you leave — put them off and you queue at an airport desk or spend the first day on them instead. Work through them once and nothing has to be reopened.

Key checkpoints

Bring only the amount of over-the-counter medication needed during your trip, keep it in its original packaging, and carry the product leaflet showing the product name, active ingredients, and directions, along with proof of purchase.
For prescription medication, carry an English prescription or medical certificate stating the patient's name, active ingredients, dosage, directions, and medical necessity, and make sure the person named on the prescription carries the medicine.
If you exceed the permitted quantity or the medicine contains narcotics, psychotropics, or stimulant precursor ingredients, check the advance procedures with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare or the relevant Narcotics Control Department.

What to do before departure, in order

Two rules decide the order. First, anything with a deadline — pre-registration, bookings, documents to be issued: miss the cut-off and there is no substitute. Then whatever also works locally, which costs little to postpone.

Most of the items above can only be done before you leave. After arrival, patchy connectivity and opening hours make them harder, so finish what you can while you are still at home.

What to pay attention to in Japan

Japan has digitised its entry procedure, so registering in advance cuts airport queueing time considerably. Cash is still dominant in parts of the country, though, so arriving with cards only can leave you stuck.

Mains voltage is 110V, so some appliances from home will not work directly — check your adapter.

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