E03
E03 · Before you fly

Medication Import Checker for Japan

You’ll see 薬 kusuri: medicine, on pharmacy signs and packaging

Japan has strict narcotics laws. Some common prescriptions are prohibited, and others need an advance permit, a doctor's certificate or a Yunyu Kakunin-sho. Look up a medicine or active ingredient below.

Quick answer

Japan enforces some of the world's strictest drug laws. Adderall (amphetamine) cannot be imported for any purpose, and cannabis/THC products are not allowed, even with a valid prescription. Codeine above 1% concentration is a narcotic and needs a Narcotics import permit from the Regional Narcotics Control Office; at 1% or less it follows general medicine limits.

Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) at ≤10% follows normal quantity limits; above 10% it needs advance permission. Zolpidem (Ambien) is allowed up to 300 mg total without a permit; above that, carry a doctor's certificate. Uncontrolled medicines: up to a 1-month supply if prescription, 2-month if OTC.

Above those quantities, apply online for a Yunyu Kakunin-sho (impconf.mhlw.go.jp). Narcotics permits are a separate application to the Narcotics Control Office covering your arrival airport, at least 14 days before travel. Always carry medications in original pharmacy packaging.

Not legal advice
Medication rules change. Always verify with the Japanese Embassy or 厚生労働省 before traveling, especially for controlled substances. When in doubt, leave it at home.

More about bringing medicine to Japan

Japan Medication Import Rules 2026First Time in Japan: 10 Safety Tips

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring Adderall to Japan?
No. Amphetamine, the active ingredient in Adderall, is controlled as a Stimulant (覚醒剤) under Japan's Stimulants Control Act and cannot be imported for any purpose, even with a valid foreign prescription. Ask your doctor about alternatives before traveling; lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is a stimulants' raw material that can be brought with advance permission.
Can I bring Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) to Japan?
Products with 10% or less pseudoephedrine are excluded from control and follow normal quantity limits: up to a 2-month supply if OTC, 1-month if prescription. Above 10%, pseudoephedrine is a stimulants' raw material and needs advance permission from the Regional Narcotics Control Office, applied for at least 14 days before travel.
Do I need a Yakkan Shoumei (medication permit) for Japan?
A Yunyu Kakunin-sho (the import confirmation formerly known as Yakkan Shoumei) is needed only above the personal-use amounts: a 1-month supply of prescription drugs, 2-month of OTC drugs, or 24 per external-use item. Apply online at impconf.mhlw.go.jp. Narcotics such as codeine above 1% need a separate Narcotics import permit instead.
How much medication can I bring to Japan for personal use?
Without a Yunyu Kakunin-sho you can bring up to a 1-month supply of prescription drugs, a 2-month supply of OTC drugs, a 1-month supply of self-injection drugs such as insulin, and up to 24 of each external-use item. Psychotropics have per-drug totals, for example zolpidem 300 mg.
What happens if I bring banned medicine to Japan?
Medicines that do not meet the import rules can be refused at customs. Stimulants such as amphetamine (including Adderall) cannot be imported for any purpose, and carrying them or cannabis/THC products can lead to arrest and prosecution. Japanese law does not recognize foreign medical authorizations for these substances.
Sources · 5 official pages · checked September 24, 2026
  1. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Bringing medicines for personal use into Japan
    1-month prescription / 2-month OTC / 1-month self-injection / 24 external-use items without paperwork
  2. Narcotics Control Department — Application guidance for travelers
    Stimulants banned; narcotics permit 14+ days ahead; psychotropics over the limit need a doctor’s certificate
  3. Narcotics Control Department — Controlled substances list
    Codeine ≤1% and pseudoephedrine ≤10% exclusions; lisdexamfetamine as a stimulant raw material
  4. Narcotics Control Department — Psychotropic total-amount limits
    Per-drug limits, e.g. diazepam 1.2 g, zolpidem 300 mg, methylphenidate 2.16 g
  5. MHLW — Online application for Import Confirmation (Yunyu Kakunin-sho)
    How to apply when you exceed the personal-use quantities

Fact-checked by the TravelSafe Japan team against these pages; AI helped with drafting. General information, not legal advice. Report an error · How we verify

Next stop: Plugs & voltage checker · Also useful: IDP driving checker · Bicycle rules & fines · Food allergy card