If your visitor takes medication, it is worth checking Japan's import rules before they pack. Japan treats medicine crossing the border as an import, so the amount and the ingredients both matter. This page explains the paperwork side only. It is not medical guidance, and nothing here should be read as a recommendation about any specific medicine or condition. Your visitor should speak with their own doctor about their health, and confirm the current rules with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) before travel.
How much a visitor can bring without extra paperwork
For personal use, a traveller can generally bring a limited quantity into Japan without filing anything in advance. As a rough guide published by MHLW, this is about a one month supply of prescription medicine and up to a two month supply of over the counter medicine. External use items such as creams, drops, and similar products have their own limits. These allowances are per traveller and cover their own personal use, not gifts or resale.
If your visitor stays within those quantities and none of their medicines contain a restricted ingredient, they can usually carry them in checked or hand luggage without a certificate. Anything above the personal use allowance moves into a different process, described below.
Ingredients that are banned or tightly controlled
This is the part that surprises people most. Some medicines that are sold freely in other countries are prohibited in Japan because of the ingredients they contain, regardless of quantity. Certain stimulant compounds are the usual issue. For example, some cold, sinus, and allergy products contain pseudoephedrine above the permitted level, and some medicines for ADHD contain amphetamine or methamphetamine type ingredients. Products in those categories can be refused at the border, and bringing prohibited stimulants can carry serious legal consequences.
Because brand names differ by country, the safest step is to check the active ingredient against MHLW's guidance rather than relying on the product name. Your visitor should review the banned and controlled ingredient information on the MHLW website before they travel, and confirm anything unclear directly with MHLW. Rules and permitted levels change, so a check close to the travel date is best.
When a Yakkan Shoumei is needed
A Yakkan Shoumei is an import certificate issued by a regional bureau of MHLW. Your visitor arranges it in advance, before flying, and carries the approval to show at customs if asked. It is generally needed when someone wants to bring more than the personal use allowance, for example a longer supply of a prescription medicine, or when they are bringing syringes or certain other controlled items. Some narcotic and psychotropic medicines follow a separate, stricter permit process and are not covered by a standard Yakkan Shoumei, so those need to be checked individually with MHLW.
The certificate takes time to process, so this is not a last minute task. If your visitor thinks they may exceed the allowance, encourage them to start early and contact the relevant MHLW bureau with their medicine list.
Practical packing tips to pass on
- Keep medicines in their original packaging with the pharmacy or manufacturer label intact.
- Carry a letter or prescription from the prescribing doctor, ideally in English, listing the medicine name, active ingredient, dose, and quantity.
- Pack essential medication in hand luggage so it is available and inspectable.
- Check the active ingredient of every item, including ordinary cold and allergy remedies, against MHLW guidance.
- Confirm current quantities and any certificate requirement with MHLW before departure.
As a host, the most useful thing you can do is prompt your visitor to check early. The quantity rules are usually easy to stay within, and the ingredient list is the real trap. A quick review before packing avoids a stressful conversation at customs.
Related pages
See the visitor checklist for a full pre trip run through, browse common questions on the FAQ, and review entry basics on visa waiver and JESTA.
This page covers import and legal information only and is not medical advice. Rules and permitted quantities change, so always confirm the current requirements with MHLW before travel.
Source: MHLW (mhlw.go.jp), verified 2026-09-07.