To import medicines from overseas is subject to control by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and the Customs Law to prevent health hazard caused by defective products.
Therefore, when you enter into Japan, procedures should be done depending on your bringing medicines even if you have medicines for personal use.
1. Drugs, Quasi drugs
You can bring your personal medicines into Japan once certain procedures are completed. This is because there are patients who need continuous medication and travelers who need medicines as belongings, however, when you bring narcotics and psychotropic described in 4, please note that importing them from overseas is subject to control by other laws and rules.
To be more specific, when you bring your personal medicines into Japan, you have to apply for so called “Yunyu Kakunin-sho”, a kind of import certificate, and receive it before you leave home, and declare it to the officer at customs.
When you bring your personal medicines into Japan up to the amount described below, you do not have to apply for “Yunyu Kakunin-sho”, instead the officers at customs check the amount of your bringing medicines, and then you can bring them into Japan.
◆ Poison, Deadly poison, Prescription drug : Up to 1 month supply
◆ Drug for external use (excluding Poison, Deadly poison, Prescription drug) : Up to 24 per one item
◆ Injectable drug and Syringe for the drug: Up to 1 month supply
* Only “Pre-filled Syringe” or “Self-injection Kit”
◆ Other Drugs, Quasi drugs : Up to 2 month supply
In addition, no product containing the designated pharmaceutical ingredients, which is sold in foreign countries/regions with advertisement on enhancing cerebral function and other mental effects, shall be imported, unless use of such a product is complying with doctor’s prescription or instruction. However, it would be permissible for foreign travelers to bring such a medicinal product into Japan by his/her self, in the purpose of self-medication during his/her stay.
Regardless of the description above, you cannot bring prohibited drugs and controlled drugs into Japan.
Regarding details about application for “Yunyu Kakunin-sho”, please check “Q&A for those who are bringing medicines into Japan”, which includes application forms.
2. Cosmetics
Basically, the procedures are the same as in the case of drugs and quasi drugs.
When you bring your personal cosmetics into Japan up to the amount described below, you do not have to apply for “Yunyu Kakunin-sho”, instead the officers at customs check the amount of your bringing cosmetics, and then you can bring them into Japan.
◆ Up to 24 per one item (e.g., If you want to bring your lip sticks into Japan, you can have up to 24 regardless of brand or color)
3. Medical devices
Basically, the procedures are the same as in the case of drugs and quasi drugs.
When you bring your personal medical devices into Japan up to the amount described below, you do not have to apply for “Yunyu Kakunin-sho”, instead the officers at customs check the amount of your bringing devices, and then you can bring them into Japan.
◆ Medical device for household use (e.g., electric massaging tools): 1 set
◆ Disposable contact lens: Up to 2-month supply
4. Narcotics, Psychotropics
It is strictly prohibited to import narcotics and psychotropics into Japan except in the case of prescribed narcotics and psychotropics for a specific patient bringing them with permission before entrance into Japan.
When you bring your prescribed narcotics and psychotropics into Japan, you have to apply for permission by the Japanese Government (the directors of the Regional Bureaus of Health and Welfare) and receive it before you leave home.
When you bring certain amount of psychotropics and injectable drug into Japan, you have to have a copy of prescription or other relating documents which certify they are for your treatment.
Regardless of the description above, you cannot bring prohibited or controlled narcotics, psychotropics into Japan.
Regarding details about application for import of narcotics and psychotropics, please check http://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/index.html
5. Application for Import Confirmation
It is now possible to apply online for some personal import procedures. Please click the URL for the page dedicated to “Application for Import Confirmation.” https://impconf.mhlw.go.jp/aicpte/page/login.jsp?lang=en/