Japan's Banned Medicines List: What Every Traveller Needs to Know Before They Fly

Japan confiscates medications at the border that are legal everywhere else. Here is what is banned, what needs a certificate, and how to get one.

Japan's medication rules: stricter than you expect

Japan confiscates medications at customs that are legal prescriptions in almost every other country. Stimulants, certain cold and allergy tablets, and some common painkillers are either banned outright or require advance certification^[1] before you board.

This article covers which drugs are banned with no exceptions, which require the Yunyu Kakunin-sho import certificate, and the exact steps to get that certificate before you travel.

Medical disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Regulations change; always verify current rules with Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and consult your prescribing clinician before travelling.

The outright bans: no certificate will help you

Amphetamine salts are completely prohibited in Japan under the Stimulants Control Act. This applies regardless of your prescription, your diagnosis, or your country of origin. Adderall cannot enter Japan under any circumstances^[2], and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse, Elvanse) is treated the same way.

Pseudoephedrine is also prohibited. This catches many travellers off guard because decongestants containing pseudoephedrine are sold over the counter in Australia, Canada, and many European countries. The brand names Sudafed (original formula) and Actifed contain pseudoephedrine and cannot be brought into Japan.

Codeine-containing medications require particular care. Codeine is not outright banned, but quantities above the one-month personal allowance require advance import documentation. Many over-the-counter cough medicines that are legal elsewhere contain codeine and will be stopped at customs.

What the Yunyu Kakunin-sho actually is

The Yunyu Kakunin-sho (輸入確認書) is an import certificate issued by Japan's MHLW^[3] that confirms your medication is approved for personal import. It is required for psychotropics that exceed the one-month duty-free limit, and for any quantity of narcotics.

Without it, customs officers can seize the medication and refer the case for prosecution. The certificate is not a formality; it is the difference between your medication arriving in Japan with you or being confiscated at Narita.

Common medications that require the Yunyu Kakunin-sho include methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta), modafinil, and any injectable narcotic such as morphine or oxycodone.

The one-month rule: what it covers and what it misses

Japan permits a personal supply of up to one month^[1] for most prescription medications without any import certificate. For non-prescription medications, the limit is two months.

The trap is the word "most". Psychotropics under the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances have a one-month ceiling regardless of trip length. Exceed that ceiling without a Yunyu Kakunin-sho and you are in violation at customs.

If you are travelling for more than a month and take methylphenidate, you must apply for the certificate before departure. There is no way to extend or obtain it once you are in Japan.

How to apply for the Yunyu Kakunin-sho: step by step

Download the application form. The MHLW publishes it at mhlw.go.jp. Applications must be submitted to the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare that covers your intended port of entry.

Gather supporting documents. You will need your original prescription or a letter from your prescribing clinician on headed notepaper, stating the medication name, dose, and the clinical reason for the prescription.

Submit at least two weeks before travel. Processing is not instant. The MHLW recommends submitting four to six weeks before departure to allow for any queries.

Carry the certificate at the top of your carry-on. Customs officers check the original document; a phone photo is not acceptable. Keep your medication in its original labelled packaging alongside it.

Declare at customs. Do not use the green "nothing to declare" lane if you are carrying any scheduled substance, certificated or otherwise. Use the red lane and present all documents proactively.

Medications that often surprise travellers

The US Embassy in Tokyo publishes a list of commonly confiscated medications brought into Japan^[4]. The most common surprises are: pseudoephedrine-based decongestants, some combination cold medicines containing stimulant compounds, Vicks inhalers (which contain levmetamfetamine), and certain testosterone preparations.

Diazepam and other benzodiazepines are not banned, but they are controlled under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act. Quantities up to one month require no certificate. Beyond one month, you need the Yunyu Kakunin-sho. Our guide for travelling to Japan with anxiety disorder covers import rules for your reference.

Insulin, standard antidepressants such as sertraline and escitalopram, and most cardiovascular medications are prescription-only but not subject to quantity caps or certificate requirements. They travel freely as long as you carry your prescription.

ADHD medication in Japan: the practical reality

If you take Adderall or Vyvanse, there is no workaround. The Stimulants Control Act defines amphetamine and lisdexamfetamine as prohibited stimulants, and no import process exists for them. You need to speak to your prescriber before travel about an alternative. Our ADHD in Japan travel guide covers the alternative prescribing options in detail.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) is classified as a psychotropic under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act. A supply of up to one month can enter without the Yunyu Kakunin-sho. Trips exceeding one month require the certificate.

Japan delisted Ritalin as an ADHD treatment in 2007, so local prescribing of methylphenidate for ADHD is restricted^[5]. Clinicians who can prescribe it for ADHD must hold a special registration with MHLW. That limits in-country access significantly if you run out.

What happens if you get it wrong at the border

Customs officers at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Chubu airports have authority to seize prohibited or uncertificated medications. For banned substances such as amphetamines, seizure is routine and prosecution is possible.

For medications that are permitted but uncertificated (such as over-limit methylphenidate), officers typically confiscate the excess quantity and allow the within-limit supply to enter. However, this is at the officer's discretion; the safest assumption is that all excess will be seized.

Penalties for smuggling controlled substances under the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act can reach seven years imprisonment. For stimulant offences under the Stimulants Control Act, penalties run up to ten years.

Carry-on versus checked luggage

Always carry scheduled medications and their documentation in your carry-on luggage. Checked baggage is not accessible if customs needs to inspect^[6] your documents, and delayed or lost baggage means your medication disappears with it.

Liquid medications, including insulin, are exempt from cabin liquid restrictions under the rules of Japan's airports when accompanied by appropriate prescription documentation. Confirm the specific rules with the security agency at your departure airport, as these are set by the national authority in your country of departure.

Get your medical records in order before you fly

Japanese emergency departments will ask for your medication list if you present unwell. A structured summary that includes your drug names in both INN (generic) and brand format helps significantly, particularly because some brand names are not recognised in Japan. If you take any cold-chain medications such as insulin or biologics, include storage requirements in your summary.

Nomedic generates an International Patient Summary (IPS) that formats your medications, conditions, and allergies to the HL7 FHIR standard. Japanese hospitals and the Japan Medical Association have been expanding IPS adoption. Having your IPS stored digitally and printed reduces friction if you need care urgently.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring Adderall to Japan with a valid prescription?

No. Adderall contains amphetamine salts, which are prohibited under Japan's Stimulants Control Act regardless of prescription status or country of origin. There is no import certificate or exemption process for amphetamines. If you take Adderall, speak to your prescriber about a non-stimulant alternative before you fly.

Is pseudoephedrine in cold medicine banned in Japan?

Yes. Pseudoephedrine is prohibited in Japan under the Stimulants Control Act. This applies to brand-name decongestants such as Sudafed original formula and any combination cold tablet containing pseudoephedrine. Check your cold and allergy medications carefully before packing.

Can I bring more than a one-month supply of methylphenidate to Japan?

You can bring up to a one-month supply of methylphenidate without any certificate. For trips exceeding one month, you must obtain a Yunyu Kakunin-sho from MHLW before departure. Without it, customs officers will confiscate any quantity above the one-month limit.

Do I need the Yunyu Kakunin-sho for diazepam or other benzodiazepines?

A quantity of up to one month does not require the Yunyu Kakunin-sho. If you are travelling for longer and need more than a one-month supply, you must apply for the certificate in advance. Carry your original prescription alongside the medication regardless of trip length.

How long does it take to get the Yunyu Kakunin-sho?

Japan's MHLW recommends applying four to six weeks before your departure date. Processing is handled by the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare for your port of entry. Applying fewer than two weeks before travel carries a real risk of not receiving the certificate in time.

Where do I submit the Yunyu Kakunin-sho application?

Applications go to the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare that covers your intended port of entry into Japan. For Narita or Haneda airports, this is the Kanto-Shin'etsu Regional Bureau. The MHLW website (mhlw.go.jp) lists contact details and downloadable application forms for each bureau.