Atomoxetine in Japan: Import Rules and Strattera

Quick reference

Drug class: Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Controlled substance: No, atomoxetine is not scheduled under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act
Prescription required: Yes, prescription-only in Japan; any licensed physician can prescribe it, though in practice ADHD care is mostly handled by psychiatry (seishin-ka) clinics
Available locally: Yes: Strattera (capsules and 0.4% oral solution) and generic atomoxetine, by prescription
Storage: Room temperature, 15–30°C, away from moisture and direct light
Max supply to carry: Up to one month's quantity without import paperwork; more than that requires a Yunyu Kakunin-sho obtained before travel
Key document: Doctor's letter (English, with Japanese translation recommended), copy of your prescription, and a Yunyu Kakunin-sho if you carry more than one month's supply
Emergency alternative: Visit a clinic in Japan (usually a psychiatry/seishin-ka clinic) with your original prescription and doctor's letter (your IPS record as a supplement) to request a Japanese prescription

Travelling to Japan with atomoxetine: what changes

Atomoxetine, sold globally as Strattera, is not scheduled under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act^[1], so a supply of up to one month's quantity needs no import paperwork. If you carry more than one month's quantity, you need a Yunyu Kakunin-sho (輸入確認証, import confirmation certificate; formerly called Yakkan Shoumei), applied for online before travel and issued by a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare (MHLW's regional office).^[8]^[2] Strattera and generic atomoxetine are dispensed at Japanese pharmacies against a Japanese prescription, though an individual pharmacy may need to order it in. This means you cannot simply refill your supply at a pharmacy without a Japanese prescription.

Medical disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your prescribing doctor before travelling with medication, particularly regarding supply quantities, storage requirements, and import documentation.

Documentation for travelling to Japan with atomoxetine

For a supply of up to one month's quantity, no import paperwork is required, though a doctor's letter and a copy of your prescription are recommended. If you carry more than one month's quantity, you need a Yunyu Kakunin-sho, applied for online before travel and issued by a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare (MHLW's regional office)^[8]^[2]. The Yunyu Kakunin-sho must cover the full quantity of atomoxetine you are bringing in, listed by INN (atomoxetine) and brand where applicable.

Pre-travel paperwork timeline

T-6 weeks
Book a prescriber appointment to review your supply, update your prescription, and request a doctor's letter on clinic letterhead. If you will carry more than one month's quantity, ask the doctor to confirm the total quantity needed for the Yunyu Kakunin-sho application.Prescriber letter
T-5 weeks
Have your doctor's letter translated into Japanese by a certified translator or bilingual clinic staff, and have the clinic stamp the translated copy. Retain both the English original and Japanese translation.Translated letter
No later than T-30 days
If you will carry more than one month's quantity, apply online for a Yunyu Kakunin-sho. Apply at least one month before departure; processing times vary and the certificate must be in hand before you travel. Submit the application form, a copy of your prescription, and the doctor's letter.Yunyu Kakunin-sho
Applied for online before travel and issued by a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare (MHLW's regional office). Carry the issued Yunyu Kakunin-sho with your medication and show it to customs on arrival.
T-1 day
Print all documents: original prescription, doctor's letter (English and Japanese), and Yunyu Kakunin-sho if applicable. Pack medication in original pharmacy-labelled packaging. Do not transfer tablets to an unlabelled container.
T-0 (border)
Keep your documents accessible in hand luggage. Atomoxetine is not a controlled substance in Japan, so a customs declaration is not mandatory, but presenting your letter proactively if questioned by customs officials avoids delays.

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What your doctor's letter must include

Full patient name, medication name (atomoxetine and Strattera), dose, frequency, quantity carried, the condition being treated (one word is sufficient), doctor's name and registration number, clinic name and letterhead, date of issue, and doctor's signature. For Japan, also include your travel dates and a Japanese translation or certified bilingual version where possible.

Japan does not require notarisation or an apostille for a doctor's letter accompanying personal medication. A Japanese translation is strongly advisable for use at clinics and pharmacies in Japan.

How much atomoxetine to bring

Japan's personal-import allowance for prescription medications is one month's supply without any import documentation^[8]^[2]. If you carry more than one month's quantity, you must obtain a Yunyu Kakunin-sho before travel covering the full quantity you carry. Bring a 10–15% buffer above your calculated dose to account for delays, damaged tablets, or itinerary changes. If a buffer takes your total above one month's quantity, you need a Yunyu Kakunin-sho even for a short trip. Obtaining a local refill requires a prescription from a doctor in Japan, which takes time to arrange.

Split your supply

Carry your main supply in hand luggage and a backup dose in checked luggage. If one bag is lost or delayed, you still have medication. Keep both portions in original packaging with pharmacy labels visible.

Packing and storing atomoxetine for travel

Atomoxetine capsules should be stored at room temperature between 15°C and 30°C^[3], away from moisture and direct light. No refrigeration is required during transit, but avoid leaving the medication in a hot car or in direct sunlight, particularly during Japan's humid summer months (June to September) when temperatures regularly exceed 30°C. Keep capsules in the original blister pack or pharmacy bottle to maintain the pharmacy label for customs and medical purposes.

Airport security with atomoxetine

Atomoxetine capsules are solid-dose oral medication and are not subject to liquid restrictions at airport security. Keep them in your hand luggage in their original labelled container. You do not need to remove medication from your bag at security unless instructed by screening staff. If questioned, present your doctor's letter alongside the original packaging.

Customs and medication import rules for Japan

Atomoxetine is not a controlled substance under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act^[1], so no import declaration is required for a supply of up to one month's quantity^[8]^[2]. If you carry more than one month's quantity, you must obtain a Yunyu Kakunin-sho before travel. It is applied for online and issued by a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare (MHLW's regional office). Show it to customs on arrival^[8]^[2]. Japan Customs may inspect medication at the border; having your doctor's letter and the original packaging available speeds up any inspection significantly.

Keep original packaging at the border

Japan Customs officers verify medication identity against original pharmacy labels. Do not decant capsules into a pill organiser before crossing the border. If your Yunyu Kakunin-sho lists atomoxetine by INN, ensure the pharmacy label also shows 'atomoxetine' alongside 'Strattera' so the two documents match.

Atomoxetine availability in Japan

Atomoxetine products sold in Japan

Product	Indication	Formulation	Supply note
Strattera hard capsules	ADHD (adult and paediatric)	Hard capsule (5 mg, 10 mg, 25 mg, 40 mg)	Dispensed against a Japanese prescription; a pharmacy may need to order it in
Strattera oral solution 0.4%	ADHD	Oral solution 0.4%	Dispensed against a Japanese prescription; a pharmacy may need to order it in
Generic atomoxetine (アトモキセチン)	ADHD	Tablets and 0.4% oral solution (several Japanese manufacturers)	Dispensed against a Japanese prescription; a pharmacy may need to order it in

A Japanese prescription may be filled with a generic atomoxetine product rather than Strattera. Check the active ingredient (アトモキセチン) and strength on the label.

Strattera is approved and listed on Japan's National Health Insurance (NHI) drug tariff^[7]. Without NHI coverage, the out-of-pocket cost for one month's supply of Strattera 40 mg is roughly estimated at ¥8,000–¥15,000 (~$54–$101 / ~€49–€92), depending on dose and pharmacy; treat this as an approximate guide only. A Japanese prescription is required to dispense it.

Finding a doctor who can prescribe atomoxetine in Japan

Atomoxetine is a prescription-only medicine in Japan^[7]. Unlike Concerta (methylphenidate) and Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), it is not covered by Japan's registered-prescriber and registered-pharmacy distribution-control system, so any licensed physician can legally prescribe it. In practice, adult ADHD care is mostly handled by psychiatry (seishin-ka) clinics, and the doctor may want to assess you before prescribing. Major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto have English-speaking psychiatrists at international clinics; a directory of English-capable clinics is maintained by the AMDA International Medical Information Centre^[5].

An initial outpatient consultation at a private clinic typically costs ¥5,000–¥15,000 (~$34–$101 / ~€31–€92). An in-person consultation at a clinic is the most practical route to a local prescription.

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Storing atomoxetine while in Japan

The approved storage range for atomoxetine capsules is 15°C to 30°C with protection from humidity and direct light^[3]. Japan's summer (June to September) brings high humidity and temperatures regularly above 30°C in Tokyo and other cities; store capsules in an air-conditioned room rather than in a bag left in unventilated spaces. Hotel rooms with air conditioning provide adequate conditions; if staying in accommodation without climate control, keep medication in the coolest, darkest part of the room.

What to do if something goes wrong with your atomoxetine in Japan

If your medication is lost or stolen, file a report with the local police (dial 110 for police in Japan) and obtain a copy of the report. Contact your travel insurer immediately, as most policies require a police report within 24 hours to process a replacement medication claim.

If you run out unexpectedly, a prescription transfer from your home prescriber to a doctor in Japan, usually at a psychiatry (seishin-ka) clinic, is not a recognised pathway in Japan. Atomoxetine is prescription-only in Japan and any licensed physician can prescribe it; in practice, ADHD care is mostly handled by psychiatry (seishin-ka) clinics.^[7] You will need to attend a clinic, usually a psychiatry/seishin-ka clinic, present your original prescription and doctor's letter (your IPS record can supplement these), and request a new local prescription. University hospitals in Tokyo (such as the University of Tokyo Hospital) and Osaka (Osaka University Hospital) have psychiatry departments accustomed to managing international patients.

“アトモキセチン（ストラテラ）が必要です。 / 私はADHDです。 / 医者を呼んでください。 / 一番近い薬局はどこですか？”

I need atomoxetine (Strattera). / I have ADHD. / Please call a doctor. / Where is the nearest pharmacy?

Japan's emergency number for ambulance and fire is 119; for police call 110. For non-emergency medical enquiries in English, the Japan Tourism Agency's Japan Visitor Hotline is available 24 hours at +81-50-3816-2787.

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Frequently asked questions

Is atomoxetine legal in Japan?

Yes, atomoxetine is legal in Japan. It is a prescription-only medicine^[7], sold as Strattera and as generic atomoxetine. Travellers may bring in up to one month's quantity without import paperwork, but more than one month's quantity requires a Yunyu Kakunin-sho^[8]^[2], applied for online before travel and issued by a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare (MHLW's regional office). In either case, carry a doctor's letter and prescription copy.

Is atomoxetine a controlled substance in Japan?

No. Atomoxetine is not scheduled under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act^[1]. Unlike methylphenidate, which is classified as a psychotropic in Japan, atomoxetine has no controlled status and needs no import paperwork for a supply of up to one month's quantity.

Do I need a Yunyu Kakunin-sho to bring atomoxetine into Japan?

A Yunyu Kakunin-sho is only required if you bring more than one month's quantity^[8]^[2]. The threshold depends on how much you carry, not on how long you stay. Atomoxetine is not a controlled substance in Japan, so a supply of up to one month's quantity needs no import paperwork. If you do need a Yunyu Kakunin-sho, it must cover the full quantity of atomoxetine you are bringing in, listed by INN (atomoxetine) and brand where applicable. Carry a doctor's letter and original prescription however long your trip is.

Can I bring atomoxetine into Japan for a trip longer than one month?

Yes. What matters is the quantity you carry. For a supply of up to one month's quantity, you need no import paperwork, though a doctor's letter is recommended. For more than one month's quantity, you must get a Yunyu Kakunin-sho before you travel^[8]^[2]. You apply online, the certificate is issued by a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare (MHLW's regional office), and it must list the full quantity. Apply at least one month before you travel; you must have the certificate before you arrive.

Is Strattera available at pharmacies in Japan?

Strattera (atomoxetine) is approved and listed on Japan's National Health Insurance tariff, but it is dispensed only with a prescription from a doctor in Japan^[7]. Any licensed physician can prescribe it; in practice, ADHD care is mostly handled by psychiatry (seishin-ka) clinics. Japanese pharmacies dispense Strattera and generic atomoxetine against a Japanese prescription, though an individual pharmacy may need to order it in.

What should I do if I run out of atomoxetine while in Japan?

See a doctor in Japan, usually at a psychiatry (seishin-ka) clinic, and bring your original prescription and doctor's letter (your IPS record as a supplement). Atomoxetine is prescription-only, and any licensed physician can prescribe it. The doctor can issue a Japanese prescription for atomoxetine, which a pharmacy can then dispense.

Is Strattera the same as atomoxetine sold under other brand names abroad?

Yes. Strattera is the brand name used in Japan, the US, Australia, and most European markets. The active ingredient in all cases is atomoxetine, its INN. If your prescription uses the brand name Strattera, Japanese customs and pharmacists will recognise it; if it uses only the INN, that is equally valid.

Atomoxetine in Japan: Strattera, Import Rules and Availability