Benzodiazepines in Japan: Import Rules, Brands and Permits

All benzodiazepines are psychotropics under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law. Follow per-substance gram limits and bring a doctor's letter.

Quick reference

Drug class: Psychotropic substances, all eight active ingredients are scheduled under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law
Controlled substance: All benzodiazepines are psychotropics under the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law, administered by MHLW. No advance import permission is required if you stay within the published per-substance gram limits and carry a personal supply only. Exceeding those limits or carrying any benzodiazepine in injectable form requires a doctor's certificate.
Prescription required: Yes, prescription required in Japan for all benzodiazepines. Foreign prescriptions carry no legal force at Japanese pharmacies; a local psychiatrist's prescription is needed for any in-country dispensing.
Available locally: Alprazolam: yes (Xanax). Diazepam: yes (Valium). Clonazepam: yes (Rivotril). Lorazepam: yes (Ativan). Triazolam: yes (Halcion). Midazolam: yes (Dormicum, hospital/clinic use). Oxazepam: limited availability. Temazepam: limited availability. All require a local psychiatrist's prescription.
Storage: Room temperature (below 25°C / 77°F), away from humidity and direct light. Keep all tablets in original pharmacy-labelled blister packs or bottles.
Max supply to carry: One month's supply without a doctor's certificate. Each substance also has a maximum gram limit (e.g. triazolam 15 mg total; lorazepam 90 mg total). Exceeding either threshold requires a supporting doctor's certificate presented to customs. No postal importation permitted.
Key document: Doctor's certificate on headed paper naming each medication by INN and brand, dose, quantity, and clinical necessity, required if you exceed a one-month supply or carry any injectable benzodiazepine.
Emergency alternative: If your specific benzodiazepine is unavailable locally, see a Japanese psychiatrist (精神科) who can assess which locally available agent is appropriate for your situation, never self-substitute.

Benzodiazepine options in Japan

Active ingredient	Available locally?	Local brand(s)	Controlled status	Prescription required?	Max supply (no cert.)
Alprazolam	Yes	Xanax	Psychotropic, Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law	Yes (local psychiatrist)	72 mg total / 1 month
Diazepam	Yes	Valium	Psychotropic, Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law	Yes (local psychiatrist)	1.2 g total / 1 month
Clonazepam	Yes	Rivotril	Psychotropic, Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law	Yes (local psychiatrist)	1 month (gram limit applies)
Lorazepam	Yes	Ativan	Psychotropic, Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law	Yes (local psychiatrist)	90 mg total / 1 month
Temazepam	Limited	Not confirmed locally, bring full supply	Psychotropic, Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law	Yes (local psychiatrist)	900 mg total / 1 month
Midazolam	Yes (hospital/clinic use)	Dormicum	Psychotropic, Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law	Yes (specialist/hospital)	450 mg total / 1 month
Oxazepam	Limited	Not confirmed locally, bring full supply	Psychotropic, Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law	Yes (local psychiatrist)	2.7 g total / 1 month
Triazolam	Yes	Halcion	Psychotropic, Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law	Yes (local psychiatrist)	15 mg total / 1 month

Benzodiazepines in Japan: what changes when you travel

Japan classifies all benzodiazepines, including alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Rivotril), lorazepam (Ativan), triazolam (Halcion), midazolam (Dormicum), temazepam, and oxazepam, as psychotropic substances under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law^[1], administered by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). Each active ingredient carries its own per-substance gram limit for personal import without a doctor's certificate, and the limits vary widely across the class.

Triazolam has one of the tightest limits in the class: a total of just 15 mg without a supporting certificate^[2]. If your prescribed dose sits close to or above that threshold, your supply for even a short trip may trigger the documentation requirement. Check your specific active ingredient against the MHLW quantity table before you pack.

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. Regulations change; verify current rules with the MHLW Narcotics Control Department before travel.

Before you travel

Documentation for travelling to Japan with benzodiazepines

All benzodiazepines are classified as psychotropics under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law. You may carry a personal supply up to the per-substance gram limit without advance permission, provided you carry it in person and keep it in original labelled packaging. Exceeding a one-month supply or carrying any benzodiazepine in injectable form^[3] requires a doctor's certificate from your prescribing physician presented at customs.

What your doctor's letter must include

Full name matching your passport. Each medication listed by INN (generic name) and brand name. Dose and frequency. Total quantity carried. Clinical necessity (diagnosis by name). Doctor's original signature and medical registration number. Clinic letterhead. If you take more than one benzodiazepine, each must appear as a separate line. Request a copy in both English and Japanese if possible.

The MHLW Narcotics Control Department (NCD) publishes a per-substance gram limit table for psychotropics^[2]. Triazolam users face the tightest cap at 15 mg total, while oxazepam and temazepam have higher limits. Postal importation of any psychotropic medication is prohibited under Japan's Customs Law regardless of quantity; you must carry your supply in person.

Questions to ask your prescriber before you travel

Bring this list to your appointment at least four weeks before departure.

Does my total quantity for this trip stay within Japan's per-substance gram limit for my specific benzodiazepine, or do I need a doctor's certificate?
If my specific benzodiazepine brand is not stocked at local Japanese pharmacies, which locally available agent in the same class would be clinically appropriate for my situation?
Can you write the doctor's letter with both the INN and the brand name, your medical registration number, and clinic letterhead, ideally with a Japanese translation?
If my trip extends beyond one month, can you arrange a backup prescription or additional documentation before I depart?
What is the best way to contact your practice from Japan if I need emergency guidance or a supplementary letter during travel?

How much benzodiazepine to bring

Carry up to one month's supply without a doctor's certificate, provided your total quantity stays within the MHLW's per-substance gram cap for your active ingredient. Foreign prescriptions carry no legal force at Japanese pharmacies^[3], so there is no in-country refill pathway without first seeing a local psychiatrist. Build in a buffer of five to seven days beyond your expected trip length, and confirm the gram total against the NCD table before packing.

Split your supply

Carry your main supply in hand luggage and a backup dose (up to the gram limit) in checked luggage. Keep both in original pharmacy-labelled packaging. Never transfer tablets into unlabelled containers or pill organisers for travel to Japan.

Packing and storing benzodiazepines for travel

All benzodiazepines in this class are oral tablets or capsules and are stable at room temperature, generally below 25°C / 77°F, away from moisture and direct sunlight. Tokyo's summer humidity averages 75–80%, so keep tablets sealed in their original blister packs or tightly closed bottles rather than loose in a bag.

Japan's air-conditioned interiors maintain comfortable temperatures year-round, making hotel room storage straightforward. Keep your documentation packet (doctor's letter, prescription copy, and passport) in the same carry-on as your medication so customs officers can verify all three together.

At the airport and border

Airport security with benzodiazepines

All benzodiazepines in this class are oral solid-dose forms; they are not subject to liquid restrictions at airport security. Keep tablets in original labelled packaging in your hand luggage for easy inspection. Japanese customs officers conduct secondary inspections and verify active ingredients against documentation, so the label on your packaging must match the INN named in your doctor's letter and prescription. If you are transiting through another country before arriving in Japan, check that country's rules for psychotropic medications independently, as transit rules differ by jurisdiction.

Customs and import rules for benzodiazepines in Japan

Japan Customs (Answer 9005) states that psychotropic drugs such as diazepam and triazolam may not be imported unless the traveller carries and imports them personally^[4]. Carrying a quantity exceeding one month's dosage, or carrying any benzodiazepine in injectable form, requires a copy of the prescription and a doctor's certificate confirming medical necessity. Apply to the MHLW Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare responsible for your arrival airport at least two weeks before travel if you need documentation beyond the standard personal-supply threshold.

Tight gram limits, triazolam users in particular

Triazolam (Halcion) has a per-person import limit of just 15 mg total without a doctor's certificate. At a common dose of 0.25 mg per night, that covers 60 tablets (roughly two months) but at 0.5 mg per night the limit is reached at 30 tablets. Lorazepam is capped at 90 mg total; at 1 mg per day that is a 90-day supply, but at 2 mg per day the limit falls at 45 days. Always calculate the gram total for your dose before assuming one month is permissible. Postal importation is prohibited under any circumstances.

While in country

Benzodiazepine availability in Japan

Several benzodiazepines are available at Japanese pharmacies by local prescription. Alprazolam is sold as Xanax, diazepam as Valium, clonazepam as Rivotril, and lorazepam as Ativan^[5]. Triazolam is available as Halcion and midazolam as Dormicum, though Dormicum is primarily used in clinical and hospital settings rather than retail pharmacies. Temazepam and oxazepam have no confirmed retail brand presence in Japan; if you take either, bring your full supply.

A private psychiatric consultation at an English-speaking clinic in Tokyo costs approximately ¥24,000–¥28,000 (~$151–$176 / ~€138–€161) per session^[6]. Medication dispensing is charged separately at the pharmacy. Generic versions of diazepam and alprazolam are available at lower cost than branded originals, but the prescribing psychiatrist determines which agent is appropriate. Japanese prescriptions expire after four days, so fill them promptly.

Pharmacy phrases in Japanese

Use these at the pharmacy counter when asking about your benzodiazepine or checking for a local equivalent.

“私はベンゾジアゼピン系の薬を処方されています。日本でこのお薬はありますか？”

I have been prescribed a benzodiazepine medication. Is this medication available in Japan?

“このお薬のジェネリック（後発品）はありますか？”

Is there a generic equivalent for this medication?

“この薬を取り扱っていますか？処方箋が必要ですか？”

Do you carry this medication? Do I need a prescription?

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Finding a doctor who can prescribe benzodiazepines in Japan

Benzodiazepines in Japan are prescribed by psychiatrists (精神科 / seishinka) or psychosomatic medicine physicians (心療内科 / shinryō naika). You can book a psychiatrist directly without a GP referral, though large hospitals charge an additional first-visit fee without a referral letter. English-speaking psychiatrists are concentrated in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto^[7]; outside those cities, clinics are predominantly Japanese-language only.

The Tokyo HIMAWARI medical information line and the International Mental Health Professionals Japan (IMHPJ) directory are reliable starting points. Telemedicine follow-up is available at some clinics for stable conditions, but first-visit prescribing typically requires an in-person appointment.

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Storing benzodiazepines while in Japan

All benzodiazepines in this class are stable at room temperature; no refrigeration is required. In Japanese hotel rooms, the air conditioning typically keeps temperatures below 25°C / 77°F, which is well within the safe storage range. Avoid leaving tablets in a car or direct sunlight during summer months, when outdoor temperatures in Tokyo regularly exceed 30°C / 86°F.

If you are staying in a ryokan (traditional inn) without in-room climate control, ask reception about air-conditioned storage. Keep medications in your hand luggage or room safe rather than in checked baggage at any point during the trip.

Emergencies

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

If your medication is lost or stolen, report the loss to the nearest police station (110) immediately and obtain a written police report. Contact your prescribing doctor at home to obtain a supplementary letter confirming the original prescription. Foreign prescriptions carry no dispensing authority at Japanese pharmacies^[3], so a replacement supply requires a new local prescription from a Japanese psychiatrist. The police report, your doctor's letter, and your Nomedic IPS record demonstrating your medication history will all help expedite that appointment.

If you run out of your specific benzodiazepine and it is not stocked locally, a Japanese psychiatrist is the only person qualified to assess which locally available agent suits your clinical situation. Never self-substitute between active ingredients; dosing equivalences and duration of action differ significantly across the class. You may also discuss alternatives with a psychiatrist, with options listed in our guide for travelling with benzodiazepines.

Bring your Nomedic International Patient Summary to the appointment so the psychiatrist has your full medication history and dosage details without relying on a verbal account.

Key phrases in Japanese

I take prescribed medication for anxiety / seizures: 私は不安症てんかんのために処方薬を飲んでいます (Watashi wa fuan-sho / tenkan no tame ni shohousen-yaku wo nonde imasu). Please call a doctor: 医師を呼んでください (Ishi wo yonde kudasai). Where is the nearest pharmacy?: 一番近い薬局はどこですか？(Ichiban chikai yakkyoku wa doko desu ka?). I need to see a psychiatrist: 精神科の先生に診ていただきたいです (Seishinka no sensei ni mite itadakitai desu).

For medical emergencies in Japan, call 119 for an ambulance; for police assistance, call 110. Major hospitals in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto have English-language support lines and international patient desks.

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Frequently asked questions

Are benzodiazepines legal to bring into Japan?

Yes, benzodiazepines are legal to bring into Japan for personal medical use, provided you carry them in person (not by post), keep them in original labelled packaging, and stay within the MHLW's per-substance gram limit for your specific active ingredient. Carrying more than a one-month supply, or carrying any benzodiazepine in injectable form, additionally requires a doctor's certificate confirming medical necessity.

Do I need an import permit for benzodiazepines when entering Japan?

No advance import permission from the MHLW Narcotics Control Department is required for benzodiazepines, unlike narcotics such as opioids. However, if you carry more than a one-month supply or carry any injectable benzodiazepine, you must present a doctor's certificate at customs. Carry a prescription copy and your doctor's letter regardless of quantity as a precaution, since customs officers verify active ingredients against documentation.

Do I need a doctor's letter to fly with benzodiazepines?

A doctor's letter is required if you carry more than a one-month supply or carry any benzodiazepine in injectable form. Even within the one-month threshold, carrying a letter stating your diagnosis, the INN and brand name, dose, and the prescribing doctor's registration number is strongly recommended, as Japanese customs officers verify active ingredients against documentation. The letter should ideally be in both English and Japanese.

Which benzodiazepines are available in Japan?

Alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Rivotril), lorazepam (Ativan), and triazolam (Halcion) are available by local prescription at Japanese pharmacies. Midazolam (Dormicum) is available primarily in hospital and clinic settings. Temazepam and oxazepam have no confirmed retail brand presence in Japan; if you take either, bring your full supply from home. All require a prescription from a Japanese psychiatrist for local dispensing, as foreign prescriptions are not accepted.

What if my specific benzodiazepine brand is not available in Japan?

See a local Japanese psychiatrist (精神科) who can assess which locally registered benzodiazepine is clinically appropriate for your situation. Never self-substitute between active ingredients, as dosing equivalences and duration of action differ significantly across the class. Bring your Nomedic International Patient Summary and a doctor's letter from your home prescriber to expedite that consultation.

Is Valium (diazepam) available in Japan?

Yes. Diazepam is available in Japan under the Valium brand name by prescription from a Japanese psychiatrist. It is classified as a psychotropic under the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law, with a personal import limit of approximately 1.2 g total without a doctor's certificate. Carry original packaging and a prescription copy when bringing your own supply.

What happens if I run out of benzodiazepines in Japan?

You need a new prescription from a Japanese psychiatrist before any pharmacy will dispense. Contact an English-speaking psychiatry clinic in Tokyo (IMHPJ directory or Tokyo HIMAWARI line are reliable resources) and bring your home prescription, doctor's letter, and Nomedic IPS. Japanese prescriptions expire four days after issue, so fill the prescription at a pharmacy the same day or the day after.

Related practical guide

Benzodiazepines Abroad: Why Customs Can Seize Your Prescription

A valid prescription does not protect your benzodiazepines at every border. Here is what customs officers actually check, and what happens when supply runs out abroad.