Things You Cannot Bring Into Japan (What Customs Will Actually Confiscate in 2025)

What if customs officers stop you at Narita Airport over that cold medicine in your carry-on?

Or your ADHD prescription triggers immediate detention?

Japan enforces some of the world’s strictest customs rules, and officials catch out many travellers with items they thought were harmless

From prescription drugs to vapes and even food, there are things you cannot bring into Japan that could cause serious trouble if you pack them by mistake.

Knowing what they are could be the difference between a smooth arrival and a ruined holiday.

Let’s have a look.

1. Medications and Prescription Drugs

This is probably the most important section you’ll read, because getting it wrong could literally ruin your entire trip.

Completely Banned Medications

Japan has zero tolerance for certain medications that are perfectly legal elsewhere.

Japan bans these outright, and prescriptions from your home country make absolutely no difference:

Stimulant medications:

• Adderall
• Dexedrine
• Vyvanse
• Ritalin (unless prescribed for narcolepsy in Japan)
• Any medication containing amphetamines or methamphetamines

Narcotic painkillers:

• Codeine
• Hydrocodone
• Oxycodone
• Morphine (except in very limited circumstances)

Cannabis products:

• CBD oil, gummies, or any CBD products
• THC products
• Cannabis in any form
• Hemp products containing THC

Common cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine:

• Sudafed
• Actifed
• Vicks inhalers
• Tylenol Cold
• NyQuil
• Advil Cold & Sinus
• Dristan Sinus
• Lomotil

If you’re caught with any of these at customs, you’ll be arrested.

Yes, actually arrested, even if you have a prescription.

In 2015, an American teacher was jailed for trying to bring in her Adderall prescription.

Don’t be that person.

What You Can Bring Without Special Permission

You can bring reasonable amounts of certain medications without jumping through bureaucratic hoops:

• Up to one month’s supply of prescription medications (that aren’t banned)
• Up to two months’ supply of over-the-counter medications
• Personal amounts of vitamins and supplements
• Up to two months’ supply of contact lenses
• Up to 24 pieces per cosmetic item

Medications That Need Special Permission

Some medications require a Yunyu Kakunin-sho (import certificate) before you travel.

You’ll need this if:

• You need more than one month’s supply of prescription medication
• You need more than two months’ supply of over-the-counter medication
• You’re bringing any injectable medications (limited to one month supply)
• You’re bringing controlled psychotropic medications

You can bring up to 1.2 grams of diazepam (Valium) without special permission.

Anything more needs the import certificate.

Medications That Are Actually Fine

Good news: some common medications are perfectly acceptable:

• Albuterol inhalers (asthma medication)
• Aleve (naproxen sodium)
• Phenylephrine (the decongestant that replaced pseudoephedrine in many products)
• Basic pain relievers like paracetamol and ibuprofen
• Antihistamines like Benadryl

How to Get a Yunyu Kakunin-sho

If you need the import certificate, here’s what to do:

1. Start the process at least four weeks before your trip (it can take two to four weeks to process)
2. Go to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website
3. Create an account in their online system
4. Submit your application with:
   • A photo or scan of your prescription
   • Detailed medication information (active ingredients, dosage, quantity)
   • Your travel dates
   • The airport you’ll be arriving at
5. Wait for approval (you’ll get a PDF certificate via email)
6. Print the certificate and bring it with you
7. Keep all medications in original packaging
8. Carry a copy of your prescription

The application is free, but don’t leave it to the last minute.

If you submit an incomplete or unclear application, officials will send it back and delay the process by several weeks.

2. Large Amounts of Cash

There’s no limit on how much cash you can bring to Japan, but there’s a very important threshold you need to know about.

The ¥1 Million Rule

If you’re carrying ¥1 million or more (approximately £5,000 or $7,000), you must declare it.

This applies to:

• Japanese yen
• Foreign currency
• Traveller’s cheques
• Securities
• Any combination of the above that totals ¥1 million or more

How to Declare Cash

It’s straightforward:

1. Pick up a “Declaration of Carrying of Means of Payment” form at the airport or seaport
2. Fill it out completely and honestly
3. Hand it to customs when entering or leaving Japan
4. Be prepared to show your cash if asked

Declaring isn’t a problem.

It’s a legal requirement, not an accusation.

You won’t be taxed on declared money.

Better Alternatives

Honestly, carrying massive amounts of cash is risky and unnecessary.

• Credit cards are widely accepted in cities
• Use a Wise card or similar for better exchange rates
• International ATMs are everywhere (airports, 7-Eleven stores, post offices)
• IC cards like Suica or PASMO work for trains, buses, and convenience stores

If you do carry cash, use a money belt or hidden pouch.

And let your bank know you’re travelling to avoid your cards being blocked.

3. Drones and Quadcopters

This is a big one that most travel guides miss.

Japan has strict drone regulations, and ignorance is not an excuse.

Registration Requirements

All drones weighing over 100g must be registered with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) before you fly them.

This includes popular models like:

• DJI Mini series (even though they’re under 250g, they’re still over 100g)
• DJI Mavic series
• Most modern camera drones

What You Need to Do

As a tourist:

1. You can bring your drone into Japan (no special customs declaration needed for one drone)
2. You don’t need to register the drone itself if you’re not staying long
3. But you DO need to apply for flight permission at least 10 days before you want to fly
4. Application is through the MLIT’s DIPS 2.0 system

Where You Cannot Fly

Massive no-fly zones include:

• All of Tokyo, Osaka, and other densely populated areas
• Within 300 metres of government buildings
• Near airports
• Around the Imperial Palace
• National parks (including Mount Fuji area)
• Most tourist spots in cities

Penalties

Breaking drone laws in Japan is serious:

• Fines up to ¥500,000
• Drone confiscation
• Up to one year in prison
• Administrative detention

Some travellers report that even Japanese authorities sometimes aren’t entirely clear on the regulations, which should tell you how complex they are.

When in doubt, don’t fly.

4. Vaping Devices and E-Cigarettes

The vaping situation in Japan is complicated and changed significantly in 2025.

Nicotine Products

What you can bring:

• Up to 120ml of nicotine-containing e-liquid (considered one month’s supply)
• One vaping device (or two if you need a spare)

What you cannot do:

• Buy nicotine e-liquid in Japan (it’s classified as a pharmaceutical and not sold to consumers)
• Bring more than 120ml without special permission
• Bring more than two devices

Non-Nicotine Products

You can legally buy non-nicotine vapes in Japan with fewer restrictions.

The 2025 Ban

From 1 April 2025, disposable vaping devices have been banned nationwide in Japan.

If you’re bringing a disposable vape with nicotine, make sure the total liquid content fits within your 120ml limit.

Where You Can Vape

You can only vape in designated smoking areas.

Vaping in public streets is restricted in most cities, just like cigarette smoking.

Age Restrictions

You must be at least 20 years old to purchase or use any vaping products in Japan, even non-nicotine ones.

5. Oxidising Substances

Japan restricts substances that can release oxygen or intensify fires.

Common Items You Cannot Bring

• Bleach (household cleaning bleach)
• Strong disinfectants
• Hydrogen peroxide in high concentrations
• Hair dyes containing peroxides
• Personal oxygen generators
• Chemical compounds like potassium permanganate

What You Can Bring

• Small quantities of contact lens solution
• Standard toiletries and cosmetics

Medical Oxygen

If you need medical oxygen, you must get advance permission from both your airline and Japanese authorities.

Don’t assume you can sort this out at the airport.

6. Counterfeit and Pirated Goods

Japan has zero tolerance for fakes, even if they’re just for personal use.

What’s Banned

• Counterfeit designer bags, wallets, clothing
• Fake watches and accessories
• Knock-off electronics and phone accessories
• Pirated DVDs, CDs, and video games
• Counterfeit jewellery and sunglasses
• Fake medicines and cosmetics

What Happens If You’re Caught

• Items confiscated permanently
• Fines
• Entry delays
• Potential ban from entering Japan in future

The “it’s just for me, not for selling” defence doesn’t work. If it’s fake, it’s illegal.

How to Avoid Problems

• Shop only at official stores and authorised retailers
• Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true
• Check for proper labels and serial numbers
• Avoid street markets and vendors selling luxury goods at suspiciously low prices

7. Counterfeit Money

This should be obvious, but it needs stating clearly.

What’s Prohibited

• Fake currency of any kind
• Counterfeit coins
• Forged securities
• Fake credit cards

Where to Get Currency Safely

• Official banks
• Licensed currency exchange offices
• Airport exchange counters
• ATMs at banks, post offices, convenience stores, and international airports

Never exchange money with street vendors or unlicensed money changers.

How to Spot Fake Yen

Real Japanese banknotes have:

• Watermarks visible when held to light
• Holograms that change when tilted
• Raised printing you can feel
• Security threads
• Colour-shifting ink

8. Meat, Dairy, and Animal Products

Japan has extremely strict rules about animal products to prevent disease.

Meat Products You Cannot Bring

Basically, assume you cannot bring any meat:

• Raw meat (beef, pork, chicken, poultry)
• Processed meats (jerky, sausages, ham, salami)
• Canned meat (even unopened)
• Meat-filled snacks (buns, dumplings, pies)
• Duty-free shop meat products
• Leftover airplane meals containing meat

Dairy Product Rules

Most dairy products are prohibited:

• Milk
• Butter
• Yoghurt

What you CAN bring:

• Processed cheese (up to 10kg for personal use)
• Ice cream in small quantities for personal use
• Powdered infant formula in reasonable quantities

Why These Rules Exist

Japan is protecting its agriculture from diseases like foot-and-mouth disease and mad cow disease.

A single contaminated product could devastate Japanese livestock.

If You’ve Visited Farms

If you’ve visited farms abroad, you must declare this at customs.

Even soil on your golf shoes can carry animal diseases.

Officials might disinfect your shoes or confiscate them.

9. Fruits, Vegetables, and Plants

Be careful as fresh produce faces heavy restrictions.

Fresh Fruits You Cannot Bring

• Apples, pears, peaches, nectarines
• Cherries, mangoes, papayas
• Lychees, longans, mangosteens
• Guavas, dragon fruits
• Ripe bananas
• Lianwu

Fresh Vegetables You Cannot Bring

• Cucumbers
• Marrow beans
• Chilli peppers
• Tomatoes

Other Prohibited Items

• Any plants with soil attached
• Soil of any kind
• Rice straw
• Unhulled rice (except from Korea and Taiwan)

What You CAN Bring

Processed foods:

• Chocolates, sweets, biscuits
• Canned goods
• Jams and jellies

Dried products:

• Commercially packaged dried fruits
• Commercially packaged dried vegetables
• Packaged nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts)

The key word is “commercially packaged”.

Home-dried or loose items are not allowed.

Other allowed items:

• Tea leaves and coffee beans
• Spices and herbs in small amounts for personal use

When in Doubt

Declare your food items at customs.

Customs officers will check your items and tell you if they’re allowed.

10. Obscene and Indecent Materials

Japan’s definition of obscene materials is broader than many Western countries.

What’s Not Allowed

• Pornographic content (magazines, DVDs)
• Books, drawings, or carvings deemed harmful to public morals
• Any child exploitation materials (strictly prohibited with severe penalties)
• Obscene or immoral content in any format

What Japan Considers Obscene

• Materials that arouse and stimulate sexual desire
• Content against public modesty
• Items violating accepted sexual morality standards
• Explicit anatomical depictions
• Materials with inadequate censoring, even if made for adults

Digital Content

These rules apply to both physical and digital formats.

Customs may check content on your electronic devices.

Important Note

What’s legal in your country might be prohibited in Japan.

When in doubt, leave it at home.

11. Firearms, Weapons, and Sharp Objects

Japan has some of the world’s strictest gun laws.

Firearms

• All handguns and pistols are strictly prohibited (no exceptions)
• Hunting rifles and shotguns require permits that are nearly impossible for foreigners to obtain
• All ammunition and bullets are completely prohibited
• Toy guns and replicas that look realistic are not permitted
• Gun parts (barrels, magazines, frames) are treated as complete firearms

Sharp Objects and Swords

• Katana and samurai swords need special documentation and are generally not permitted
• Knives and blades longer than 5.5cm (about 2.2 inches) are prohibited without valid reason
• All switchblades are completely banned
• Decorative swords of any kind are not permitted
• Martial arts weapons (nunchaku, throwing stars) are restricted

Purchasing Swords in Japan

If you want to buy a traditional Japanese sword while in Japan, there are legal ways to do it, but the export process is complex and requires official documentation.

12. Endangered Species and CITES-Regulated Items

This is a major category that many travellers overlook.

Ivory Products

Japan has strict ivory regulations under CITES:

• Import and export of ivory is prohibited in principle
• Ivory tusks cannot be brought in or taken out
• Ivory products (jewellery, carvings, hanko seals) face severe restrictions
• If you buy ivory legally within Japan, you still cannot export it without extremely difficult-to-obtain permits

Despite Japan having a legal domestic ivory market, taking ivory out of the country is illegal in most circumstances.

Don’t buy ivory as a souvenir.

Other Protected Items

Products made from endangered species are banned:

• Reptile skin products (certain snakes, crocodiles, lizards)
• Turtle shell products
• Coral jewellery and ornaments
• Tiger and leopard products
• Certain rare woods and rosewood
• Traditional medicine containing endangered animal parts
• Shahtoosh (made from Tibetan antelope)

What to Watch For

Popular tourist markets in other Asian countries often sell items made from endangered species.

That “bargain” souvenir could get you arrested at Japanese customs.

13. Pets and Live Animals

Bringing pets to Japan is possible but requires extensive planning.

Dogs and Cats

The process can take six months or more:

Requirements:

• ISO-compliant microchip implanted
• At least two rabies vaccinations
• Rabies antibody blood test at an approved laboratory
• 180-day waiting period after the blood test
• Government-issued health certificates
• Advance notification to Animal Quarantine Service (at least 40 days before arrival)

Quarantine

• If all requirements are met: 12 hours quarantine upon arrival
• If requirements are not met: Up to 180 days quarantine at your expense

Quarantine costs include detention fees (approximately ¥3,000 per day), food, care, and any veterinary treatment needed.

Ports of Entry

Dogs can only enter through specific airports and seaports.

Cats have more flexibility but still need advance coordination.

Other Animals

Different animals have different requirements.

Livestock, birds, and exotic pets face additional restrictions and require advance coordination with Animal Quarantine Service.

14. Gold Bullion and Precious Metals

Declaration Requirements

You must declare gold to customs if:

• You’re bringing gold bullion over 1kg
• The gold is 90% purity or higher
• This applies regardless of value

Personal Jewellery

Wedding rings, engagement rings, and personal gold jewellery don’t need declaration (even if they’re 24k gold), as long as they’re clearly for personal use and not commercial trade.

However, you should declare any individual gold item worth over ¥10,000 on your customs form.

15. Laser Pointers

Only laser pointers with 1 milliwatt or less power output are allowed in Japan.

Most laser pointers sold overseas exceed this limit.

Only Class 2 laser pointers (1mW or less) are permitted.

If you need a laser pointer while in Japan, buy one there to ensure compliance.

Tips for Travellers on Things You Cannot Bring Into Japan

Before You Pack

1. Check the official Japan Customs website for the latest regulations
2. Review the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare site for medication rules
3. Make a list of everything you’re bringing that might be questionable
4. Get necessary import certificates well in advance

At the Airport

1. Complete your customs declaration form honestly
2. Use the Visit Japan Web system for electronic customs declarations (saves time)
3. Declare anything you’re unsure about
4. Keep receipts for expensive items
5. Have prescriptions and medical documentation easily accessible

What to Pack Where

• Keep medications in original packaging with labels visible
• Carry prescriptions and import certificates in hand luggage
• Keep valuable items in carry-on luggage
• Have documentation ready to show customs officers

If Something Goes Wrong

• Be polite and cooperative with customs officers
• Don’t argue or become confrontational
• Have contact information for your embassy
• Understand that “I didn’t know” is not a valid defence

Common Mistakes Travellers Make

1. Assuming prescription = legal: Your prescription from home means nothing in Japan
2. Not checking medication ingredients: That cold medicine might contain banned substances
3. Leaving applications to the last minute: Import certificates take weeks
4. Bringing “just a small amount” of banned items: The law doesn’t care about quantity
5. Thinking customs won’t check: They do, thoroughly
6. Buying products in other Asian countries: That souvenir might be illegal in Japan
7. Not declaring questionable items: Always declare when uncertain

Resources and Contact Information

Official Websites

• Japan Customs: www.customs.go.jp/english
• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: For medication import certificates
• Animal Quarantine Service: For pet import requirements
• MLIT Drone Registration: For drone regulations and permits

Phone Numbers

• Japan Customs help desk: Available at major airports
• Animal Quarantine Service: Listed on their website by location

When to Seek Help

Contact your nearest Japanese embassy or consulate if:

• You’re unsure whether your medication is allowed
• You need clarification on specific items
• You need help with import certificate applications
• You have complex travel circumstances

Final Thoughts

Japan enforces strict customs regulations, but officials don’t create them to catch you out.

They exist to protect public health, national security, and the safety of Japanese citizens.

The vast majority of travellers pass through customs without any issues because they’ve done their homework.

Now you have too.

Pack smart, plan ahead, and enjoy your trip to Japan.

When in doubt about any item, leave it at home or contact Japanese customs before you travel.

It’s always better to be safe than to have your holiday ruined by a preventable mistake.

Safe travels, and see you in Japan!