Bringing Medications into Japan
2025/4/14
Importing medication into Japan is subject to control by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and the Customs Law, and regulated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
When you bring medication into Japan for personal use, depending on the type and amount of the medication, you may have to apply for a Yunyu Kakunin-sho (previously referred to as the Yakkan Shoumei). Yunyu Kakunin-sho is a kind of import certificate that you must apply for and receive before you leave for Japan. This certificate must be declared to the officer at customs when you arrive in Japan. Applications for the Yunyu Kakunin-sho should be submitted to the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare closest to your airport of arrival in Japan. (Please see below for more details)
If your medication is classified as a narcotic by Japan, then you are required to obtain advanced permission from the Narcotics Control Department at the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare closest to your airport of arrival in Japan.
When you bring medication into Japan for personal use, depending on the type and amount of the medication, you may have to apply for a Yunyu Kakunin-sho (previously referred to as the Yakkan Shoumei). Yunyu Kakunin-sho is a kind of import certificate that you must apply for and receive before you leave for Japan. This certificate must be declared to the officer at customs when you arrive in Japan. Applications for the Yunyu Kakunin-sho should be submitted to the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare closest to your airport of arrival in Japan. (Please see below for more details)
If your medication is classified as a narcotic by Japan, then you are required to obtain advanced permission from the Narcotics Control Department at the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare closest to your airport of arrival in Japan.
- For general information and guidelines, please refer to the following link: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
- For details regarding the application for Yunyu Kakunin-sho, including the application forms, please refer to the following link: Q&A for those who are importing medicines into Japan [529KB]
Contact Details for Further Information
Contact for Drugs, Quasi Drugs, Cosmetics and Medical Devices
| Name of Department | Contact Information | Place of Arrival |
| Kanto-Shin’etsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare | TEL: +81-48-740-0800 EMAIL: yakkan@mhlw.go.jp |
Narita International Airport Tokyo International Airport |
| Kinki Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare | TEL: +81-6-6942-4096 EMAIL: kiyakuji@mhlw.go.jp |
Chubu Centrair International Airport Kansai International Airport |
| Okinawa Narcotics Control Office, Kyushu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare | TEL: +81-98-853-7100 EMAIL: okinawa-yakuji@mhlw.go.jp |
Naha Airport |