🇯🇵 Japan · 税関

Japan customs & border

What foreign visitors can bring across a Japanese border (and what can land you in detention). Every section cites the Japanese agency with authority — Japan Customs (税関), MAFF quarantine (動物検疫所 / 植物防疫所), MHLW (厚生労働省), MLIT (国土交通省). Japan has some of the strictest customs enforcement in the developed world, especially around medications and cannabis.

1. The form: customs declaration card

Every passenger arriving in Japan must complete a customs declaration. On flights you receive the bilingual card (税関申告書 / Customs Declaration); at sea ports you can fill one out in the arrival hall. The current form is Form C-5360. One declaration per family travelling together. Even if you have nothing to declare, hand the form in — you cannot exit the green/red lane without it.

2. Currency: ¥1,000,000 declaration threshold

Japan applies a declaration threshold of ¥1,000,000 or equivalent in cash, traveler's cheques, gold (more than 1 kg), or monetary instruments — see Japan Customs' money page. Above that, file a separate Declaration of Carrying of Means of Payment. Failure to declare is treated as a customs offence under the 関税法 (Customs Law) and can result in seizure, fines, or criminal prosecution.

3. Food, plants, and animal products

Japan's biosecurity is strict. Two separate agencies inspect travelers:

Declare anything in either category. Officers, not you, decide if it's admissible.

4. Prescription medications: Yakkan Shoumei

This is the single most-overlooked Japan customs trap. Many medications routine in the US, UK, or Australia are illegal in Japan, including most amphetamine-based ADHD medications (Adderall, Vyvanse, Dexedrine), some opioid painkillers, and some sleep aids.

Up to a one-month supply of an OTC medicine, or a one-month supply of a non-controlled prescription, can typically be brought in for personal use — see MHLW guidance on Yakkan Shoumei (薬監証明). Larger quantities or psychotropic medications require a Yakkan Shoumei import certificate, applied for in advance via the relevant Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare. Carry a doctor's letter regardless. The Narcotics Control Department's English guide is here.

5. Drones (UAS): DIPS registration

Drones above 100 g must be registered in Japan's Drone Information Platform System (DIPS) before flight. Foreign visitors can register their craft online. See MLIT's English overview of UAS regulations. Flying is heavily restricted in central Tokyo and around most airports, national infrastructure, and crowds — you must apply in advance for many areas.

You may bring a drone through customs as personal luggage; the item itself is permitted.

6. Cannabis: zero tolerance

This is the law that surprises every visitor: marijuana — including possession, importation, or use abroad before arrival — is prosecutable in Japan under the 大麻取締法 (Cannabis Control Act). Penalties include imprisonment up to 7 years for possession, longer for importation. Customs dogs are routine at major airports.

The prohibited articles list is unambiguous. Even residual cannabis in a carried-from-home bag, or trace amounts in CBD products that are legal in your country, can trigger arrest. The bar is much lower than the US federal-border bar — do not risk it.

Importing your vehicle

Bringing a personal vehicle to Japan triggers shaken (車検) inspections, customs valuations, and the carnet question. We treat that separately — see our Japan country guide (vehicle-import deep-dive coming).

Sources

  1. [Customs]Japan Customs — Information for Travelers — Japan Customs · accessed 2026-04-29
  2. [MAFF]MAFF Animal Quarantine Service (動物検疫所) — MAFF AQS
  3. [MAFF]MAFF Plant Protection Station (植物防疫所) — MAFF PPS
  4. [MHLW]MHLW — Importing Medicines for Personal Use (Yakkan Shoumei) — MHLW
  5. [MLIT]MLIT — Outline of UAS Regulations in Japan — MLIT
  6. [Customs]Japan Customs — Prohibited and Restricted Articles — Japan Customs

Customs guides for other countries