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Taking medication to Japan

I always take an original prescription label that the pharmacist prints out for me and put it on a small ziplock bag. I use this to cut down on bulky bottles. I heard that Japan is strict about medication and I want to see if anyone has any advice. I have contacted their government web site and registered my controlled meds and that is no problem. They said that the ones I have are not controlled there. I have traveled all over the world with my meds in these pouches and no one ever even asked about them. Any advice? Or experience with problems with their meds?

Posted by
12 posts

We just returned from Japan on November 30. We did not have our medications looked at once. I had them in easy to carry, small pill bags that were labeled but no one asked, not once.

Posted by
15061 posts

You should be fine.

Just be aware that you can only bring in a 30 day supply of presciption medication. If you need to bring in more, you have to get a special certificate of import.

I have never been stopped in Japan.

Posted by
1441 posts

You have been given great advice. What about medical devices? Insulin pumps, CPAP,...etc. have to be accompanied with the import form.

To be more than 100% safe, ask your doctor for prescriptions. You can print them out or save them on your phone.

Happy travels! Japan is awesome.