Bringing Prescription Drugs to Japan (and the Yakkan Shoumei)

If you take prescription medications and are planning to study abroad in Japan, there are things you need to consider. Unless you apply for an import certificate, you are only allowed to bring 1 month’s supply of prescription medication and/or 2 months’ supply of over-the-counter medication.

If you need to take more than the limit’s worth of prescription medication, you can either:

A)     Take 1 month’s supply, then see a doctor in Japan and get a prescription there; or

B)      Take enough for your entire stay in Japan, and get an import certificate (see below)

A’s advantage is that you don’t have to fill out a ton of paperwork and deal with the cost of a year’s worth of meds (insurance companies will likely make you pay upfront then reimburse you later). However, depending on your medication, it may be difficult to get certain prescriptions in Japan (some doctors may be more reluctant to medicate for certain conditions).

B requires more effort with paperwork, but you will be able to avoid seeing a doctor in Japan and trying to get a new prescription.

Alternatively, you can just stop taking your prescription medication, but that is not always an option. You could also forego the import certificate and bring more medication than the limit allows, but you risk getting into trouble with customs (ever watch Locked up Abroad?).

So, to do it right:

In order to bring more than 1 months’ supply of prescription medication or more than 2 month’s supply of over-the-counter medication, you need to have an import certificate from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare called a Yakkan Shoumei. You can find application documents, FAQs and more information at the Japanese Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare.

Basically, you fill in the forms with all the details of your medications; attach copies of your prescriptions and your flight itinerary; pack it all in an envelope with a return envelope and international return coupon; mail it then wait.

NOTE: Certain medications are completely prohibited; you can’t bring them to Japan at all. These include sinus and cold medications like Advil Cold & Sinus, Nyqil, Sudafed, Vicks, Dristan and more. These medications contain stimulants that can be used in the manufacturing of certain other often-abused stimulants. MAOs used as antidepressants and SSRIs are also forbidden, as are hallucinogenic, narcotic, or psychotropic drugs.

If you have questions about a specific medicine, call your local Consulate of Japan.