If you take prescription or over-the-counter medication, plan ahead before coming to Japan. A medication legally prescribed or sold in your home country may be restricted or prohibited in Japan. A prescription from a doctor outside Japan does not, by itself, authorize you to bring that medication into the country. It is important to plan for your entire stay - not just your arrival. You need to understand both what you may bring and how you will continue treatment after your initial supply runs out.

Start Planning Several Months Before Traveling

Work with your healthcare provider to:

• Identify the active ingredients, strength, dosage, and quantity of every medication you plan to bring.
• Check whether each medication is permitted in Japan and whether advance approval or supporting documentation is required.
• Prepare a copy of your prescription and a letter from your healthcare provider identifying the medication and explaining its medical purpose.
• Make a plan for continuing treatment in Japan, including alternatives if your current medication is unavailable.
• Obtain copies of your prescriptions and any required medical letters.

Keep medication in its original, correctly labeled packaging. Allow sufficient time for any applications; approval is not guaranteed.

How Much Medication Can I Bring?

For many prescription medications, you may generally bring up to a one-month supply for personal use without an Import Confirmation (Yunyu Kakunin-sho). Larger quantities generally require an Import Confirmation obtained before departure. 

This allowance does not apply to every medication. Controlled medications have separate requirements, and some substances are prohibited regardless of quantity. 

Check the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s medication import guidance New Tab for current requirements and access to the online application system.

ADHD (Stimulant), Psychiatric, and Other Controlled Medications

Requirements depend on the medication’s active ingredient, legal classification, quantity, and formulation. Depending on these factors, medication may require advance permission or medical documentation, or may be prohibited. 

For example, Adderall cannot be brought into Japan, nor is it available in Japan, even with a prescription. Other ADHD and psychiatric medications have different requirements. 

Review the Narcotics Control Department’s guidance New Tab , including its controlled-substance lists, prohibited substances, application procedures, and contact information. Check whether permission is also needed to leave Japan with any remaining medication.

Continuing Your Treatment in Japan

Permission to bring medication into Japan does not mean that the same medication can be prescribed or obtained here.

A prescription issued outside Japan cannot simply be used to obtain a refill at a Japanese pharmacy. You may need an assessment by a healthcare provider in Japan and a new prescription. Medication may be unavailable or offered under a different name, formulation, dosage, or prescribing protocol.

Before traveling, discuss these possibilities with your current healthcare provider and arrange a plan that avoids interruptions in treatment.

Finding a Healthcare Provider

TUJ can provide a list of English-speaking healthcare providers used by members of the TUJ community. Health care resources in English are limited in Japan compared to the care you receive in your country. Inclusion on the list is not a recommendation or guarantee of services.

Before booking, confirm directly with the provider:

• Whether they offer the care you need.
• Whether English-language services are available.
• Whether they can assess and prescribe treatment for your condition.
• Whether they accept Japanese National Health Insurance and what costs you should expect.

For ADHD medication, specifically ask whether the doctor has any registration required to prescribe the medication you need. An appointment does not guarantee a prescription.

Psychiatric Care

For information about English-speaking psychiatric providers and TUJ’s referral arrangements, contact the TUJ Counseling Center at tujcounseling@tuj.temple.edu before your medication supply runs low.

Ask the Counseling Center about appointment procedures, eligibility for any TUJ-funded initial consultation, and options if you need care before your Japanese health insurance arrangements are complete.

Health Insurance

Follow TUJ’s arrival and Canvas guidance for National Health Insurance enrollment, as applicable to your residency and insurance circumstances.

Ask your municipal office how to obtain and use proof of insurance eligibility. Processing times vary, so do not assume that your insurance documentation will be available by a particular date.

Not all providers, services, or medications are covered. Confirm coverage and out-of-pocket costs directly with the provider or pharmacy. If you need care before you can present proof of coverage, ask the provider about payment requirements.

Do Not Assume Medication Can Be Mailed to You

Do not rely on family members, pharmacies, or healthcare providers mailing additional medication after you arrive.

Japan regulates medication sent from overseas, and mailing rules differ from the rules for carrying medication into the country. Some medications cannot legally be sent by international mail. Confirm the requirements with the appropriate Japanese government authority before arranging any shipment.

Official Information and Questions

Japanese government authorities determine medication import requirements. Always check current official guidance:

• MHLW: Bringing medicines into Japan for personal use New Tab
• Narcotics Control Department: Controlled medications and application guidanceNew Tab 

For general medication import questions, use the regional contact listed by MHLW for your arrival airport. For controlled medications, use the relevant Narcotics Control Department contact.

Provide your arrival airport and travel date, medication name, active ingredients, strength, dosage, formulation, and total quantity when making an inquiry.

Student Responsibilities and TUJ’s Role

Students are responsible for researching their medications, completing required applications, obtaining permission, and arranging treatment throughout their stay.

TUJ can provide general information and direct students to official resources. TUJ cannot determine whether a medication may legally be imported, mailed, prescribed, or refilled in Japan. TUJ staff cannot submit applications, obtain permission, or communicate with Japanese government authorities on a student’s behalf.

Medication Storage and Administration

TUJ does not provide medication refrigeration on campus. Medication may not be stored in staff, office, or shared refrigerators.

If your medication requires refrigeration or temperature control while on campus, arrange an appropriate storage method with advice from your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

If you plan to stay in TUJ housing and require a refrigerator for medication storage, please indicate this in your Housing Plan so that availability can be confirmed before your housing allocation is made.

Students are responsible for managing and administering their own medications. TUJ staff do not administer medication as part of routine student support. In an emergency, staff follow appropriate emergency response procedures.